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Can some of y'all post some success stories?

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Anxiety & Panic Disorders
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Posted 2/13/2015 8:02 PM (GMT 0)
Just wanted hear some positive success stories of how you beat anxiety or got it under total control. What you did and how long it took . Thanks
Posted 2/13/2015 9:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Leno,

I have had success recovering from panic attacks, and health anxiety to a great degree from the following:

CBT therapy

Various books and on-line resources (including the ones found here!)

Coping skills such as breathing techniques and postive mantras.


Support. Being a part of this group has been key.

Exercise...physical exercise is a great anxiety buster!

Everyone is different, with differing needs, so finding the right thing/combination of things that work for you is necessary...

...but getting ideas from others to gather into your aresenal of things to try is great!


Hope you get some helpful input here.:)

S.C.

Posted 2/14/2015 4:26 AM (GMT 0)
hello Leno,
Please understand that we are all different. Don't track your progress by how others have travelled. We are here and will help you anyway we can.

With that said, here goes:
I suffered a bad injury and was prescribed a common muscle relaxer. Within 18 hours I swelled up, was shaking, vomiting and could not talk or walk properly by the time I got to the ER. The hallucinations were horrific. Unfortunately I was not treated properly and left without resolution. I spent the next 6 days crawling up the wall waiting for my Dr to return from vacation. No sleep and no food, but plenty of imaginary things that haunted me. They call this a psychotic break.

Thank god they were able to "reboot" my brain but I really lost my mind for a while. That really scared me very badly and my fear opened the door for anxiety. I couldn't go to the bank that I have used for the last 20 years. I freaked out trying to walk into MY post office (I work there). I couldn't get out of the car at the grocery store. I couldn't trust anything I saw or heard. It was not pretty.

I spent 6 mos in intensive cognitive behavioral therapy (cbt) trying to dissipate the anxiety that crawled through my body. It was not a fun time but I am doing much better. Its almost a year now and although I still have occasional anxious thoughts they do not rule my actions. I use my coping skills everyday. Also, like Scaredy Cat said this group has been awesome in helping me stay on task and not let irrational thoughts direct my actions.

We don't know the long term damage but I can tell you that I live my own life again.
The fear of any new medication is still with me. I don't take any medication...either for the residual anxiety or the initial injury that started this adventure.

I hope this helps. Why not tell us more about you.
Posted 2/14/2015 6:25 AM (GMT 0)
my progress is that i use coping skills that i have devised that work for me. i am still functioning, have good and bad periods, my success is that i live it - not suffer with it.
Posted 2/14/2015 3:52 PM (GMT 0)
Hi

The good thing about anxiety is that it can be beaten how you do that is different for everyone as what works well for one person may not work as well for an other.

I have had anxiety issues for a long time but have successfully beat it by finding the right combination of meds and doing talking therapy. I have done CBT which I found very useful as it taught me all about how anxiety works and effects the body and then learnt techniques of coping with my triggers to anxiety so I can manage my symptoms better. I also use Mindfulness Meditation and set aside 45min every morning to do some type of Mindfulness activity which helps to relax me and put me in a positive frame of mind for the day and try and live in the moment the best I can.

We can all reach that recovery that we are all looking for it just takes some determination and hard work to get there but is well worth the effort. Taking good care of yourself by having a healthy diet and exercise can help you in the right direction.

It is also important to remember that we can all experience set backs I am currently in one now but we need to try and remain positive during these times and pull on all the skills we have learned to get us back on the right track.

It's important to live life like you love it so that we can kick that anxiety to the curb.

Hibee
Posted 2/14/2015 4:26 PM (GMT 0)
I just love all the responses on this thread! It gives so much hope! We all have our own path to healing, whether it is through, medication, meditation, cbt, online help resources, a therapist, ect,.....I think the common denominator is - don't just sit back and let anxiety overshadow your life. Be proactive! Get up and do something positive! It's a step in the right direction that will lead to healing!

As for me - I have had long periods in my very happy life that have been anxiety free! I accredit this to - a generally healthy diet, exercise, great family and friends and pets , keeping busy, reading positive affirmations, long walks, the healing well community, and talking things out.

I'm in a bit of a funk right now with health anxiety but I am doing my best to power through.

Stay strong and never give up hope!!!
Posted 2/16/2015 4:36 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everybody! Good stuff here . This is a great group. I feel my progress is getting better . It's good to hear positive vibes from others. Thanks again. Please continue with success stories if you want to share :-)
Posted 2/16/2015 4:54 PM (GMT 0)
like to hear yours as well.
Posted 2/16/2015 5:10 PM (GMT 0)
Depends on the severity of the panic and anxiety. I was hospitalized in the beginning as the attacks were uncontrollable. My case was very severe. Some have underlying causes that lead to full blown panic that last for years. If the underlying cause is not dealt with, your symptoms will not subside easily. Finding the cause of anxiety is the key.
Posted 2/17/2015 12:56 PM (GMT 0)
I think if we had success stories we wouldn't be here.
Posted 2/17/2015 3:01 PM (GMT 0)
Deborah I think some people come here to help others or some have gotten there anxiety to a point where it's under control and they still come here to check on people and friends and to share their opinion. Also I started having anxiety & insomnia 6 months ago and I was pretty bad. I tried to beat it with sleeing pills and natural herbal like kava etc.. It didn't work for like 2 months. So I went to see a doc. He prescribed me Lexapro 10 mg and advised to start on 5 mg for 10 days and go up. He gave me emergency xanex for when it gets bad. So I dos as he told me. I noticed my sleep got better 1st. And my appetite was getting better after weaning up to the 10 and being on them for 10 days or so. I also started CBT at this point. Then after 3 weeks on the 10mg I had another appointment with my doc and he scared me with all the wrong answers . He was from Englad with the accent but looked like he was from Iraq. And he acted like I don't know what to tell you!! So I made an appointment with a doc i was referred to by my CBT therapist. He was awesome . He g me to 20 mg and now 3 weeks later on 20's I feel better. I'm not perfect or where I want to be. But the bad thoughts don't linger around. I sleep . I eat. I socialize. I go get togethers and dinners with friends. All this I couldn't do for months!! So here I am 3 weeks in on the 20's of Lexapro and no emergency pills needed. My doc told me that after 8 weeks on 20's then I will see more benefits of the med! So I'm looking forward to it! My advice is that if you go through ups n downs on meds it's normal. I believe it's the meds changing and working in your body. And expect a bad day or two. It's normal. I think as you look at your success at a whole it motivates you on bad days! Keep trucking. Also I think time alone is a cure , along with the meds , CBT , and exercise can only help.
Posted 2/17/2015 3:20 PM (GMT 0)
Well I agree with Deb. When I first read your post I thought the same thing. Why would we be here if we were 100% cured? A lot of us have experienced relapses and that is why we signed up to become a member in the first place. But that doesn't mean we can't control it. It can be controlled.
I've been dealing with this for 15+ years and have learned to accept it as part of who I am. The same way someone has to live with a physical condition. The only difference is that you can't 'see' anxiety like how a physical illness will show up in your blood tests. That's what scares people.

The more you fight it, the more it will take control of you.
Posted 2/17/2015 3:27 PM (GMT 0)
Ok I see your view & opinion. We will agree to disagree:
Posted 2/17/2015 5:27 PM (GMT 0)
Ah, the long running debate about whether anxiety is truly cureable or not...

I think that is not the point, so much as marking progress...and I think that is what Leno is looking to hear about.:)

Do I consider myself anxiety free? No...no person is...

...but do I believe that I am in recovery from panic? Absolutely!

The variables from person to person make it very hard to define a cure/recovery/success. There is no definitive test after all to say something along the lines of "The virus/infection has cleared the system." ...like in the case of a physical illness.

So a lot of it is subjective...

...but I choose to see myself as a person who continues to manage my anxiety...but has been relieved of the majority of it.:)

S.C.
Posted 2/17/2015 8:06 PM (GMT 0)
Awesomely put!!
Posted 2/17/2015 8:12 PM (GMT 0)
I have come a long way this past year from deep in the darkness to feeling better many days a week. I'm seeing a therapist and that is probably what helps me the most. Her honesty in dealing with anxiety makes me think.

This site is helpful along with other forums on anxiety. Books are very helpful, CD tapes on book too.

Eating well, exercise and good sleep make the days better. Sometimes music calms me too.

I do not take medication. I am not against it I just don't wish to take it.
Posted 2/17/2015 8:14 PM (GMT 0)
Well that is the point I was making. You can't be anxiety free (100% cured) but you can control it. Managing anxiety is exactly that...being able to control it.

And I agree that you cannot measure or test the severity of anxiety and see if it has disappeared or not like a physical illness.

So if you cannot know for sure if it has 'cleared the system', then how can you know you are cured? Maybe it never left us but we have become immune to it to the point that it doesn't bother us anymore? As they say, as we grow older, we become wiser. And I think with experience, we learn to handle things better. And we also build tolerance.
Posted 2/17/2015 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
Also there is a group of people who can control anxiety without medication and those who cannot. I am one of those that had no choice. I couldn't function without medication and am still on it after 15 years.
Posted 2/18/2015 5:26 AM (GMT 0)
No, you will never be 100% free and clear of anxiety.

Anxiety is a normal response for a human being. The only time it becomes a diagnosed issue is when it interferes in your life. We get diagnosed and treated because this emotional response is out of balance, occurring when its not needed.

Every single breathing human being that has ever walked this earth has experienced anxiety. So the answer is no, it will never go away...and if it is completely gone then you are *really* messed up.

You can replace the word anxiety with any other emotional response...happy, sad scared joyful. We are emotional beings.
Posted 2/18/2015 12:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hi All

I think Leno just wanted to hear some positive stories about members journeys towards recovery and I think it is important to be able to acknowledge that I personally feel that it is inspiring to hear stories of members who are winning their battle with anxiety/panic and it gives hope to others.

If you have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder you are a person who will be dealing with higher than normal anxiety on a daily basis and it will be interfering with your life and if it is left untreated you will never get your life back to a level where you can function normally. That is not to see that you will be 100% cured of anxiety but by taking steps such as medication (Which I know is not for everyone) or doing some talking therapy such as CBT or Mindfulness Meditation you can get back in control of your life and by using coping techniques on a daily basis you can get your anxiety to a manageable level.

I have dealt with anxiety my whole life and my anxiety comes from me having Aspergers Syndrome which causes me to have a lot of anxiety. I have had periods were I have been able to manage my anxiety to a level that it does not impact on my life and I believe we can all get to that point. Yes we will have set backs but it's important to accept those set backs and continue with the things you have learned during therapy and continue to work towards recovery.

When you are dealing with mental illness it can become easy to only see the negative in situations you find yourself in so it's even more important to notice the positive and be able to build on that. One way to do that is by interacting with others who can relate and listening to how they have dealt with a similar situation can be inspiring and give hope that you can also achieve your goal of being able to manage things better.

I always enjoy reading the positive posts of members who are heading in the right direction towards their recovery.

Hibee
Posted 2/18/2015 5:22 PM (GMT 0)
Yep!!! This is my 3rd bout with anxiety. And the first 2 times I "beat" . Had it when I was 15. Then It left for many years and returned when I was 25. Then it left again till now and I'm 36. So not sure if I beat it or I got use to it or whatever. But it wasn't there at all. Lol dang I miss those days ...
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