Anxiety making me feel like I am losing my mind

Sean,

I was dx with anxiety and depression in 1982.  During the years from 1982 - 2005 I did really good minus a few rough spots which I recovered from rather quickly.  Little did I know the worst was yet to come. 

In 2005 I had a major meltdown and it took me well over a year to get to a place where I began to feel like I would be OK again. Over the years I have had 2 huge challenges.  It feels to me it is all the little challenges that throw me off balance the most.

You are doing good - keep on using the skills you have learned and be sure to love yourself. 

I hope you feel the strength of your fellow members as they surround you with support here in the forum.

Kindly,

Kitt

SBS.,

I have felt exactly that way many times. It used to freak me out, but I learned to ignore it, and let it subside in its own time.

I kept telling myself that since it had happened before, and resolved itself...then I could get through another episode.

DP/DR is a common symptom and can often be relieved with a combination of coping skills (breathing/PMR) and not giving the anxiety any more power, by simply accepting the feelings.

Admittedly, this was not one of my most dreaded symptoms...so if it is yours, you may have to work hard to get to the point of accepting/simply observing the symptoms without fear...but with practice you will get there.:)

Best wishes on this goal,

S.C.

Sean,

Yes, I have tough times and feelings that I am not part of the world around me but just a person looking through a window; I can feel alone in a crowd.

Regarding your girlfriend, honestly? I don’t think you can make her understand. Depression, anger and fear are common and normal reactions in the partner without anxiety disorder.

You can try to help her understand – which is what I suspect you have been doing.  However, you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.

You need someone who will support you in your illness, not make it worse.

But, of course, you can’t rely on her to be your savior. This is your struggle, and, if you married it would, to some extent become a joint one.  The responsibility for dealing with it is primarily yours. And by ‘dealing with it’, I don’t mean ‘getting over it’.

I mean seeking treatment, trying different things, and not giving up on you. It can take a long time, and a lot of work, to find a treatment that works for you (and I’m well aware that since you’re suffering from anxiety seeking that help is hard in itself).

Her  pressuring you to get better isn’t going to help. In fact it’s going to do (as you’ve already discovered), quite the opposite.

Do you want to spend your life with someone like that? Someone who doesn’t understand the basis of this illness? Someone who seems to think it’s a choice?

Just food for thought and in no way am I telling you to leave your girlfriend.  If your relationship is triggering your anxiety talk with your therapist and do some brainstorming on how this relationship can improve to the point where you are both happy.

Kindly,

Kitt

Hi Anxious Becky,

I am really sorry to hear you feel this way. Are you on any medication at all?

I feel the same about my job it sucks. Let me know how you feel :)

Sean

How long was you on the 40 for? Is Lorazepam like an anxiety drug too? I felt okay for a week or so and then I started feeling light headed again and doctor said I have a viral infection but its made my head feel weird all over again so I am scared it wont ever go away but I have to think positive.

I work in an office selling holidays and I went back to work couple of weeks ago but now I dont feel like going back again 2moro, I just feel like sleeping until it all goes away.

Don't quit if you can help it hun otherwise you will have so much time on your hands and end up overthinking, are you from Uk?

I highly advise that you read a book called "at last a life" as it really explains well why people suffer from anxiety and it will put your mind at ease about so many things. My doctor wont give me anything to calm me down except sleeping tablets but they of course just make me sleep, he wont give me any benzos or anything because they are too addictive so maybe he is doing the right thing there.

What would you say is your worst symptom?, I live in London :)

Hi sorry for late reply, see I seem to have the whole panic thing under control as I have only had about three panic attacks in my whole life but wow they was scary, my worst symptom is the feeling in my head of being unreal and knowing that my thoughts are not quite right and flowing the way they should which then makes me feel I am going crazy or that I am losing touch with reality, that is the worst feeling ever and it feels like a constant battle to stay with it.

The medicine can take a while to work so please try bear with it and once it kicks in, it should make you feel better but remember that you are not going crazy and you WILL get over this and it will make you a better person for it too as you will be so grateful for all the little things in life.

How old are you Becky?

I had to take today off work too......I feel so down right now as I thought I was on the road to recovery but I feel so out of it right now, I just went to my sisters and had to come home as I felt so bad. No matter how many times I go through it, its really hard to believe its just anxiety causing this :(

Hope you feel bit better Becky

Hi Becky,

Sorry I just saw this, we will get through it I promise you no matter what. The thing is being stressed out is going to keep the anxiety cycle going so I suggest perhaps try some guided hypnotherapy to help you relax, a really good one I found is a guy called Glenn Harold and he has quite a few Mp3's and I found them to be relaxing, they can give you the space you need to give your mind a rest which will make it heal quicker.

Really tough day today, I have come to the conclusion that maybe the other medication I am taking(codiene & zopiclone)are perhaps interferrering with the Paxil and making the anxiety worse. I have felt like I am on a different planet all day.....not too sure how much I can take of this :(

Hey Becky I know I want to sleep too, sorry to hear you having a bad day too :( Do you feel like you are losing touch with reality as that is how I feel now. I think it will help for you to talk to a therapist about things as it can be a real relief to let off some steam surely.

I know what you mean about the sleeping thing as I have three sleeping pills left but I am worried they are interacting with the Paxil and making things worse, I keep thinking what have I done wrong to get this feeling but I guess it is an illness like any other.

Whats it like where you live?

I can't imagine any feeling worse then the thought of losing your mind as it's like you can't escape your own thoughts but your right, we will get through this without a doubt.

I wish it would snow here lol, its quite mild here as it goes and I have the fan on in my room as I get really hot at night. I don't really like living in London as it's too busy and crowded..

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Hi Sean & Becky

I live in Australia, we are now moving into winter although we are still having some brilliant weather.

Sean - I lived in West Kensington for a few years. Becky - I've travelled through a large part of the US, Seattle rocks, I also love California.

Anyway, I hope you are both doing ok - I am pretty confident that you will both come through quite easily although it is really hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I guess everyone has different coping mechanisms. The last few years I have struggled with a back complaint which has restricted the amount of exercise I could do (well honestly, I virtually did nothing). Exercise has always been my body regulator and I have forced myself to exercise which is slowly starting to release some of my health anxiety. Music has also been a big comfort of mine in the days that I struggled.

It is easier said than done but if you can find something that can divert your mind elsewhere for some respite, please try :)

Cheers, Simmo