Severe boughts of anxiety that lasts weeks

[littlefox90]

Hi, Im just looking for some reassurance I guess. I have been suffering with anxiety on and off for the last 3 years (longer than that but more manageable)
I have had 4 boughts of anxiety in those 3 years and each time it can last weeks. I was put on citaplopram 20mg last time, around a year ago, but a recent life change (pregnancy) has made it flare back up. My GP has upped my dose to 30mg and had reffered me to perinatal mental health.

I just want to know if anyone else has been through this? When Im not anxious I'm really well but when I have ab "attack" I struggle to eat, can't sleep and the anxiety is constant day and night. I literally can not function.

Has anyone elses anxiety followed this pattern? Does it get better with medication and CBT ect. Something can happen and I won't even get warning signs just full blown out of control anxiety one day 😕

What are you anxious about? What thoughts are going through your mind?

Everything. First time it was set off because a lot of bad things happened at once. My ex was stalking me, my grandads passed, I had to put my dog to sleep ect all in a space of 3 months. Then I met my current partner.

The second time was about 8 months after we met, he made and innocent joke about his ex and it just sent my anxiety sky high.

Third time: I lost my job and then started citaplopram.

This time: I've found out im pregnant.

Each time I worry about everything. I think about why this keeps happening to me, how I'll cope, the possible things that might make me feel like this again (menopause, losing my mum, my daughter moving out ect), then I think I'm going to end up on my own and how I'll have to keep battling this. I don't think I could manage on my own in the future if this keeps coming back. My GP has suggested it could be generalised anxiety disorder.

Thank you for replying to me x

Yes, it does sound like GAD, although anxiety is anxiety - the names (health, social, generalised) are linked to the specific triggers rather than different feelings/thought patterns.

Think about all the things you've been through. What's the common theme that runs through them? You coped, that's what. You didn't know how you would, you might not have coped as well as you could (ain't hindsight wonderful?!) you probably had to think on your feet and make it up as you went along but you did cope. Humans are incredibly adaptable and resilient, even if it doesn't feel like it half the time.

To understand what anxiety is, why we need it and how we can work with it rather than battle it have a look at this video;

Thank you ever so much ❤️