I need serious help with my anxiety

[Danieltiger21]

I have posted this is in mental health too but I don’t think it’s as active.

I have a phobia that is taking over my life. It’s always there but sometimes I have bad flare ups with it and it’s really bad. I am constantly panicky and on edge. I have had cbt which at the time was nice to talk to somebody about it but it hasn’t helped in the long run. I am also on 100mg sertraline which I do feel is working or it did at the beginning but I am wondering if the effectiveness can wear off. I sat in the bathroom earlier and just cried because I can’t take the constant anxiety over it anymore. I don’t know what else I can do. I can’t be arsed feeling like this for the rest of my life

Sorry you're feeling this way, things will get better although I know it doesn't seem that way to you right now.

I think you should ask to increase the Sertraline to 150mg. It can be very effective with anxiety at the right dose

Would it help to talk about what’s making you feel anxious here instead? I’ve been where you are and it was just awful, i promise you it gets better xxx

@Orangewall I have a phobia of myself and others vomiting. I know it sounds ridiculous because who likes being sick but for some reason the fear of it has taken over and my brain won’t accept rational thinking. I’ve suffered with this since I was around 4/5 years old and I’m almost 30 now😔 I got triggered by something earlier and since then I’ve just spiralled. I have my good and bad days but tonight it’s definitely a bad one! xxx

When mine was at its worst I was prescribed diazepam just to take the edge off for a few days. It was an absolute life saver.

A friend of mine recently self-referred to Improved Access to Psychological Therapies on the NHS and was seen quite quickly.

www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/nhs-talking-therapies/

Ooof that sounds rough. Of course your brain doesn’t accept rational thinking, it’s a phobia! Sometimes forcing yourself to undermine your fear can add an extra layer of anxiety onto the whole thing, there’s been some good resources shared here for you to focus on? Can you try to out think the spiral using some of the cbt techniques you’ve had?

It doesn't sound ridiculous (no more than the fact that by definition a phobia is irrational), it's actually not that uncommon as a phobia. I have it pretty badly.

I'm currently having CBT after self referring through talking therapies - is that an option for you?

Well done on being on sertraline, I've been prescribed several antidepressants over the years but never managed to take them because they can cause vomiting in the first week or so, so I'm too scared. You could talk to your GP about your dose maybe, if you don't find it effective?

I didn't have a specific phobia but did have HORRENDOUS anxiety, panic attacks, uncontrollable urge to pace, bowel disturbance and lots other symptoms.
I took the bull by the horns and did whatever I could to alleviate the symptoms.
I cut caffeine completely (I didn't ever have much but I noticed a good difference, and this means I don't eat chocolate)
Drastically reduced sugar (again, I didn't have a sweet tooth but it made a good difference)
Religiously exercised every single day (made a huge difference)
Counselling, took a while but again just to have an hour where its OK to speak about just you was amazing

My anxiety isn't cured but is about 70% reduced. I hope this helps you.

I second going to your gp. There are short term medications that can take the edge off.

I find it kind of "resets" me. I took an on sertraline, but recently had overwhelming anxiety. It happens from time to time. Usually I get anxious about something healthy related and then spiral.

I feel much better right now since the medication but am starting to worry about having to book the follow up appointment 🙄

Hi OP, sorry you're having such a rough time. You can recover from emetophobia, it's miserable but also 100% curable, as is any phobia with the right treatment. Proper treatment should include a very graded exposure to vomiting, moving on to the next step only when you're fully comfortable with the last. For example you might start with reading a description of someone vomiting or looking at a photograph - you do this over and over until it no longer makes you anxious and then you move on to the next step. A good therapist will also teach you anxiety management techniques. I would encourage you to go back to therapy - it will work if you work hard at it. Medication might dull your symptoms but will not cure the problem.

What @sleepybuthappy said. Phobias are overcome by gradual exposure. GPS prescribe CBT for bloody everything: physical health problems don’t get a one-cure-fixes-all approach, but for some reasons GPs think CBT is the one cure for all mental health problems. What you really need is someone who specializes in overcoming phobias.

Phobias of vomiting are the third most common phobia amongst women, by the way, so really quite common.

Same here. I'm forever grateful to the GP who allowed me this choice. I've used it (5mg) ad-hoc for over 25 years and have never had any addiction which is why they are so loathe to prescribe it these days. For me, the benefits outweigh the risks-for example I would not go abroad, or sleep anywhere else apart from my home, without them. I'm currently on 50mg Sertraline for depression and it's been great for that, and anxiety is slightly better but no SSRI or SRNI has helped me with it like diazepam does. I like a combo.

I'm 40. I had a fear of vomiting in public through my 20s. Then it went away for a few years. Then I had a severe panic attack and it triggered a new phobia - yey! - of needing to urinate and not bring able to access a toilet. It took over my life and was absolutely exhausting. I thought I'd lose my job.
Isn't it amazing how the brain works.
I'm in the best place I've been for many many years after completing a course of talking therapy, making lifestyle changes (being moderate with caffeine and alcohol, getting regular exercise, eating a balanced diet) and taking 40mg of Propranolol in situations where the 'toilet' thing might be an issue - long car journeys, using the Tube, formal work meetings etc.
CBT did nothing for me. Nor did hypnosis.
I also feel I'm slightly growing out of my phobias as I age, as I give less of a shit what people think of me - a lot of it (for me) is linked to perfectionism and parental expectations.

I am not trying to step aside the important role medication can play however I have done almost the same as this apart from the caffeine and can say that my life has improved hugely . If I don't exercise within two days i will be feeling rubbish and I do it at home using YouTube because I was too anxious and self conscious to go to a class. When the weather allows I put on headphones and speed walk - it helps so so much

do you have bupa or private medical
cover? If you do, there's excellent inpatient treatment for this phobia. Not available on the NHS, sadly.

Lifestyle has had the same effect on me. I think the importance of it is under appreciated.

@SlothsNeverGetIll totally agree - I have to watch everything: food, sleep, alcohol, what I watch ( too much violence) it all impacts me