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Mental health

Anxiety Disorder - Will I Ever Overcome it?

10 replies

SophieLeGiraffe · 15/07/2013 13:22

It's six months now since this developed, four weeks since I started CBT, four weeks since I upped the dosage of Citalapram. I saw my doctor once a month, I see my counselor once a week. Some days now are good but some days out of the blue, it just hits me. And I'm exhausted with constantly dealing with it. When will it go away? If ever?

Specifically I have developed a teeth phobia. I believe that my teeth will fall out and that if I use them less, I will keep them for longer. I either don't eat, or I only eat soft things which I don't have to chew. Every time I need to eat is a battleground with myself and it's just exhausting and overwhelming.

I'm thrown off today as for the last six months I've sat on my own in the office but this morning someone has been moved to sit next to me. I find this a big problem as I don't like eating in front of people. I went to get some lunch but on the way back was so overwhelmed with an image of biting into it and my teeth falling out that I had to stop and stay out of the office for a little while longer whilst the panic subsided. Now I don't want to eat, but I am hungry.

Has anyone else had similar? Is there anything else I could or should be doing? I just want it to stop Sad

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Stripedmum · 16/07/2013 20:52

I have an anxiety disorder. It's awful. Mine is a fear of madness/losing the plot/dying...I could go on.

I'm so sorry you have this. How did it start?

I'm still very much in the middle of it. I've started a generalised anxiety disorder thread on here. Hop over - its not just you. X

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Lonelybunny · 18/07/2013 07:53

I have bad health anxiety which leads to panic attacks . I'm also a great worrier and always on edge. The citalopram (10mgs) so smallest dose was helping but I think it's eating off a bit now. I think you need to go back to the GP and look at your dosage again .

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holmessweetholmes · 18/07/2013 09:52

That sounds really tough. Sorry you're going through this. I've suffered from anxiety, though not from specific fears like yours. I am reading a book at the moment which is amazingly helpful in all sorts of ways in helping understand why our minds behave in such odd and tricky ways, and how to be compassionate with ourselves and begin to think differently. It has been a revelation. It's called 'The Compassionate Mind' by Paul Gilbert. Smile

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dirtyface · 18/07/2013 09:55

i have a similar thing

its generalised though, i just feel anxious a lot more than is normal. i constantly have this knot in my stomach, like a fear that something bad is going to happen :(

its horrible. was prescribed citalopram 10mg which i started yesterday

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Hattiesmum01 · 18/07/2013 09:58

I also suffer with an axiety disorder. It started in about 2003 over something a bit silly I suppose. I was ill with a bad stomach at work and just panicked and had to go home. Since then I have had a massive hangup about stomach bugs. I can tolerated absolutely anything but that. I really did think I had managed to overcome it but since having my little girl its become much worse resulting in me taking Diazepam. Obviously kids get ill and I completely understand that but it just fills me with dread everytime a bug starts going round. I worry so much I actually convince myself that I have it and start to feel ill. I am now currently pregnant with my second child (complete accident) and yes youve guessed it, my little girl is ill with a bug (and I am unable to take Diazepam to help me). Luckily I am on holiday from work for a couple of days but I am already starting to worry about going back on Monday - I am scared silly that I will start to feel ill and have a panic attack, but i know that if I think about it, it will happen - complete vicious circle!!!! The silly thing is that I only have 3 days left at work till I finish on mat leave so its no real biggy but I am driving myself crazy with fretting and worrying. I have no idea if anxiety disorders ever really go but would do absolutely anything to try to stop it. I agree that they are exhausting and a daily battle!

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SophieLeGiraffe · 18/07/2013 20:14

Thanks for the responses. It is awful isn't it, that feeling that you're just not in control. After counselling session last night they're now assessing me for PTSD which is a bit scary. It's really weird as so long as I'm not thinking about teeth or eating I'm really relaxed but in an instant it can completely overwhelm me.

It started after a traumatic experience at the dentist. Lots of other things go

I'll pop over to your other thread. Hope you all start to I don't know - feel better? Overcome it?

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Purple2012 · 18/07/2013 20:17

I have anxiety. My fear is something happening to a loved one, mainly my husband.

For me CBT didn't work. I now have accepted it and just have to live with it. Im not on anxiety meds but have meds to relax me and help me sleep. I can cope with it better if im not so tired.

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holmessweetholmes · 20/07/2013 08:21

Purple, that book I mentioned upthread (The Compassionate Mind) is really good on the subject of anxiety. It makes it easier to understand why we get anxiety, which made me feel much better and less 'anxious about being anxious', iyswim!

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Purple2012 · 20/07/2013 09:26

Thanks holmes I will have a look at that.

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ColouringInQueen · 20/07/2013 22:43

dirtyface I have the same thing re constant anxious feeling in stomach. I'm recovering from depression but still have that - and am wondering if I always have actually. On fluoxetine for depression which has helped but haven't improved that stomach feeling. I also wonder if it is now ac permanent feature with me.

Sympathy Sophie that sounds rough. I don't have any phobias as such, it's more a permanent state of tension.

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