There are random moments in my life where I suddenly feel extremely frightened. My hands shake, my heart pounds, and I get into a cycle of negative thoughts. I am on Wellbutrin, but that doesn't seem to help at all as anxiety causes me to feel depressed and the Wellbutrin does nothing to prevent this depression. I keep worrying something terrible will happen, that I or someone I love will die, yet at the same time keep thinking negative thoughts about my loved ones. I know these thoughts are extremely irrational and untrue, but I hate the feeling I get and that's what makes me the most depressed. I don't know what to do, whenever I say I feel a certain way in reality I feel nothing except maybe fear. I can say I love you and for some reason I don't feel the same way I used to anymore when I say it. I'm afraid there is something seriously wrong with my brain, I keep experiencing depersonalization and feeling detached from the world. I keep researching about this, know other people go through very similiar things, and yet it still doesn't seem to help. I tried exercising today, and ended up feeling anxious and scared AFTER I worked out. What should I do? :(
My counselor told me the best way of overcoming this anxiety is to sit somewhere quiet, when it hits you, to take deep deep breaths and tell yourself, that nothing is happening and that you're okay etc. Works for me!
Try relaxation techniques. :) Good luck x
the way i've chipped away at mine is by doing the things im scared of, and being in the anxiety provoking situations, but startingatthe easier ones, not starting at the really hard ones. and by exposing myself to them, and not reacting, just waiting for the feeling to pass (because it will!) many times, i get used to the situation and no longer get anxious. and then i can move on to a scenario thats a bit more difficult.... this method is called Exposure/Response Prevention, if you want to look it up
this is my magical medicine cabinet. Left to right they contain: courage, hope, calmness, and strength.
The magical part: They NEVER run out, so borrow some any time you want.
It may be worth you asking for referral for an Anxiety Management Course. The Occupational Therapy part of your local CMHT should have these courses on offer.
The key to anxiety is stopping the cycle of thought. So, as soon as you feel yourself begin to feel anxious, use a distraction, breathing while counting, thinking STOP loudly in your head and other such things can all help, as they stop the anxiety manifesting and feeding on itself.
Learning breathing exercises is always good, as this helps calm the bodies natural adrenalin rush that comes with anxiety. The earlier you can start to use these techniques the easier it will get.
It does take a bit of practice though. If worse comes to worse, it is worth remembering that it can not do you any harm. You may feel stressed, and you may need to take a moment out to calm down, but there will be no ill effect and you can move on once calmer.
Be gentle with yourself. There is no miracle cure, but you can get there.
Roiben x
If the Human brain were so simple that we could understand it, we would be so simple that we wouldn't.
I struggle with anxiety so my cpn told me a few things to do. One was to exercise as it get rids of any excess adrenaline (sp?) another thing was to avoid drinks like coke, if am worried about something write it down. Wheni start to feel anxious do some deep breathing and tell myself it's ok etc and the last thing was trying to figure out why am anxious, eg alot of coursework, was one of mine .
I just did a 6 month recovery course but my anxiety has become ten times worse, espcially since i came off lexapro! I wish there was a proper cure, but facing my fears and avoidences has become to much and i just break down :(
I struggle with anxiety and I try to avoid caffeinated drinks where possible as this provokes it. Also, I don't know whether you drink alcohol but that worsens it too. When I feel myself becoming anxious I take a deep drink of water and focus upon that and it's route through me which is calming. Another thing to do (and I constantly have one during exams) is to suck a mint. It clears your nose so you can breathe better and definitely works. I always, always have mints with me for this reason.
The important thing is not to become afraid of anxiety. I found that the more I feared panic attacks, the more they would arrive. If I thought the would get out of control then the likelihood is that they would do but if I told myself that I could get a grip and start breathing again then that would mean things worked out better. If I told myself that I wouldn't let them get to me then I wouldn't allow them to. That train of thought is very difficult to master and it took me a lot of work and perseverence and utter fear but I am stubborn and it happened.
Be careful when you talk about them. It's fair enough to bring it up with a counsellor but I find it difficult to talk about them because that brings on the feeling that I'll have one. Like writing this comment for example, that's screwed my breathing but then, that's because I wanted to answer you and I'm a muppet :D
There are lots of breathing exercises that you can do and they are helpful. I like to count. In 1, out 1 - repeating the numbers calms you down more. My teacher told me a breathing technique once (very cheesy but it works!) about breathing out all the negative energy and breathing in the positive energy and actually feeling it leave/enter you from your toes to your head. It's really weird, if it works, but it's good and it helped me loads when I was struggling with exams and anxiety.
Another breathing technique was suggested to me by someone on here (they're incredibly awesome :D) and that's to use colour. Breathe in as if you are breathing in a colour and feel that colour. I know it sounds weird.
Also, wherever you are, focus upon the five senses and use them to take in your surroundings. Make it detailed so that you can properly calm down and distract yourself.
I hope that helps. Feel free to PM me.
Just keep telling yourself that it will not overwhelme you and that you're stronger than it.
