To think actually nobody can help me? Do other people live like this too?

[SoStResseds]

I’m 37. I have struggled with anxiety all my life. I remember being 5 and almost being physically sick worrying about spelling tests and since then I’ve worried about everything under the sun… health, people dying, paranoia, thinking people hate me, worrying I will become bankrupt, worrying I will be shot while driving (?!), worrying I have offended people… it goes on and on and on. I have sought help often. Had therapy, it works a little and I am not as bad as I used to be but I’m still 37 and a huge proportion of my life is lived in anxiety. Is this just it for me? I have tried so hard, spoken to gp, read books, meditation. I’m too anxious to take medication so I haven’t tried that although it’s been offered over the years. I’ve been told it’s a sticking plaster anyway and not dealing properly with the anxiety itself. I know this has come from huge pressure academically as a child and I have had therapy for that. I understand I am probably of that nature too and it’s just been an awful mix of things and now I’m here. I genuinely feel mildly nauseous everyday even when I don’t know why im anxious. Do other people live like this too?

last night I convinced myself I was being made redundant and I spent literally four hours in the night lying awake worrying. Tomorrow there will be a new worry. It doesn’t stop.

I think lots of people take medication so they don’t feel like this. You could try something natural like v high dose Cbd prescribed by a psychiatrist if you’re wary of pharmaceuticals. You are so young and have lots of good life to live, really try to find a medication that helps you so you can live in a different way.

Oh wow that sounds exhausting.

tbh I would honestly try meds. They are safe and can be life changing.

you have years ahead of you. Give yourself a chance.

Drugs helped me.

Strongly recommended.

I think you should try the medication. It sounds like you've tried everything elsd.

Drugs to get the headspace for therapy. Without the therapy you won’t figure out why or how to cope.

Have you worked on it from the outside in? I mean by focusing on relaxing your physical body - breathwork, muscle relaxation or something like 5 rhythms dance? It may manifest in the mind and spiralling thoughts but if all the mind- treatments haven't helped, would body-first treatments be worth looking into? If the body is in a state of deep, relaxed bliss it would be hard er for the mind not to follow.

No advice I’m afraid, but Just to say I feel pretty much the same way as you, day in day out. I actually feel worse the older I get. It’s rubbish.
Back on the waiting list for more CBT.

Sounds you have OCD, instruisve thoughts is a big one. Sadly apart drugs or seeing a shrink... There's not much that can be done.

As a sufferer of OCD the ritual and compulsion kind... It's exhausting

I think you need to try medication, there is no reason for you to live like this, that’s a hard hard life with no joy. Take the meds op

@TotalOverhaul thank you. I genuinely have tried everything. It’s like some things help mildly but that’s it. The anxiety never leaves completely, ever.

I am very slim but eat well and I’ve been told by doctors many times that it’s the nervous energy I have. I am constantly on edge and I think it has a direct impact on my physique too even though my appetite is good.

@CompSc4542 is that what is it? I don’t consider intrusive thoughts as ocd but I had ocd badly in a practical sense as a child and teen, sometimes i couldn’t leave my bedroom for over an hour, it was horrendous.

You haven’t tried everything if you haven’t given medication a try.
I was very like this. CBT and medication have helped me. I get outside each day and exercise. I use mindfulness techniques too.

Yes, I was the same from a very young age too.

I'm slightly better now, and quite honestly it was age & serious illness that changed the way I mentally process things a bit.

Lots & lots of people are the same although, as said above, lots take meds to help.

What meds are people taking?

I am so anxious about it, obviously…. I feel so stressed about the idea of taking anything and what it might do.

This was me. Medication changed my life, wish I'd taken it a lot sooner.

I know you say drugs are a sticking plaster, but you sound utterly exhausted OP.

Maybe you could use a short term sticky plaster to let you rest for a while?

I really do think it's worth gathering all your courage to give meds a try.

Medication then therapy is the way to go

I'd second the poster who said about OCD.
I have terrible intrusive thoughts / catastrophising / spiralling / rituals and have diagnosed OCD. It's not in the traditional sense like obsessing over being clean but an example of something I've done at my worst was sitting in front of a clock and closing my eyes and thinking - if the clock says 12:02 when I open my eyes XYZ bad thing won't happen.

The main thing that's helped me is medication to reduce the attacks / calm the anxiety. Once I was in a better headspace due to meds, I have had private counselling which has helped with imbedding coping mechanisms. The key for me was going private and finding a specialised counsellor as unfortunately I wasn't able to access this in my area through the NHS.

I didn’t even realise I suffered from anxiety until my early 30s. That’s because it has been lifelong and was my baseline.

For me it was the result of being autistic and undiagnosed.

It also sounds like adrenal overload / fatigue. When you are ‘on’ all the time it puts the body under enormous strain. Address this now OP. Go back to your GP, get medication, find a
therapist. I’d also recommend yoga. you need to get your systems back in balance.

Sertraline has taken away most of my anxiety.
Unfortunately I don't feel much else at the moment but not being constantly worried about everything is worth it.
You sound quite bad so at least 100mg should help.
All the best x

I was like this. The amount I worried about as a child was not normal. The anxiety and worry has prevented me from doing all kinds of things. Antidepressants changed my life. I took Fluoxetine as I developed extremely bad depression (and had tried others but these worked) and they also massively helped the anxiety. I cam off them after three years and 18 months later the anxiety has not returned.

I was also wary of medication but it can be life changing.

I had a severe anxiety about something once . I was given drugs to allow myself to get of the mad roundabout of it all that prevented me from even thinking clearly. It provided space and ease from it all.
from a place of ease other stuff such as therapy may actually be more effective?
please allow yourself a rest and some ease if you can .x

Possibly a bit left field but have you ever had an iron panel done? Iron deficiency (eg low ferritin) can be a cause of anxiety for some.