Has anyone here ever gotten over anxiety?

[HvalaALot]

I've suffered from anxiety for as long as I can remember. Social anxiety, health anxiety, catastrophic thinking. It's ridiculous and I'm so sick of it.

Currently I'm going through a period of fearing for my health. Every tingle or tinge and I rush to the internet to terrify myself with potential illnesses.

I find it hard to socialise because I get so anxious about trying to appear normal so no one can tell the anxiety I'm feeling, it's ruining my life.

I've tried things like mindfulness and meditation but I can't be doing it right because I literally can't stop thinking.

Will I ever be rid of this and can anyone who has managed to overcome it offer me any advice?

Medication
CBT
Exercise and being outside
Then mindfulness too!

Thank you for responding. I am doing a Talking Therapies CBT course soon, I hope it will help.

Hi OP,
I am a fellow anxiety sufferer and totally understand how it can take over your life.
For me medication has changed my life for the better. I wouldn’t say my anxiety is cured, it will always be there, but it stops the catastrophic thoughts taking hold and it is more in the background rather than taking over if that makes sense? X

Kind of. It's always there and rears it's ugly head a lot but I know how to cope with it. And it's a good idea to have regular therapy as in a few sessions every few years. Mine has been a bit worse lately so I think it's time.

Yes, me. You sound exactly like the "old" me! I spent 10 years trying to get it under control without medication, numerous rounds of CBT and a library's worth of self-help books. Then I went on Sertraline and now I am happy and well. In fact, I had no idea just how unwell I was before. Please have a chat with your GP, and don't be scared of the meds if you've tried other methods unsuccessfully x

Just to note, mindfulness and meditation aren't always recommended for those with anxiety. If you're struggling to calm the constant thoughts and becoming frustrated with yourself, it could heighten your anxiety that you're 'not doing it right'. Saying that, mindfulness can mean different things to different people. It could be taking a walk and appreciating the leaves on the trees. It could be doing the washing up and noticing the bubbles going through your fingers. Anything that might have a bit of a calming effect and help you to be more present

I was overweight but I started running. A version of the couch to 5k thing. Literally saved my life.

Now unable to run due to a health issue. Anxiety back at mega levels

My husband suffered with anxiety and in particular health anxiety for several years. He finally overcame it with a mix of
-talking therapy one to one and at a group

• medication

-changing his career from a high pressure office job to retrain as a gardener -exercise in the fresh air and working on an allotment -being so sick of suffering that he was utterly determined to put it behind him

It's been about 6 years now since he stopped medication and has been on an even keel. We still talk about his mental health every day as we don't take things for granted, but he's doing fine. I'm sorry you're suffering and hope you get lots of help and advice here.

CBT through the NHS totally changed things for me. Before then I had 10 years of anxiety, panic attacks, GAD diagnosis & depression. It was a game changer, I really felt like my counsellor understood the weird things I was doing & the reasons for my daily panic attacks & I now haven't had a panic attack for 10 years

Keep trying on the CBT as it very much depends on the therapist making it make sense for you IME. Also progressive muscle relaxation which is an active form of anxiety management (rather than the physically still mindfulness/meditation). PMR was a game changer for me in being able to calm the anxiety enough to make me able to apply CBT techniques. Look it up on YouTube as there are lots - Epworth Clinic and Uni of Utah both have good ones as do US Veterans.

Good luck OP

Also medication is ok as a temporary measure for me. Brings the anxiety down again so I can do something with it.

And a ridiculously mentally absorbing hobby. These may not be possible for you but I’ve benefited from very physical hobbies that require total concentration and the lift of stress on the mind has been amazing for me, because I literally can’t think about anything else. The current one is horse riding, you can’t think about anything else.

I suffer with anxiety. Medication didn’t help me but a book called ‘at last a life’ literally changed my life. It’s written by a guy called Paul David who suffered with anxiety and panic for 10 years and tried therapists, meds etc. Its the best £12.99 I’ve ever spent

Propanalol saved my life.

Therapy, Prozac and meditation. I'm now cured. You don't have to suffer with it OP

I was diagnosed with PTSD 5 years ago during a really tough anxiety period.

I did CBT and honestly it really worked. I still use the techniques now. I do have periods of anxiety, but I seem to overcome them easier now.

Oh thanks so much. I will definitely get that book. Yes to the poster who said meditation might make anxiety worse! I just sit there thinking these obsessive thoughts - it gives me time to dwell on them.

I need to distract myself but not with anything anxiety- inducing. Honestly, event TV makes me anxious!!