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Update and 2 questions for my tribe.

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Anxiety & Panic Disorders
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Posted 9/1/2015 11:05 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all,
I thought I would post an update for everyone since my last very long winded entry. I find it really soothing to write on here, almost like it writing a healing diary but obviously the difference being you are baring your soul to others.
My cough has all but disappeared and I have had 2 and a half days with very minimal anxiety.

My 2 questions to other 'survivors' out there would be:

Is it normal to feel a deeper level of depression after anxiety (especially HA) wears off? I had an minor incident with my boss yesterday and I feel my vulnerability over the past weeks has made me susceptible to taking criticism far far harder than normal. Therefore, last night I had to do a lot of work on the dark cloud hanging over me. Funnily enough, I actually think I can handle the dark cloud more than the storm of anxiety so I wasn't overly concerned about feeling really really down.

Also, is it possible to still suffer from some of the physical symptoms of anxiety even when your levels of being terrified have dropped significantly? (bowel movements, unexplained twinges and pains)?

Would love to hear from everyone on this.

Plus - there is hope, there is hope! I'm feeling so much better and it can be done! I'm not out of the woods yet but I starting to feel the spark come back.
Posted 9/1/2015 11:59 PM (GMT 0)
Hi LR,

Glad to hear you are generally feeling better, and the anxiety is lifting...that is GREAT news, thanks for sharing, so we can celebrate this with you.:)

As far as the depression kind on stepping in...

...remind me, did you recently do a med start up? If so, this could be a temporary effect.

Even if not...anxiety and depression can be co-morbid...or simply the extreme effort to manage our anxiety can leave us exhausted and vulnerable to depression. Use your coping skills to get you through this down period.

As far as the symptom question? Oh yes! I definitely still have symptoms even when I am not feeling anxious. Or, I can have a stressful period in my life...and feel the effects as symptoms after the fact...

Again, use your coping skills to keep your overall stress levels as low as possible, and therefore the symptoms managed to the best of your ability.;)

Keep posting and talking with us...great work, and stay encouraged!

S.C.
Posted 9/2/2015 1:32 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Lisa! I'm glad you're feeling better!! In answer to your first question - I always feel a bit down in the dumps after a bad anxiety episode. I tend to beat myself up about letting my thoughts run away with me. But it always subsides after I get back into a productive routine and focus more on living in the moment. And as far as anxiety symptoms hanging around.......yep! But in time they won't be as strong and you'll notice them less and less.
Posted 9/2/2015 5:46 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you so so much for your replies. Gosh I so wish I had known about this forum a long time ago, I might have been able to deal with all of this much better as part of my problem was I had no idea what was happening to me. I had all these symptoms and put it down to my body dying basically. Thus, even more anxiety!

Good to know my body may take some time to physically recover from this. I know that I really need to exercise (I was quite active before this kicked in) and I can bet that will really help with the dark cloud hanging over me.

I'm not on meds so the depressive state I found myself in was quite surprising. SC you are so right I need to focus on my coping skills (which I'm building slowly) to get through this. I think that is why my anxiety reached such huge levels recently as I've probably always had it but didn't deal with it properly, in fact I didn't know I was even sick. Now I have acknowledged it I feel like I've faced my demon and my fears but by facing them things got worse. Only because I was finally standing face to face with a monster.

Hoping he gets weaker and by shining a light on him he'll meff off either permanently or just linger in the corners where I can see him but punch him too. I know I have a long long way to go but honestly, I keep seeing flashes of the real me and I'm hanging on to them for dear life.

Thank you all and big hugs to anyone feeling like there's no way out. There is, there MUST be! xx
Posted 9/2/2015 8:49 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Lisa

Glad to hear you are generally feeling a bit better that is good news.

With regards to your question depression seems to run alongside anxiety which is why antidepressants are a good form of treatment as they treat both things at the same time. If I have a bad run with anxiety I can always expect to have a drop in my mood.

Even when anxiety in low you can still experience symptoms which is why I like to use Mindfulness Meditation which helps me to relax and bring me back to the hear and now.

Hibee
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