Beating anxiety without meds

[Tea1Sugar]

Who's with me?

I had a god awful trial of Citalopram last week. Two words - never again. So I'm awaiting CBT, I'm now taking vitamins, I've bought self help guides and I'm going to (attempt) start running. Anyone fancy joining for moral support?

I'm thinking we should buy shares in Immodium!

I've got an occupational health check on Monday to see if I'm able to return to work and/or on reduced hours now my maternity leave is coming to an end. I fear I'm going to be crippled by anxiety forever.

No Tea you will find a way of managing it I promise have you read the panic about panic book?

I am back to work next week, feeling apprehensive about it but keen to get back to normal. I did a mindfulness cd last night, just one I got from Amazon and have actually felt pretty calm all day. Might be coincidence though I suppose however think will try and do it every night though for a while.

I am still struggling with physical health; headaches, diarrhoea, nausea and tiredness being the main problems. Had bloods and samples taken last Monday and haven't heard anything so assuming they didn't show much up. Am willing to accept they are all anxiety related but annoying to still have symptoms on days when I don't feel anxious!!

Sorry to hear things haven't been great (nor me too) but am trying so hard to stay positive. Had a bit of a weep this morning after 2 bad night's sleep. Weekends used to be when I slept best. But trying to apply the practice's of the sleep book and plough on. I feel really anxious today (due to lack of sleep). I went for a jog (1st time since being ill) which was lovely In the sunshine and I've got a yoga video for stress and did that. Have to say it really helped and calmed me down. I'm new to yoga but it was relaxing. I would recommend it.

We must stay positive, we CAN do this! It's just a bumpy ride but things will have to get better.

I feel like crying for finding a group of people so similar to me!!! Am suffering from anxiety that seems to last all day and night at the moment. Had a good phase, don't know what I did differently, but now on edge again. Am taking St johns wort for my low mood and vitamin b complex tabs as am trying to avoid AD after came off them last year. I worry over the slightest things and blast everything out of proportion. Am fed up of feeling like this!

Hi duggar. Great you've joined us, though sorry you had to find us. X

Thank you Tea. Feel that friends in RL don't understand or can't help anyway. I feel that even my DH Is losing patience!

Oh god no one in RL gets it. And if one more person tells me to "stop being ridiculous" etc I won't be held responsible for my actions!!

Within my team at work most of us have suffered with anxiety at one point or another!! So I do feel like I have had understanding from them however my friends have surprised me by not being as understanding as I thought they might have been.

Anyway I am back to work tomorrow - eek!! Am feeling anxious about it but am also looking forward to getting back to normal (hopefully) my stomach has settled down a bit and thats been 3 weeks since taking the Ads

Its my dds bday today, have said she can have 2 friends for a sleepover next wend so am hoping that will be o.kay.

Have been trying to do some mindfulness each day and think it is helping a bit.

Sending you positive calm thoughts for tomorrow girlie! Hope it goes well! And happy birthday dd. I am looking forward to half term where I can hide out at home for a spell and forget dealing with work and life in general!

Next thing to try on my list - reflexology. Anyone had any success re anxiety?

So I've taken a turn for the worse

Dr says it's a blip. I got do sleep deprived I got so panicked I lost the plot.

I've got some diazepam to calm me at night. Holding off on the AD's (for now) & looking into starting CBT again.

Feeling low but must remind myself I'll be OK in a few days.

Oh dear Bellini hope you are o.kay, lack of sleep is not good for anxiety. You will feel better in a few days I am sure.

Tea my mum does reflexology, well she used to and will sometimes do my feet for me I find it really relaxing and do like having it done. Was thinking I might book myself a massage at some point as feel like I need one!!

Thanks duggar I survived my first day back at work, it was o.kay actually and nice to be back although I am now totally knackered and have a banging headache hey ho, hopefully will sleep better tonight. Still finding it hard to get off to sleep and waking up at least once or twice, so annoying! Can anyone who read the sleep book thats recommended on here give me a quick overview on what is needed for a good nights kip please!!

Yes you will Bellini . Lack of sleep is a killer. I'm up half a dozen times with my 10m old baby who just thinks it's cool to party in the wee hours night after night.

So had my occupational health review. Agreed CBT and counselling is the best route for me. Been on waiting list 12 weeks so hoping/praying I'll get an appt soon. Still on maternity leave until April then will have a review again then and hopefully back to work in June ish when I've had enough therapy.

Thank you ladies. Had another bad night so been an anxious zombie today but feel confident (I have to) that will zonk out tonight. I'm hoping CBT will get my mind back in the right place too.

Well done girliefriend surviving your day at work. I will go back to the sleep book once I'm more regulated. It's based around positive thinking, knowing you will cope if you have a crap night and getting up if you can't sleep etc. She's dead against pills but the Dr and I know it's what I need right now.

Hold on in there tea. Hopefully you'll hear about an apt for CBT soon.

So I had an epic panic attack today ended up at the GP begging to be seen. The doc said something so helpful so I'm passing on some wisdom!
Doc - when did this first start?
Me - 7 month ago
Doc - and you're nearly 27, so that's 7 out of 312 months you've been alive. Only 2% of your life you've spent living with this. You'll beat this!!

Just wanted to say well done to you all trying to manage with panic attacks, anxiety and lack of sleep.

My anxiety and sleep has improved probably due to the ADs I'm on but also I'm almost through the worst time of year for me. I saw my doctor today and am staying on meds until end of March. Then plan to reduce a bit and see how I get on.

In my case I definitely notice a marked increase in anxiety symptoms when I don't sleep well but it can also be totally random.

Trying to take it one day at a time whilst training for a half marathon so at least have something to focus on and the running makes me feel good.

Hope you all have a good night.

Oh dear tea did anything trigger the attack? Have you read the panic about panic book? There is a bit at the back where he talks you through a panic attack - literally! I am planning on using this next time I have one.

I had my counselling session this morning, I am finding it useful. We talked about my pregnancy and birth with dd (she is now 9yo) it was not a great time unfortunately as I had gallstones and ended up very ill, the birth was horrific and then dd was very unwell. It was interesting that it came up as I wasn't really aware that it still effected me so much

I still finding I am getting some weird and random thoughts which only started when I took the ADs (I only took 2!!) I am trying to ignore them but they are not nice, normally centred around me dying!! This will sound ridiculous but I sometimes wonder if something bad happened to me in a past life!!

Also noticed there is something wrong with my cats mouth tonight, the corner seems all swollen. This has worried me a bit as I hate going to the vets and also I thought I was going to be alright financially this month!!

What AD's are you on orangeflutie if you don't mind me asking? Dr said I can try dreaded citalapram if in a few weeks I find I am still struggling on a daily basis. But this phase has come about from severe sleep deprivation so need to get that back on track. Considering I've coped for 20 years without I don't really want to go down that road (but then have moments of wanting it all to go away & lead a normal life).

Seeing a therapist today which will be interesting.

after a 4 month waiting list I'm finally starting CBT on the 24th!

That's great news Tea

Bellini I've probably said before, I take dosulepin. It's an older AD but it suits me very well. I take it in the evening about 2 hours before bed. It's great because it's slightly sedating so helps me sleep and also helps with anxiety. I was offered citalopram first but didn't get on with it. It made me feel really wired, like I'd had lots of coffee and I had no appetite so lost quite a lot of weight.

I have to admit I'd prefer not to take meds but I'm staying on them for the time being as I'm feeling quite a lot better than I was.

Thats great tea I reckon you will find it really useful.

Work was really busy again today, it's good in a way as keeps my mind occupied!

Work is good even though I often don't feel like going.

My dds are on half term next week and whilst I look forward to no school run, I sometimes find the lack of routine hard to cope with. We're going away for some of the week though so that should help.

I gave up meds at 12 weeks of with dc3 and have never looked back. I find normalizing anxiety and seeing it as a human emotion rather than an 'illness' made a huge difference. I had 30 sessions of CBT, did three Mindfulness courses, read a shitload of self help books but it was something through work that made the difference... am getting advanced training and supervision for my own work as a Healthcare professional (in a very different area to mh) on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and it changed everything. I was very severe at my worst (you don't get the level of intervention I got if not) but really I just don't react to anxiety at all any more, I just see it as absolutely normal and I truly recognise all my thoughts and intrusive imagery as just random mind matter that doesn't have to be listened to, focused on or responded to. So for example I had what once would have tortured me, a very horrific image related to my middle son being harmed this week but there's just no emotional response to it, I wouldn't even say that I have to attend to or notice that I don't like it anymore, there's no resistance, I appreciate it as just mental output. Good luck all. You don't have to live in misery xx

duplodon thats interesting thankyou thats sort of what I am trying to achieve. I think the mindfulness is def help at just accepting thoughts as fleeting images rather than anything 'real' that requires an emotional response.

Am also finding thinking of anxiety as just anxiety helpful, yes it feels awful and horrible but it is just a load of hormones and will pass.