I wanted to offer any help that I could as I suffered with anxiety and PND after my first child and then it came back after my mum died in unusual circumstances.
I went through the whole drug thing and it didn't work for me.. ended up panicking whether new feelings were because of the drugs etc... I read every forum, bought every book about anxiety, saw a councellor.. even tried hypnotherapy. I just wanted so badly to be fixed and get my life back for me and my family, I felt like there was something massively wrong with me and I would never find a way out of the prison.
By fluke I stumbled across the one thing that changed everything, I know it sounds dramatic but I think I'd still be screwed if I hadn't found it. It was a book by a British chap called Paul David 'At last a life'. It's simply his story and battle with anxiety but it just clicked for me.
He basically makes you stop kicking the crap out of yourself about it and over-analysing it all. Most importantly, I realised that there's nothing wrong with me and that I don't need fixing. If your leg was broken you wouldn't keep slamming it in a door so why do we beat ourselves up when we have anxiety? The symptoms of anxiety are essentially the effects of adrenaline and stress hormones on already frayed nerves that need time to heal.
There are no quick fixes, its just understanding what is going on so that you can escape the fear cycle. Its just awful feeling like you're going mad but I'd bet that you're not. Hormones have a lot to answer for and as others have said they can totally unhinge you.
I'm no good at explaining it but I would seriously recommend reading it. I bought it for Kindle but I guess you can get the paperback on Amazon. I kept reading it and reading it until it sunk in. Everytime my mind would try to fool back into thinking that it must be something more, I would just read bits of the book again and go and find something to occupy me like cleaning or going for a run (when I could get a break from the kids).
He has a website too that you might find helpful but I would suggest steering clear of forums on 'anxiety etc' and googling symptoms as it doesn't help - just focuses you more on constantly 'checking in' to see what you're feeling constantly. I remember doing the same and trying to get a label for every symptom. I know that people need support so I'm not saying don't go on them in that regard if you feel you want to - just maybe not to find answers IYSWIM.
All these other 'techniques' and self-help, CBT stuff etc. just stressed me out. I would get anxious about whether I was doing it right. After reading Paul's book I slowly got better day by day with the odd blip but the blips didn't stop me - I just accepted each day as it came.
Since then (it's been a year) I still get a couple of days before my period starts (clearly when my hormones go a bit haywire) where I experience some anxiety symptoms but it just doesn't faze me anymore. I just accept it and know that it will pass... and it always does.
Another tip is running or some other exercise. It naturally boosts your endorphins, a bit like a natural prozac to help you on your way.
Hang on in there and don't let it stop you living. That's a key point. Even if you feel like you're going mad please don't let the symptoms stop you from going for that coffee meet-up or that trip to the cinema with a friend. It might feel bloody terrifying when you're feeling bad but sticking your fingers up to the anxiety feelings is a massive step to recovery.
I honestly would never have believed in my wildest dreams that I could come through it but I'm living proof... I hope this info might help.
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