So much anxiety and crying

Hi Mersey,

I am so sorry. I can feel your frustration! Here you are doing all the right things...and still the struggles continue. :(

Keep up the fight though! Sometimes it is just a matter of the right combination of treatment choices...and time...and then something just *clicks*!

Perhaps you need a medication adjustment or add-on...when was your last evaluation?

Try to stay encouraged, and have faith that it will get better.

We are here and we understand the challenges, so keep talking with us...and k ow we are cheering you on!

Keep up the great work...it will start to make a difference...

S.C.

Scaredy cat,
My medications have been worked on A LOT over the past 18 months by a psychiatrist I see as being very intelligent and informed about meds. I've tried numerous new meds, in different dosages and combinations. He checks in with me very regularly. We're still working on the medication piece <sigh>. I think he's never seen anyone as consistently severely anxious as I am :(

Hi Mersey,

I'm so sorry to hear of your recent struggles. I'm offering a *virtual* hug to you right now.

Please know that this too shall pass, and that only lightness can creep in, in darkness.

When I felt like my prescriptions and therapy were failing, I turned to more homeopathic remedies, and I did find them a bit helpful...

I started with diffusing essential oils- lavender (good for anxiety and mood), peppermint (helps with nausea and headaches) and eucalyptus (good for respiratory health).

Yoga- it feels like a meditation in motion and made me physically tired, and in turn mentally tired so my thoughts would quiet down

Deep breathing & positive mantra's.

Cheering you on!!

Hi again :)

I did it in addition to prescriptions and therapy. I have been on Zoloft 100mg for about 9 years now, and have on and off done therapy as well.

I have a Travis Elliot DVD that I use at home to do it, and I think you can find him on Youtube. For calming, stretching yoga, try "Yin Yoga," and do it for at least 30 min.

If you want something a little bit faster and upbeat, I'd recommend doing a series of sun salutations, too :).

I know how you feel Mersey, when you say the elevated heart rate, sweating, etc of exercise can feel like panic. When I was at my worst with anxiety the same thing happened to me - I had to use a lot of self talk "My heart is beating fast because I'm exercising. I am not panicking." to get through it.

I am currently reading a booked called "Exercise for Mood and Anxiety: Proven Strategies for Overcoming Depression and Enhancing Well-Being" and it talks a lot about how to become tolerant to those symptoms, in order to gain the mood-boosting and anxiety-mitigating effects of exercise. Check it out if you're interested.

Big hugs to you!

Hope you enjoy it!!