Crippling anxiety - what works for you??

[Letthem01]

Hi - have suffered from anxiety and depression for many years now and already take two anti-depressants. Have also been given propranolol - which is OK but not as effective as good old diazepam!

Am seeing a Trauma Counsellor and doing all the right things in terms of eating well, exercising regularly, have a good routine etc etc but find the anxiety really hard to manage.

I personally don't find that deep breathing works for me. I do a sleep meditation each night on the 'Balance' app but still find the anxious feelings difficult to manage.

Does anyone have any other tips and hints?? It's crippling me. :-(

Thanks in advance.
X

What caused the anxiety in the first place?

Good question - a combination of childhood trauma and a relationship breakdown/betrayal...

Citalopram and creating a safe environment for myself that is my retreat. Best wishes.

Not a good mix, but not one you have to live with long term. Trauma occurs when a part of the mind is trying to figure out what happened, why it happened and if you were culpable/could have done something to avoid it (you couldn't, but it's part of the mind's ruminating – hence the flashbacks, nightmares and 'what if' intrusive thoughts).

Your mind does this not to punish you, but to try and protect you from that 'thing' happening again. The subconscious simply doesn't know that you are an adult and that as such you are never going to be in that situation again. Once it knows that you are now safe and there's no value in trying to find answers to unanswerable questions it will simply stop. You don't forget what happened but the emotional bond is broken, so it no longer affects you.

Lots more info on my AMA.

That's useful - thank you - yes, I have been trying to make sense of it all for months! I am moving house at the end of the week so my physical environment will change although I will be in the same town. You mention an AMA - sorry to be dim but what is that and how do I access it ;-)

Here you go, it's a bit long now!!

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/AMA/4559328-im-a-hypnotist-remedial-not-stage-ama?page=1

Fluoxetine
Exercise
Time spent outside
Mindfulness

Citalopram

that is all

Read SELF HELP FOR YOUR NERVES by Claire weekes.
If you follow her plan it will change your life.