Help with Anxiety!?!
Question: I am so sick and tired of being anxious all the time, feeling afraid to live my life because I'm always thinking that I am going to die or that something bad is going to happen to me. I have generalized anxiety disorder and I think I have health anxiety or something because I cannot get my mind off of my heart, I am 28 years old, no heart problems (all tests come back normal, perfect, no defect...etc.) I am at a healthy weight, I don't smoke, drink, or do drugs. Am I going crazy??? I look at everyone around me and I ask God, why can't I be normal and happy like everyone else. I am so sick and tired of this fear I cannot escape! I know dying is a part of life and I hope I don't until I'm very old (110 maybe..lol.) Maybe it's the fact that I can't control it? or I feel vulnerable? I don't know why I can't seem to shake this fear of dying, and or something suddenly bad happening.
Can anyone suggest ANYTHING (expect meds!!) that has actually HELPED them to overcome anxiety like this?
Answers: I am so sick and tired of being anxious all the time, feeling afraid to live my life because I'm always thinking that I am going to die or that something bad is going to happen to me. I have generalized anxiety disorder and I think I have health anxiety or something because I cannot get my mind off of my heart, I am 28 years old, no heart problems (all tests come back normal, perfect, no defect...etc.) I am at a healthy weight, I don't smoke, drink, or do drugs. Am I going crazy??? I look at everyone around me and I ask God, why can't I be normal and happy like everyone else. I am so sick and tired of this fear I cannot escape! I know dying is a part of life and I hope I don't until I'm very old (110 maybe..lol.) Maybe it's the fact that I can't control it? or I feel vulnerable? I don't know why I can't seem to shake this fear of dying, and or something suddenly bad happening.
Can anyone suggest ANYTHING (expect meds!!) that has actually HELPED them to overcome anxiety like this?
Hi there
The reason you are so anxious is because you are being run by fear, and your fear is only based on your own thoughts and beliefs about life. The best, and only way to regain control of your self and release your fear is to change your thoughts/ beliefs about whatever (dying/health etc). This sounds easy but will feel strange because your thoughts/beliefs have been taken on through your life, from when you were a child, and they feel 'real'. But with practice you change make positive change. All you need to do is work out what it is you are really afraid of? Ask yourself 'what will happen if i die?' 'What will really happen?' 'What if something 'bad' happens?' write down all the things that come up. The idea is when you get to underneath the fear and realise its not that bad after all. For example, if you are afraid of dying because you think it will hurt or your not sure what will happen to you - you need to look at this fear and realise that worrying about it will not make it any better, in fact it will only bring the possibility closer to you. The only thing you have complete control over is the present and your thoughts/beliefs about life.
So, the next thing to do is find the beliefs you hold that are making your feel so anxious, for example: 'Bad things happen to me' and all you need to do is change this around - its as simple as that. Choose to believe 'Life is great, I am healthy and completely normal!'. Repeat this (or your chosen statement) over and over again until you believe it. I guarantee your anxiety will disappear.
I hope this helps you , if you need any more clarification email me on barneta@optusnet.com.au
i went thourgh the same thing as you and im 14... my probelm was also ocd along with the anxiety disorder. i never liked taking meds because i thought it would make me even more crazy. I went to a therapist and underwent treatment for about a month. It helped me a lot. I can't even explain how much better i felt after evrything was over. I think talking about it to a person who knew what i was going through helped me a lot also. but that would be my best advice to you... good luck!!
This is an mental exercise my therapist taught me. This helps me alot when I am having compulsive thoughts. Its a visual exercise. Please try it. Breathe in and out.
Anxiety is like a big ball of fire. (picture this)
In the ball of fire there is flames
In the flames you see smoke
see the smoke go up, up, up in the air. Until you can no longer see it.
Research deep breathing relaxation techniques. there are several guided cd's that can help with this...I suggest checking out Prevention Magazine, Dr. Andrew Weil, Sound and Spirit book club, your local library.
Kudos for you for avoiding meds!
You sound a lot like me, no, actually you sound EXACTLY like me. That was a least up until 4 months ago when I became so bad with anxiety, exactly as you just described.
Because I had ignored it for so long the symptoms got worse and worse until I could hardly walk and couldnt hold my head up due to being so dizzy all the time. This was all caused by this constant fear that something terrible would happen. The best way I can describe how I felt, in short, was being too afraid to live and too afraid to die.
Anyhow, I ended up in hospital, they tested me for everything, I was cleared for everything, there was nothing wrong. the nurse told me I needed antidepressants, I told her there was no way. I was in hospital for nearly two weeks before I finally gave in and let them give me the antidepressants. I couldnt get out of bed, I could hardly walk without being hunched over, I figured it couldnt get any worse, plus the nurse was on my back every day, telling me how much I needed them. So I took 50 mg zoloft.
First day, nothing happened, second and third day I realised that the things that were making me cry, for no reason, at the drop of a hat, were not making me cry anymore, infact, no matter how hard I tried I couldnt cry! That was real wierd but it subsided after a few days. After a few weeks I noticed a small difference and after a couple months I started going into shops again, for the first time in years. Just the corner shop at first, straight in and out to get some milk or something, then I found myself, after some time, actually WANTING to go shopping etc... rather than just freaking out at the thought of it and finding any way not to leave the house due to general fears something would happen.
I wouldnt say I am cured, I still have a LONG way to go, but the difference the meds have made have given me my life back. I am now able to do things without worrying about dying or something going terribly wrong or what if something happened....
I am not having those irrational thoughts like I was before and I would say I am about 50% better than before. That 50% though, has been life changing.
I really suggest you see a doctor and no matter how scared you are about meds, just try them... nothing bad will happen.
Please email me any time you like.
I have never told anyone this, but I thought you might understand.
Goodluck
PS: These techniques people have suggested are good, but they dont work for everyone, especially if you have BAD anxiety. I tried all of them and nothing worked. I also purchased a book for $100 called PANIC AWAY, its an Ebook written by a guy called Joe Barry. It promised to rid me of anxiety, but it did NOTHING for me except waste my money. HOWEVER if you would like it, just email me and I could send it too you, you never know the techniques may help you. It cost me $100 but Id be happy to share it with you if you think it may help.
Anxiety is not the issue here. I call it a panic attack. You will feel the panic come on as certain triggers are seen, heard or felt. Try to isolate the trigger words or memories and get them down in writing so you can see more clearly the problems sources.
Hi,
people with anxiety can sometimes focus their anxiety on their health so that they become fixated with failing health and death.. it isn't that unusually.. it's related to OCD, where people become fixated with germs and hygiene.
I feel for you.. anxiety is a really hard thing to deal with..
There are a few things that can help which I'll list below for you:
CBT - cognitive behavioural therapy, has been proved to help people deal with anxiety. This is a type of talking therapy.
Food Supplements:
Cod Liver Oil - can help sooth frayed nerves.
Evening Primrose Oil - can help some people with mood problems, especially woman.
Herbal Supplements for anxiety:
Valerian - can be very effective for relieving anxiety (but beware that too much can be slightly depressive).
Passiflora - relaxing and can help sleep.
Lemon Balm - soothing
Kava Kava.
(please consult your doctor before taking any supplements because they can interfere with other medications).
Medication:
Unfortunately there aren't many (if any) effective drugs for anxiety which aren't habit-forming. Valium and all similar meds can only be used short-term because they become ineffective after a while, and so the dose always needs to be raised. Also, you can't come off them easily.. you get a rebound effect that makes you anxiety even worse.
Anti-depressants.
Some anti-depressants are effective for anxiety and helping OCD's such as some of the SSRI's such as Seroxat/Paxil
Relaxation techniques such as 'progressive relaxation' can be very helpful to help learn how to relax and to switch off your busy head..
I have found 'progressive relaxation' very helpful:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive...
Also consider whether you might have another underlying condition such as bipolar.. do you have mood swings such as depression and elated moods or a very 'fast' head with aggression or other negative emotions?
Have you talked to your doctor? He/She might be able to help you with some therapy or medication such as anti-depressants.
Best of luck and take care,
Zag
i used to have anxiety attacks and also just generalized anxiety and i managed it without medication with exercising every day. it really, really helped. i started at first by just going for a walk every day and then eventually started going to the gym. now i can't imagine not doing it. it really helps release all of that anxious energy. it will also help you psychologically feel like you have some control over your life and how you feel, which will decrease anxiety over time.
See anxiety treatments, at ezy build (below) in section 6. Set yourself a fixed limit for worrying about any particular subject, (say; 10, or 15 minutes) after which, resolve firmly to refuse to even consider that subject again on that day: realise and accept that to do otherwise would be counterproductive to your mental health, and enjoyment of life. Use the technique for reprogramming negative thoughts and internal monologue (self talk), on pages 2, and 2L, to help you in this: some people carry a wide rubber band in their pocket: put it on their wrist; stretch, and release, as a means of reinforcing it, and speeding up the process, re-pocketing it afterwards, but I regard this as being purely optional. Practice one of the relaxation methods on pages 2, 11, 2c, or 2i, daily, and when needed. Also, give the EFT a good tryout, to see if it helps you. There is also a version for use in public places, (if you like, you can claim to have a headache, as you massage/lightly tap your temples, but you would then be restricted to subvocalising: saying it to yourself in your mind). Section 53, and pages 2, 2.q and 2.o at http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris also refer: "Even though I sometimes suffer from anxiety, I deeply and completely accept myself." ~~~ LOW COST/FREE COUNSELLING: Contact your county/local mental health agency, and find out what help they can offer. Psychological counselling, with a sliding scale, based on income, is available through many religious organisations, such as Catholic counselling, the Methodist church, and the Unitarian Universalists. You don't have to be a member.
i'll be honest with you. i'm 24 and i was really struggling with anxiety too and i'm trying medications and i found one just now that is really helping. i'm not all the way there yet but it really helps. there are medications that you'll have no side effects with so i would reconsider the medication thing. if you want to talk about it ever i'm on aim and my screename is TheBTPYoda. good luck.
i hear ya! i have horrible debilitating & often embarrassing anxiety. i know you said no drugs but zoloft worked wonders for me. it doesn't alter your brain chemistry the way other drugs do. it just helps your brain build up serotonin which is a naturally occuring substance that makes you feel good. people with depression & anxiety have low levels of serotonin. "normal" people have much higher levels. i have generalized anxiety. it's always there to some degree but sometimes it flairs up really bad & i feel like a freak, like i can't function. well when i took the zoloft for a few months i felt so much more "normal". and after i went off it i felt fine for a long time. so i didn't have to stay on it for a really long time so i didn't kill my liver. actually i felt great for a while, only recently did i start having problems again (but i had some scary life-changing things happen & i am so stressed out. i think that triggered it again. ) i will go back on it again if i can't get a grip. i'm holding out hoping i can control it but i get tired of battling with myself over anxiety. i jsut want to be happy & calm like normal people & not a basket case.
anyway you could try bach rescue remedy (the version in the bottle that comes with a dropper). it works for a lot of people but if your anxiety is really bad it may not do too much. i find it helps manage it but not the way a drug like zoloft does. but it's a good option if you are looking for something that will help you manage & deal with the anxiety rather than take medication. Oh & they also sell it in pastilles & a spray version. i heard the spray version may not be as good/strong. i haven't tried it. but the pastilles i do have & i think they are pretty good. not quite as strong as the dropper formula but easier to carry with you. in a nice little tin they look like mints. so it's inconspicuos.
good luck to you i really hope you find something to help alleviate your problems. :)