Anxiety
 

Does anyone know of any effective ways to cope with anxiety and work through it? I am anxious about doing many daily things, like going to collect my prescription, but something like that is over with fairly quickly. My main problem is being anxious about going to my voluntary work. I worry about it every day even though I only work two days a week. I absolutely dread going in but when I get there it's never as bad as I imagine it to be. I try to keep telling myself that it usually goes ok but that doesn't stop the anxiety. Many times I have made excuses not to go in because I have felt an overwhelming level of anxiety.

It's not just connected to this work, every job I have had has made me feel like this. I don't want to have to just get by and put up with the anxiety because it is making every day of my life difficult. I was on Pregabalin to help with my anxiety but was taken off it when I was put on Risperidone. I don't know if medication would help anyway.

i know what youre going through. I always have a certain degree of anxiety as well.. somedays are alot worse than others.
There isn't really alot you can do ..or at least that i ahve found.
xanax helps me alot.. i only take it as needed( even tho im perscribed to take 1 mg 3 times a day).. an entire 1 mg puts me to sleep so if i get anxiety at work I break it in half .. it helps. i am also able to read alot at my job so if i can calm down enough to read it helps a bit as well.
I have been working at my job the same place for almmost 3 yrs now and there are still days where my anxiety is so bad that i am afraid to go. but i force myself. another med (one that helps and im supossed to be on but havent been able to get my refill for 3 or more mths now) is Buspar. It is specifically for generalized anxiety disorder. It did seem to help some too while i was on it. (Hopefully I'll get back on it again soon)
you may want to ask your dr about being put on it.

I wish I had some magic fix-it -all technique to tell you to help.. trust me.. god knows i want one too..b ut ive told you all i know to help..
hope it helped you a bit..
take care and gl and pm me if you want ok? because i REALLY DO understand what youre going through.
L

I would recommend asking to go through an Anxiety Management course via your cmht. It is normally held through the Occupational Therapy part of the cmht rather than the psych part, but they can still arrange it via cmht (as they did for me). It is a very useful course that teaches you about Anxiety and helps you develop skills to use to cope with it. As a part of it, you could look at the work situation for you and how you could handle and work through the Anxiety.

Is there something specific about going to work that makes you anxious? If you can pin-point the trigger, it may also help you to rationalise it.

Be gentle with yourself.

Roiben x

Thank you both.

I think what i'm most worried about is there not being enough work for me to do or the work not being stimulating enough which leads me to have time to ruminate and notice my negative feelings more. I could try to explain this to someone at my voluntary work but I feel a bit embarrassed about it. They are really lovely people and I know they wouldn't react badly but they can't give me work that isn't there and if certain tasks need completing I should do them even if it's simple things like cutting things out.

Like others have said, there's no magic answer...one thing that comes to mind for me is never letting your anxiety win. Don't let your anxiety keep you from going to work, even though that can be really, really hard. What helps me when my anxiety acts up is I just focus on the next little step, or the next few minutes. So if I'm anxious about going to work, I'll just make a goal of going out to my car. Then, once I get to my car, I make a goal of driving to work. Then going in to my work's building. Etc. And I always tell myself that I'm not trapped--I can stop the process if something goes wrong. But I make myself go to work no matter what my anxiety says, because I don't want to reinforce my anxiety. I hate not having something to do, too--I start feeling agitated when that happens. Maybe you can bring little things along for you to do in slow periods, like crossword puzzles or a book to read? Or try doing some meditation/relaxation exercises during those times--you don't need to bring anything for those :)

I was on Risperidone for a little while, but it didn't help my anxiety. Meds that have helped: Buspar, Effexor, Pristiq, Luvox. But everybody's different.

I over-ruminate if I do not have much to do, so am very open with the people I work with and make a point of being busy and multi-tasking. I think it may be a good idea to let your work know that this is how you prefer to work. I know that in the past when I have mentioned depression etc they have suggested reducing my task-load, but I had to explain to them that for me that is counter-productive. Everyone is different, but some places may think it is easier for you to have less to do, and it may be that all you need to do is tell them (just be aware it will lead to being given more work to do).

Beth's idea of breaking the event down into smaller goals is good, and one I use sometimes.

Be gentle with yourself.

Roiben x

Hi i wish i had a magic cure too. I have suffered with this since being a teenager and especially centered around work because of the feeling of being trapped in a place and upsetting someone (boss) If i have to leave. I essentially just get through the day look back and think how the hell did i manage it. But here is some of my tricks

1. I keep a polo lodged in the back of my mouth and concentrate on that polo#
2. I make a list on my phone breaking down the day and tick them off when ive completed them.
3. Concentrate on my breathing which im sure you've heard before

Ive bailed on a few commitments due to it and i feel it really doesnt help me because it makes me even more panicy about the next time i have to go to work. So i try my hardest to get through the day the best way i can. It sucks.
Im sorry i cant be more helpful to you
xx

I get severe anxiety on a daily basis due to my Asperger's. It is very hard to control, I agree, but the course roiben mention sounds good. Do you have a friend or family member that could support you? I have a good friend that comes to my house 3 times a week after work and helps me with things (also I live in supported housing).

perhaps some as needed (PRN) medication may be useful. Not everyone likes meds though. Are your voluntary workplace aware of your problems? If not, and you feel comfortable doing so it might be useful letting them know.

Thanks everyone.

I have told someone at my voluntary work who said that there is no pressure from them and that it's ok for me not to come in if i'm not doing too good. I'm also seeing my GP on Wednesday and will ask her about medication.

I don't know what to do. I have just spoken to my OT and she seems to think that I should either ignore my anxiety or try some techniques that I have tried before that don't work for me. She is totally against medication. I don't know if I should even mention my anxiety to my GP now, if I talk to her about it my OT might think i'm going against what she wants. I feel like no one is really listening to me.

Thanks. I saw my GP and she has put me on Buspirone for 2 weeks until she gets some advice from my psychiatrist. I'm scared that he won't want me to be on any more medication. I need something to help with the physical symptoms so that it might be more effective when I try some reassuring self talk.

Good luck.

Try some mindfulness and grounding exercises when the anxiety hits. :) The take practice, but they really can help.

ignoring anxiety? haha you should ask her /him if they ever experienced and anxiety attack .. then tell them to "just ignore it" grr..

my mom has anxiety even tho she likes to pretend she doesnt and her famous cure is to "get pissed at it and say "ive had enough" "
tried .. doesnt work for me

I'm really annoyed, I wasn't given any Buspirone today probably because my psychiatrist has stopped it. I feel like no one cares or is taking me seriously. They just want me to suffer through life. My psychiatrist thinks he knows me but he doesn't. He just decides what is wrong with me and what needs to be done without even asking for my opinion.

I had a worse psychiatrist before but luckily she retired. I liked my current psychiatrist to begin with but I saw a different psychiatrist when I was in hospital and she seemed to take me more seriously. I don't want to ask to change because everyone will ask why and will judge me.

i completely understand the fear of being judged.. boy do i ever..

well if people ask why you want to change just say you dont feel comfortable anymore. that should be all the explaination anyone needs .. its your personal life and feelings and problems not theirs so they dont need to know anymore than that and you have the right not to say anymore than you want to.