New and Needing Help

 I am not sure where to begin so I guess I'll just jump right in. I have never been diagnosed with a Anxiety disorder mostly due to the fact that I didn't want to be "crazy"  and thought that the only reasons doctors diagnosed people with anxiety disorders was because they didn't really know what was wrong so they pretty uch jut made up something to fit the symptoms. Now after dealing with this off and on for the past 10 years I have realized that I need some sort of help. I have been doing some research and it seems that what I am experiencing is Generalized Anxiety Disorder?

 A general episode will be triggered by a news article or something in the news such as a natural disater, war, crime or something else that I have no control over. I will become fridgety, then my heart will start racing, my palms will get clamy and it takes all the the concentration I can muster to keep from hyperventalating and breaking into tears.

 Mind you this hasn't been a daily thing for the past 10 yrs. Its comes and goes. It seems that when I am either really stressed it will flare up or when I am really happy. Its like my body has decided that I am not permited to be happy and it is going to sabotage me. But here lately I seem to be in a constant state of panic. I dont' know if it is just getting wore the older I get or if I was just able to handle it better when I was younger. Either way I need help an I don't know wher to begin.

 There is a family history of anxiety and depression in my family and not very many of them seem to have any luck with medications. My cousin is 3 years older than me and if he forgets his meds he goes off of the deep end. An unlce of my mother's took prozac and it did nothng but made him worse and he ended up commiting suicide. So I have a fear of looking toward medication that I think is a valid fear. I don't want to become dependant on medication but what I am doing isn't enough anymore.

 Can anyone help me?

 

I agree. you need to speak with a doc about the way you are feeling. There are so many different meds out there now. Please don't be afaird to tell your doctor you are uncomfortable with a medication. He can work around what ever it is that you don't wanna try. But start there and I think you'll be really happy you did.
your in my prayers. heres a big hug.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hi and welcome.......Anxiety is a tough one

I've handle my severe anxiety and depression with therapy and exposure alone and never used meds except 1/2 xanax here and there the last 8 yrs, but never a constant stream and I've had severe anxiety/depression for over 25 yrs).
I'm not a believer in medications to mask a condition. I believe in treating the cause, not the symptoms.
Medications are good for getting one over the hump but in no way should be used as a crutch for life.

Of course your cousin goes off the deep end, it's like taking a wheelchair away from someone who's disabled, they fall over w/out it. When you learn to deal/face your anxiety/depression head on, there is no need for the "crutch" of medication.

I'm not saying medication does not have it's place, but it should only be used to calm a person down enough to function and then become well enough to face what the real issues are.
Medications numb the brain, they don't heal the brain

I think it would be wise to look into getting some therapy. Unless you can talk about issues are have a good support team, this cannot be dealt with alone

Good luck

Jen

Wow, I must admit that I wasn't expedcting this much of a response. I guess I have come to the right place after all. Thank you everyone for your kind words and advice.

I was glad to read that chest pains and stomach problems are also symptoms related to anxiety because I was under the impression that was something different that was going on. I will wake up almost daily with a stomach ache and chest/back pains regularly. I thought the stamoch aches were caused by too much coffee. I stopped drinking the coffee and I am still having the stomach aches, but the heartburn is gone, a plus. And as far as the chest/back pain goes; I am a fairly large breasted woman so I have been attributing that chest/back pain to that.

I have not spoken to a doctor regarding the feelings partialy due to the fact that I haven't had health insurance since I turned 20 and was no longer on my mother's policy. I am tight on money and I am fixing to go back to school soon so that isn't going to help much. I have been looking into buying health insurance but for something I can afford there isn't much financial help and the coverage isn't that great. But it is better than what my employer provides which is a joke.

I never brought it up to my mother because she always gave my aunt a difficult time about all three of her kids being in therapy and all being on "drugs" The anxiety was only part of the problem with them. They had a broken home which led to behavioral issues as well so my mother was under the impression that all they needed was proper discipline.

There is a chacnce that my anxiety is being triggered by another condition, which I am not sure I have but will find out as soon as I get the bloodwork done. My mother has I hyperthyriodism and so do both of her sisters. My motehr has been driving me crazy about getting tested for it for the past 3 years now but again back to the insurance thing. I read at www.adaa.org that your thyriod can cause certain chemicals in your body to react and casue anxiety/depression in some women. I guess that is just one more reason I need to find away to get to a docotor.

For the most part anyone I have spoke to about my anxiety has told me that its normal and that everyone has these feelings/fears and that I just need to find something to distract myself. I have been trying to control the anxiety with Chakra meditations, music, reading, going out with friends etc. Pretty much anything that will keep my mind occupied. I have also tried aromatherapy, and some herbal remedies that I have some across over the years such as St. John's Wort. They all help with "minor" epsodes but with larger ones they really don't.

Ooh I agree get that Thyroid checked out. I was Hyperthyroid in 2004 and it made me so jittery and anxious. I hated it. But once I got on the meds for it, I began to feel much better.

I have occasional anxiety/panic. I take Xanax for it, the lowest dose they have .25mg. If I catch my anxiety right at the beginning and take my Xanax, I am able to stop it in its tracks. Hope you get feeling better soon.

Good Morning,

Well here is anxiety at work for you.  I am up at 4 AM on the site which is for me my own special therapy.  I loved to be able to help others so here I am.

Yes, please do get the thyroid checked when you can.  It is another possible cause for anxiety. Some anxiety can be good for us but to much is not.  If you find your self being over whelmed here is another of my favorite suggestions and it does work.

Remember this: It does not matter if you feel frightened, disorientated, dreamlike, or unsteady. These feelings are an exaggeration of the normal bodily reactions to stress.

Just because you have these sensations doesn't mean you are crazy. These feelings are just unpleasant and frightening, not dangerous. Nothing worse will happen to you.

Let your feelings come. . Don't run away from panic. When you feel panic build up, take a deep breath and as you breathe out, let go. Keep trying. Stay there almost as if you were floating in space. Don't fight the feeling of panic. Accept it; you can deal with it.

Try to make yourself as comfortable as possible without escaping. If you're on a street, lean against a post or a store wall. If you're at the cosmetics department of a store, find a quieter counter or corner. If you're in a boutique, tell the salesperson you don't feel well and want to sit for a while. Do not jump into a car and go home in fear.

Don't indulge in stinkin thinking, "Why can't I be normal ? Why does this have to happen to me?" Just accept what is happening to you. If you do this, what you fear most will not happen.

Think about what is really happening to your body at this moment. Do not think "Something terrible is going to happen. I must get out." Repeat to yourself "I am ok, I will not die or lose control."

Try to distract yourself from what is going on inside you. Look at your surroundings. See the other people around you. .They are with you, not against you.

When the panic subsides, let your body go loose, take a deep breath, and go on with your day. Remember, each time you cope with panic and anxiety, you reduce your fear.

^{Gentle Hugs
Kitt}

Tormented,

Good luck in dealing with the weather. I hope you'll not have any problems from Fay.

percycat

so I stayed home today out of the weather and I had a pretty good day. The only problem I had was when I started thinking about the "what it's" and then I found myself getting anxious. I quickly found something to keep me occupied and it helped. My question for youguys is does that happen to you? You're having a great day with someone you love and your happiness seems to trigger the anxiety of "what if".