My anxiety is consuming me right now

[anxiousallofthetime]

I’ve lived with anxiety for pretty much my whole life, and in recent years I think I’ve had mild depression. I have been on 50mg sertraline daily for 4 years and I definitely go through phases where I feel worse / worry more / have negative ruminating patterns.

However in the past week or so I’ve found myself struggling a bit. It all stemmed from talking to my friends, in a very informal/friendly environment, and I felt like I was losing my voice which has happened to me before when I have been anxious- even though I wasn’t anxious.

However my thoughts have just continued to spiral and earlier this week at work in a meeting I felt that awful feeling of panic where I was struggling to speak, breathe etc. I managed to recover but of course it’s all I am focusing on and all I can think about is feeling panicky all of the time - even in situations which shouldn’t make me panic. This probably doesn’t make sense- basically life just feels very overwhelming right now and I was just wondering if anyone else gets like this and how you deal with it?

I’ve got some propranolol which I might start to take. I know in the past these feelings have dissipated and I just have to ride it out, but yeah it’s not fun 😞

I’ve dealt with it by having somatic therapy, which focuses on where you feel emotions in your body and breathing and attunement with your body. Very helpful, if very challenging.

Oh I’ve never heard of that type of therapy

Anyone else feel like this / has ideas on how to cope?

anyone? 🥺

I tap between my eyebrows when I feel like I'm going to have a panic attack. It's a pressure point and does have a calming effect on the nervous system. Tap rapidly, count to 30 and if you're still spiralling start again. Sympathies op, anxiety is a fucking curse. It will of course pass but I know that's cold comfort when you're right in it x

This was incredibly useful to me when when I suffered daily

Also, if you have time, look into “Parts Work - Internal Family Systems”

Eye-opening stuff.

Can I ask how old you are? I've always suffered from anxiety but when perimenopausal it spiralled out of control. I was about 41. I had loads of therapy which I didn't find helped but when I went on hrt it completely disappeared.

I am 31. My periods have gone a bit funny this year and I’ve had sore boobs for about 5 days now even though my period isn’t due for another 5 days. So I am thinking it might be hormone related, but who knows.

I might try increasing sertraline to keep me more stable

My anxiety suddenly came on around driving. No I can feel panicky every time I drive and have had to stop going on the motorway, it's a nightmare. Sometimes listening to music, opening the window or adapting to a bad day and taking the train helps but I can't seem to get rid.

Maybe there are some good books to read?

Hello OP, I've been where you are and can reassure you that it will pass and you will feel better again. It's harder than it sounds but I think they key is removing the value and therefore fear that you give to the thoughts. They are just thoughts, they actually don't mean anything about you, your actions and who you are as a person.

My therapists has been amazing and I now have a lot of good coping techniques which have helped massively. A bit long winded to out here but feel free to PM me and I can try and summarise it.

Panicking about Panic. Really easy to.read and understand and v helpful.

Tapping on the clavicle helps me but breathing helps to. Not so much the breathing in but holding your breath a bit longer and letting the breath out for longer.
But I'm on sertraline as well. The breathing helps me ' push back' when I get overwhelmed.

Also, anxietyjosh is a good person to follow on Instagram. Reassuringly logical approach to normalising anxiety and making you feel less isolated.

I use propanolol but it doesn't stop the thoughts

Gosh this is me too. Fine on B roads and dual carraigeways but have the absolute fears about motorways and especially driving over motorway bridges to the extent that over the last two years I've started avoiding motorways completely. I never used to be like this until my 40's. I would love to know if there was any kind of therapy that would help.

I found act therapy helpful see the books by Russ Harris
Also some of the DBT skills helped

I believe 50mg if sertraline is a starter dose, so you could work up to a more therapeutic level with Dr advice

I highly, highly recommend Duloxetine for anxiety (alongside depression of course). It also helps with any nerve pain you may have.
I've tried Sertraline (spiralled out of control on that and Mirtazapine), Fluoxetine & Citalopram but nothing has come close to Duloxetine. Everyone responds differently of course but that's my experience.

I woke up this morning and have that horrible chest panicky feeling even though there’s no reason for it. Urgh I absolutely hate this 😭

I am worried if I increase my sertraline I’ll feel even worse, although my body should be used to it by now. I think I’ll call GP on Monday and try propranolol today.

I think the overwhelming feelings of foreboding were the worst for me but all of it is just your bodies normal reaction to adrenalin. The book I recommended explains all this so well and it helped me realise that the physical symptoms would pass and all would be fine.

Try some of the tips you’ve been given above

Propanolol is great @anxiousallofthetime but the intrusive thoughts remain

How have you felt as the day went on? The physical reaction is a normal response to a perceived threat. But it's not a real threat, and the trick is in believing that!