how do you deal with the anxiety?

I don't mean to sound unsympathetic, because I am, but pretty much, I do not pay attention to things like other people, unless they really are extremely important. So I sort of ignored how I felt every moment, or I would have gone crazy (I think). I had 2 kids and a newborn, I kind of didn't have time to get anxiety because there was no one here to help me, hubby was working. So, I would try to keep busy, read (if you can), listen to music, take a walk, anything to relax you. I could not really do much, but anything that you can do, try to get your mind off of the pain and suffering.

I was depressed at some point because on top of all of the above, I got into a car accident and I could barely move and take care of my children being sick with lyme and barto. Cymbalta helped me for a few months. When I was able to move around a little better, I stopped Cymbalta. I would detox as much as possible if I were you before running to the pills. But if the pills help, than take them. Cymbalta really helped me and gave me no side effects. I got heart palpitations a lot, but I can't say that was anxiety because it was not, I was perfectly calm. It was my heart acting up from lyme. I never got palpitations before or after my treatment finished.

Lastly, but most importantly, praying helps me a lot (the most). It really does work, and in my worst moments a pain due to the accident and not being able to take ANY potent pain meds bec I was pregnant, prayer is the one and only pain medication. And I was hurt badly: dislocated disk--badly. Good luck, I hope it helps, sorry I am a little abrupt, I don't know how to say things better, like other people!

^ Traveler you should be able to treat people for lyme with all your knowledge! I had to start taking zoloft only 25 mg, smallest dose and it has helped me 100% I plan on getting off it when spring hits... I know there are natural meds for anxiety too but zoloft has always helped me... I take ativan as needed BUT only asneeded because it doesnt work long term... I believe xanax is this way too, I was so bad I was having panic attacks in the grocery store, completely isolated myself... I have a history of anxiety but never that bad, it was def. The lyme, Good luck! Its hard to heal physically when you cant heal mentally, also my Dr. Told me the best advice "Tiffany, you need to relax, try to watch funny movies, read a good book, do what you enjoy doing or you will cause more problems" and also I agree with Traveler... DETOX! I am new to lyme and still trying to get a good detox routine down

I have to echo the comments here… my coping mechanisms depend on the intensity hitting me. If it's low to moderate anxiety, I can get relief by exercising—and for me that is mainly riding my bike (I have trouble walking—legs just don't want to cooperate and it's painful but I can ride my bike all over town some day).

Other days, it's helpful to do little activities (that are HUGE efforts on my bad days) like clean the house, reorganize a closet. It can sometimes take me an hour to change the sheets on my bed. All day to do the dishes.

Some days, it's all I can do to catch up on emails or do something on my computer but it's enough of a distraction that I do calm down.

If it's not too much stimulation, I've enjoyed getting drawn into a movie—better yet, binge-watching a TV series. If it's good enough I can forget everything around me.

Other days, I'm in absolute crisis. Meltdown after meltdown in panic or fear or anger or sadness or confusion or whatever is striking me. And it's all I can do to just let it happen, not fight it, not judge it or resent it… just let it wash over me. Afterwards, if I can find the cognitive connection to reach out —make a post on this forum or email someone, then I win. That is the hardest thing for me to do because I've always been so insular my whole life. But I'm learning that it helps in some situations.

And ALWAYS I do something to detox… that's a huge issue for me, too and whenever I increase it, I feel better. So many toxins in my brain. :(

-p