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Original poster

Crippling anxiety - I don't know what else to do

93 replies

QuestionableMouse · 22/03/2026 20:49

I'm struggling with very severe anxiety that means I haven't been further than my back yard for almost a month now. It's very much physical anxiety; short of breath, shaky legs, feeling of doom. I've tried breathing exercises and distracting myself but they offered very limited relief. I've had several panic attacks, including one that started while I was driving. I literally can't function because of it and I have no life. I haven't seen most of my family for over a month and my sister needs me to babysit my nephews next week due to the Easter holiday.

My GP prescribed me sertriline which as far as I can tell is doing nothing. I've been taking it for a month now and if anything it's made me worse because I'm now also struggling with very disordered sleep to the point it was 3pm when I got out of bed today.

I've spoken to my GP and they want me to be seen in person which simply isn't possible. I'd like to try pregabalin which worked brilliantly for my mum's anxiety but my GP just keeps telling me they cannot prescribe it for anxiety. I've also tried flulexitine which gave me terrible diarrhea.

I genuinely don't know what to do. I'm considering booking a private GP appointment through bupa but I don't know if they can help either. I'm booked on a course for cbt which starts on Wed and have been forcing myself to go out each day but I think all it's done is made the anxiety worse.

OP posts:
Endoadnowarrior · 22/03/2026 21:32

Most anti anxiety/depression meds take a good 6 weeks to be effective and you made need to increase from the starting dose.

Girlintheframe · 22/03/2026 21:31

I take pregabalin for anxiety. 300mg morning and 300mg night. It does need to be prescribed by a psychiatrist. I was completely struggling to function. Ask your gp for a referral, I suspect howver it may be quite a wait until you see one.

Orangeandpinkcloud · 22/03/2026 21:28

I'm not sure how old you are but anxiety can also be a perimenopause symptom. It was the main one for me but didn't realise as I was supposedly too young and no one suggested it. Now I am on HRT I am nearly back to my normal self.

Anxiety sucks good luck with finding something that works for you.

Original poster
QuestionableMouse · 22/03/2026 21:28

Chapsticks · 22/03/2026 21:26

Try reading claire weekes.
Also you can hear her talks on youtube, she worked wonders for me.
I have her books downloaded on my phone so i can her her when im out.
Also barry harry hes really good, but start with claire.

Just grabbed that on Audible, thank you.

OP posts:
Original poster
QuestionableMouse · 22/03/2026 21:26

Bimblebombles · 22/03/2026 21:15

The physical sensations of anxiety are pent up energy that needs to be released. The fix for me is always exercise. It completely gets rid of it. It becomes a vicious cycle if you’re not leaving the house and staying in bed. The nervous energy has nowhere to go. Start small - 5 star jumps in the sunlight first thing in the morning. Next day, a walk to the end of the road and back. Day after you walk to the doctors. And so forth.

I've tried exercising and while moving does help as soon as I get even slightly out of breath it makes the anxiety massively worse.

OP posts:
Chapsticks · 22/03/2026 21:26

Try reading claire weekes.
Also you can hear her talks on youtube, she worked wonders for me.
I have her books downloaded on my phone so i can her her when im out.
Also barry harry hes really good, but start with claire.

Original poster
QuestionableMouse · 22/03/2026 21:23

Yes I've tried propranolol but it did nothing for me unfortunately. My main anxiety symptoms are air hunger/shortness of breath and shaking and the feeling of panic. I'm constantly terrified of having another panic attack.

My sister has been really supportive but unfortunately our mam died in Jan after being unwell for a long time and our dad has been very unwell too so she can't take any more time off work without getting into trouble. She also afford to take more time off.

I have been forcing myself to go out every day but I'm struggling massively and the feeling of panic is totally debilitating.

OP posts:
Fuckitydoodah · 22/03/2026 21:16

As others have said, ask for propanalol to help with the symptoms and hopefully allow you to function enough to get the help you need xx

Bimblebombles · 22/03/2026 21:15

The physical sensations of anxiety are pent up energy that needs to be released. The fix for me is always exercise. It completely gets rid of it. It becomes a vicious cycle if you’re not leaving the house and staying in bed. The nervous energy has nowhere to go. Start small - 5 star jumps in the sunlight first thing in the morning. Next day, a walk to the end of the road and back. Day after you walk to the doctors. And so forth.

lllsx · 22/03/2026 21:11

So sorry to hear this, I have and still do suffer with anxiety and it’s exhausting having to battle with yourself daily, it’s honestly awful!! I have in the past been on sertraline and it was a no no for me, again it took a longtime and sometimes it doesn’t work, but you have to convince yourself it’s not real, that your brain is just tricking you to feel all these things your feeling, again in the moment it can be difficult but the more you persuade yourself that it’s the truth, the quicker you become to realise. Again everyone is different but this really helped me. Hope it helps you or others out there x

TheMentalMentalLoad · 22/03/2026 21:10

Hey OP. It sounds like you’ve been really struggling. Could I ask what dose sertraline you have been given? I suggest speaking to the GP about a dose increase or swapping to Citalopram. Your sleep will return once
your anxiety settles and your system isn’t pumped full of adrenaline. Pregablin is strictly controlled and not ideal for anxiety these days. There are much better drugs. Sertraline and citalopram are SSRIs and work wonders for millions.

Anxiety is horrific. It’s your brain working overtime to try and protect you, it does a really good job but the problem is that it senses that everything is a threat and gets out of kilter sometimes.

CBT is really good too but there isn’t a quick fix . Keep posting here, speak to your GP and let your sister know you are struggling.

Be very very kind to yourself, you will get through this.

OriginalSkang · 22/03/2026 21:05

Try speaking with the community mental health team. I was in a similar but slightly worse situation and they saw me on a video call and someone picked it up for me from the chemist

SilverBlue56 · 22/03/2026 21:03

Agree with the suggestion to ask to try propranolol

Bitofashock · 22/03/2026 21:01

It took a good while for the sertraline to work for me and anxiety was way worse while it settled. Been on it a while now and it has worked but the acclimatisation period was rough. Advice is to keep going with it but try and go to the gp. Anxiety is hard.

CrocusesFlowering · 22/03/2026 20:59

Does your sister know how unwell you are ?

Villanousvillans · 22/03/2026 20:59

I tried several different tablets but had horrendous side effects on them. Finally the GP prescribed mirtazapine, which is brilliant as it also helps me to sleep.

youalright · 22/03/2026 20:57

You need to do exposure therapy you can do it yourself. I didn't leave the house for 2 years. You start by standing on your doorstep. Then the next day you walk to your neighbours house then the next day 2 doors and so on. It takes a long time but it works.

SulkySeagull · 22/03/2026 20:56

Sounds so awful, I’m so sorry. Have you tried Propanalol for the physical effects? It stops them altogether, and although the brain is still experiencing anxiety it’s easier to stay calm if the physical effects aren’t taking place