Anxiety

[Ataloss44]

Hi,

Im suffering at the moment with great anxiety. I’ve always had it and it comes and goes . My life would be so much better if I didn’t have it.

I cant concentrate, eat or sleep - last night I had to take two nytol and that didn’t really work I managed a few hours.

Im shaky and frightened if I’m being honest. I know it passes but that doesn’t help me now.

My mind is whirring I can’t focus non stop intrusive thoughts.

Am already on anti depressants for anxiety it’s not doing anything right now.

Please tell me some coping tips and remind me that this too shall
pass

I'm exactly the same as you but not on meds but looking into taking some again because this is no way to live. What meds are you on?
Cbt, therapy and counselling did nothing for me x
You're not alone x

@Dawn1331 its terrifiing isn’t it ?
20 mg of fluoxetine at the mo. It’s not touching the side. I feel like a zombie. New symptom is now a ringing in my ears.
The GPS are useless as they don’t understand it .
Yoga sometimes helps me. Can’t concentrate to have a conversation even ! . How long have you had it ?

Basically my whole life. Tried serialise, citalopram and now banned seroxat. I felt numb on them, unable to sleep, zero sex drive, no humour and a general disconnect.
I don't know what to do or try now x

I began to suffer with intermittent anxiety a little while ago and realised that, for me, this is part of perimenopause. I have now been on HRT for about a year and feel so much better, although I still have the odd bad day/night. Not sure if this is relevant for you or not.

Have you tried a meditation app to help with sleep? I use Insight Timer, which is free. There are a few Yoga Nidra tracks on there which are very effective for me.

Restorative yoga. Do it every day. Look if any meds are causing anxiety as a side effect. Cut down caffeine. Drink lots of water. Eat a boring breakfast. Take iron and b12 if levels are low. That helped me, but I still get it a bit.

I'm on hrt too and to start it really helped but the past 6 weeks have been absolute he'll x

I genuinely find breathing exercises help. Do them regularly.

https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/self-help/guides-tools-and-activities/breathing-exercises-for-stress/

And this is helpful:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1849018782/ref=tmmpappswatch0?ie=UTF8&qid=1691936747&sr=8-1

Thanks all … yes the fluoxetine I think used to help me. Not now. Side effects are total lack of sex drive which doesn’t help in my relationship 😟.
am also on hrt that helps with other symptoms but definitely doesn’t help with anxiety.

Restorative yoga sounds good will try. Exercise does help but not with thru episodes as simply not got any energy it’s like I’m in total survival mode.

Maybe there are some new drugs out that would ease things.
Im seriously thinking of going private as it’s that bad

I agree about survival mode it's horrific. I've looked at private but basically offering the same as NHS medication wise.
I really thought hrt was my miracle but its not - its helped but not with the anxiety x

What's causing you to feel anxious? Finding the cause is often the the best way of dealing with it.

Mainly health anxiety but can be anything. No rhyme or reason and no triggers but when it starts it's crippling

Sertraline helped me with severe panic attacks within 3 days of taking them.
Sent my sex drive through the roof at well.
It was amazing for me. I know it doesn't work for everyone but fluoxetine didn't help me so you never know perhaps we have similar brains and sertraline might help you like it did me.

Sertraline was good initially but stopped working. My sex drive was zero and I felt just flat.
Heard of one called Buspar but not even sure its in the UK.
I wish my brain was like yours x

Sorry you're struggling too xx

Mine is epilepsy meds related so possibly a bit different knowing theres a specific cause but sending solidarity. Severe anxiety is shite.

Avoiding alcohol and caffeine.

Yoga, even a few positions over a few mins. I like staying in cobra for a while best, then a few low lunges. They are strong 'upright' positions which make me feel more positive.

Trying to break down to myself what I'm anxious about and whether being scared helps or makes it worse (I know that sounds glib, it's not meant to).

A short kettlebell routine, 5 each of maybe 10 different exercises interspersed with 5 swings. It's a condensed Caroline Girvan short routine. I know how exhausting the anxiety is but the physical exercise seems to crack me out of it sometimes and I have a big releasing cry.

Do you have any pets? Stroking the cat helps me.

Audiobooks. I like the classics as they are often hard for me to concentrate in print thanks to meds and ADHD.

Music- anything with cello is my choice.

Basically what I find helps most during these shitty periods is keeping some sort of forward motion even if it is at an immediate cost to me. Not saying this is right for everyone but if I can say 'I went to the supermarket today' (big trigger when I am bad), or 'I did X piece of life admin', or 'I put a wash on' at the end of each day then it helps to calm me down knowing I am still functioning and the problem is therefore the anxiety, not the things I think it could be.

Hope you're feeling better soon xx

Thank you for your tips and positivity! X

Yes thank you all for your comforting words of advice it really helps. I’m always less anxious as the day goes on which is a blessing . Am hoping the nytol will work tonight. Yes I have two things on my mind that are not helping with this. One is social anxiety so anything even in small groups I find very difficult 😞, second thing is have had a falling out with father - he really had a go at me very angry over nothing really this has knocked me sideways

I've been suffering the same as a result of a major work upset and false allegations. I'm endlessly ruminating. Heart beating fast, no sleep for two nights, feeling sick to my stomach etc. I did manage a swim today and that has helped somewhat. I'm also now just drinking calming tea and avoiding alcohol and caffeine. Small steps. Hope it passes quickly OP.

@cosmos4 that sounds awful.. well done on the swim though ! That wouldn’t have been easy . Yes it’s the rumination isn’t it ? You can’t switch it off it isolates you . Hope you get your work situation sorted out and can find some peace

Hi how are we all doing now ?
Ive still got my anxiety 😟 but it’s fading a bit.
Plan for me try and switch meds see if anything else is more effective.
Cut down caffeine.
More exercise/yoga.
less social media as this contributes I suspect.

Hi, yes mine has quelled quite a bit after what was an awful weekend last weekend - thank goodness as it seemed like an awful turning point for me at the time, in terms of losing a grip on my mental health. I've kept away from alcohol and coffee but was thrown into a busy second half of this week with travel with family that was already planned. I was dreading having to pick myself up, pack and be in charge yet again but it's been ok so far and I have managed to sleep better. It's kind of been helpful being 'away from home' and all the jobs to do. Glad you have managed to rebalance a little and hope any change of meds helps. I think trying not to be knocked by other people's problematic behaviours is the key - it's about our reactions to things that are out of our control and being able to focus on the things we are choosing for ourselves instead.

It's on it's way down, glad yours is slowly reducing and you've got a plan. I keep waking up at night with huge adrenaline rushes but used to it now at least

Yes today do feel calmer but extremely tired ! It’s like after a bad anxiety episode because you’ve be on high alert / adrenaline you have a big slump ! I could just lay still all day can’t though as got to work

Mines is up and down, its like I get sucked into a vortex then spat out.
Day 7 on duloxetine x

Guided meditation and vagus nerve exercises. The latter felt like nothing was happening, then suddenly something released and since then I have felt quite a lot better. Will keep doing it and see if this keeps it under control. If not will try meds.