Have you overcome Generalised Anxiety Disorder?

[Beda]

I’m at my wits end really.

So sick of the constant butterflies and stomach in knots feeling.

Have been seeing a psychiatrist for around 18 months.

Im losing hope.

Any positive stories would be so comforting.

I probably haven’t been without butterflies in my stomach in over 10 years. It’s overwhelming.

Have you tried beta blockers?

Mine is managed very well with citalopram.

I’ve tried every drug going - sertraline, venlaxafine, Mirtazapine, citalopram, pregablin to name a few.

Can’t say they’ve really worked. They may slightly reduce my overall anxiety but no way has it been eliminated

I was given propanol for big meetings at work. No impact whatsoever

Have you had any psychotherapy? To explore the origins of your anxiety.

I found this helped a lot. It certainly didn't get rid of the anxiety altogether but made it more understandable and manageable and liveable with I suppose.

I don't think GAD can be eliminated, just managed.

I'm currently resorting to hypo therapy and hoping it makes a difference!

I've had a lot of different kinds of help but what's helped the most was also the most simple. I set an alarm to remind me 4 times a day to breathe in and out to a count of 10. This was suggested by my counsellor and has in effect trained me to breathe deeply when I start to get anxious. It takes 2-4 weeks to kick in but it's worth it.

I needed 40mg propranolol 4 times a day to control mine.

I do weightlifting now which has the same effect. There are options.

I really feel for you @Beda, it's exhausting and overwhelming but it is possible to substantially improve things, not eliminate anxiety of course because anxiety is a very useful thing at an appropriate level, but definitely improve its interference in your life.

Have you had any CBT? At the root of GAD is an intolerance of uncertainty and there are some useful approaches in CBT that examine your present day thought processes (not the content of thoughts so much) and behaviours that may be maintaining the constant worry, but also some of the core beliefs that are not always obvious to us but can fuel the problem. Knowing where GAD might have started is useful but really it's a problem of functioning today and that's where a CBT therapist would focus.

If you look on the BABCP website at the CBT register you will be able to find a properly (specifically) trained and accredited practitioner who should be well versed in treating GAD (it's very very common). Or your psychiatrist may be able to point you towards a BABCP accredited therapist. You might find this book helpful but it's obviously not a replacement for therapy, but may be interesting www.amazon.co.uk/Overcoming-Worry-Generalised-Anxiety-Disorder/dp/147210742X

I really hope you get the right support so you are able to manage your anxiety 💐