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Posted 12/31/2012 5:18 AM (GMT 0)
I have been having anxiety real bad recently; In social and work situations I feel very awkward and like I dont know what to say half the time..its like I'm in fast forward motion and the people I am talking to are in slow motion and I just cant wait to be done being around people! I also feel like my nerves are just shot, like the littlest thing (tv being too loud, or my husbands ex calling to talk to her boys every night) it just throws me over the edge!!! I am so irritable and nervous all the time. My daughter tells me I am grouchy and it makes me sad. It is also draining, some days I just feel exhausted. I am lacking in self confidence and I am having problems with racing thoughts going through my head. Its like I care too much what other people think about me too.... I cant relax for the life of me and I actually can feel my blood pressure and heart rate go up. Some times I feel confused and like my words arent coming out the way I want too, I am only 35!!!! I know everyone experiences anxiety, I just feel like I dont know how to cope with it anymore, like my brain isnt firing right, I feel very vulnerable too, like people can sense it and they can be insensitive. I used to take medication but I dont now and I dont want to go back to relying on it, I want to learn what things will help me relax, I know prayer and deep breathing on my break by myself is helpful. I just want to know if this will pass? I feel soooo ashamed too, like I am weak and flawed and a mental case :( I have been able to hide it in the past, but not so much anymore, any book you would suggest? or coping mechanisms? Thanks for your time!
Posted 12/31/2012 6:09 AM (GMT 0)
You're not weak, flawed, or a mental case. We all have issues, for various unknown reasons. I think it's great that you want to control things naturally. I can't recommend a book or any special exercise to do that will help, however you do have my support! I think it says a lot to admit ones flaws and to get feedback, like you did with what has been annoying or bugging you. Best of luck. I'm sure others will chime in.
Posted 1/1/2013 6:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there,

I know exactly how you feel, everything you've said mirrors how I'm feeling. I'm 23, and since moving to a new city I haven't been able to make new friends, what you've said about fast forward motion rings so true to me.

I want you to know that if you ever want to talk I'm here. You're not alone :)
Posted 1/1/2013 6:19 PM (GMT 0)
lifeisgood7

Welcome to the forum. First of all you have nothing to be ashamed about so please know you are a wonderful person who is going through a tough time.  You are special and unique and lose all thoughts of feeling you are weak and flawed.  That is  just your mind kicking into "stinkin thinkin" which it likes to do when we are feeling anxious.  Remember you are a good person that has anxiety, anxiety does not have you !

I'm truly sorry that your anxiety is so bad and really affecting you in a negative way. Do you have a therapist, if not, do you think you could try to get one? It's hard to try to deal with this on your own. Certain therapies, like Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy can usually be really beneficial for GAD and other anxiety disorders.

We also have some great self help sites listed in our resources:

Free on-line CBT programs

http://www.moodgym.anu.edu.au/welcome

http://ecouch.anu.edu.au/welcome

Anxiety self-help overview

 

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/anxiety_self_help.htm

http://www.counselling.cam.ac.uk/selfhelp/leaflets/anxiety

I am a 30 year survivor of living with anxiety and most of the time I deal pretty well.  I will share with you that I also have depression and medications are a must in my life so I have accepted that in order to be OK I take medications as well as I have an outstanding Psychiatrist. 

I am currently dealing with cancer and believe me I have beat myself up over and over for not being brave and tough - being weak and crying because I am afraid.  As I belong to a cancer support forum I shared with the members my fears and lack of feeling brave.  One of the members posted to me, " Scared is how you feel. Brave is what you do. I don't think anyone goes through this without being scared."

I hope you keep on talking with us here in the forum as we do not judge but are here to support you in any way we can.

Blessings to you and know I am here for you,

Kitt
Posted 1/1/2013 8:02 PM (GMT 0)
Wow, thanks for the suuport. I recently tried listening to relaxation music,and deep breathing. I also tried to feel my feet on the ground and actually feel every part of my body , as sometimes I feel flighty and it's almost like I have left my body and I am in fast forward motion ;I can't believe how much this has helped . also when I was headed to work , I did deep breathing and prayer it really helped me to be calm and not have that sense of dread and dealing with lots of people. being in a new place or job around lots of different people can be very stressful , I just worry about how everyone will perceive me , but I should know better because God is my Creator and he said I am just perfect the way I am, and I know that fear is not from him . I am believing for healing, it is so comforting to know that I am NOT alone and there are people who are going through exactly what I am! for now I will stick with the relaxation techniques I have learned online and I will keep you posted !!!! thanks again !!! happy new year !
Posted 1/1/2013 8:07 PM (GMT 0)
I am so sorry that you are dealing with cancer , I can't even imagine. I used to do medication, clonazepam 1 mg which I recently went through tapering off as it is very expensive for me to go to the doctor , and he would not recycle it because it had been longer than 6 months. Currently I am on wellbutrin 300 mg. I know my anxiety stems from coming off of my medications this last month, but I feel like I have made it so far and this website will help me I'm sure. I'm not sure who you are, but you are on my heart both of you, the one who has anxiety and is having a hard time making friends , and also the one who has cancer . I believe in prayer , I know I dont konw either one of you but you're both in my thoughts and prayers! wink

Post Edited (lifeisgood7) : 1/1/2013 1:14:03 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/14/2013 9:03 AM (GMT 0)
Lifeisgood7,
Sorry to hear your having a rough time :-( when it rains it pours & I could have written your thread myself, that's how fitting it is for me! I don't take any medication but I do attend therapy once a week and study online resources :-) best of luck to you..its hard but we'll get through this!
Posted 1/21/2013 4:26 AM (GMT 0)
Well, I feel like my social anxiety has settled a little; but I am realizing that things bother me now that did not before I came off of the clonazepam, its allmost like taking a pill was my way of dealing with any problem that made me anxious, and I never actually dealt with the problem, just made it easier to go through for the moment. I totally flipped out the other day when some boundaries were over stepped with my husbands ex. I cant believe how totally upset I got when I heard that she bought him a Birthday gift. I mean my heart was pounding and I literally could feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins, it was a total fight or flight response. Then I obsessed over it for a week even after we set some boundaries with a card that replied that it is not necessary for her to buy gifts for either one of us. I just could not get over it, and now I am having doubts about myself and my sanity. So anyways, I go through a week of being so upset and having obsessive thoughts and wanting to talk about it non-stop to get validation from people that I am right, I mean how ridiculous is that? I hate myself sometimes for letting myself get so upset and not dealing with it like a "normal person" and letting it go, though we did set some boundaries. I just feel so anxious whenever I have to deal with conflict, and I know this is normal but I totally second guess myself. I know that I would rather deal with it than be indifferent, because passivity is not the answer I just wish I could feel confident and not bothered so much by things. I take things so personally lately and analyze everything 100 times. Can anyone relate and how do you cope?
Posted 1/21/2013 5:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi l.i.g. :)

I am glad to hear that things are a bit better for you in regards to the social anxiety...

As far as feeling that you are more vulnerable to certain things since coming off your med...I think that is very understandable and to be expected.

It will take time to adjust. You are also learning your own coping skills to do the job that the medcation previously was helping you with...so be patient with yourself!

Keep up the good work with the self-help techniques. The relaxation and breathing are very effective aren't they? I know that it has made a huge difference for me.

The Resources that Kitt mentioned in her post are really worth looking into! The on-line therapy is very good, and there are other self-help ideas in there as well, such as book recommendations and informative articles.

The more you read/learn about and try as far as recovery goes, the better chance you have at managing your anxiety and feeling well.

Keep posting with us. It has made a huge difference in my situation...the support here is priceless!!

Scaredy Cat
Posted 1/21/2013 5:54 PM (GMT 0)
Lifeisgood 7,
Hi i know exacley how u feel i to am suffering really bad anxiety nd when you mentioned bout u being in fast motion this is the feeling i hate the most where you feel like you not here like u not in reality and this makes my anxiety worse and with the constant thinking that im gunna stop breathing and die yet i know all of its stupid but u still worry just to let u know ur not alone theres thousands of us sufferers out there.
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