HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Former regular well into recovery - Ask me anything!

Support Forums
>
Anxiety & Panic Disorders
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 7/14/2017 2:21 AM (GMT 0)
Hey everyone

I wanted to make a post but I didn't want to seem like I'm bragging. At the same time, I thought a positive story might encourage people, as well as answer any questions people might have.

Truth be told, things are going well, despite an occasional spike in anxiety (like a mini panic attack, only it doesn't ruin me for days and dies down quickly). I've been off of regular medication for 14-15 months now, and haven't touched a benzodiazepine since around Christmas time (a brief lapse due to trying to keep a certain sleep schedule that didn't mesh well with my working hours). I tried keeping track of how long I'd gone without one when I first started to quit them but it still felt like they were controlling me so doubling down on focusing on my social life and such seemed better. I was able to make 2 trips out of the country without incident, which I thought was impossible when I first joined here when I was at my worst.

I realise that what works for me doesn't work for everyone, and that's fine, I'm not here to tell you what to do. I just want to let people know things can get better with this issue.
Posted 7/14/2017 4:26 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you for sharing. I would love to be able to write "Meds: None."

Please, if you don't mind, share with me (us) your road to recovery. I want to hear everything.

A little about me. I am a worrier but not always without cause. Yes, much is irrational but some of my triggers can and WILL happen in a matter of time. I am very hard on myself but I try to use self care. I have depression (possible bipolar II) and chronic pain. I am also a survivor of childhood abuse. Sometimes I just feel "damaged" but there is something inside of me that want to be victorious and beat the crap out of these monsters (anxiety and depression). Many days I wish I could be dead to just shut it all down. I'm so tired of the struggle.
Posted 7/14/2017 4:57 AM (GMT 0)
Hi NC and welcome back!

I am so pleased to hear that you are doing so well! It is wonderful to hear of your progress...

...and great of you to offer encouragement to others here.

May you continue to feel your best .😊

S.C.
Posted 7/14/2017 5:59 AM (GMT 0)
smile
Posted 7/14/2017 6:08 AM (GMT 0)
That's amazing! Yes please share how you were able to overcome panic and agoraphobia. Any techniques you tried that were effective? Thank you for starting this thread!
Posted 7/14/2017 11:00 AM (GMT 0)

Heyitsfaith said...
That's amazing! Yes please share how you were able to overcome panic and agoraphobia. Any techniques you tried that were effective? Thank you for starting this thread!

I threw myself into distractions and activities that took my mind off of the problem. It had gotten to the point where I was constantly searching about symptoms, treatments, side effects and basically anything you could think of related to it that it was all I could think about. So I had to distance myself from it. Exposure therapy for agoraphobia, starting small but doing it as much as possible. When panic strikes, I just remind myself it's a natural response of the body that has accidentally been set off, remember that it can't hurt me, and find somewhere quiet to retreat. Reading a Twitter or Facebook feed can be quite useful for this as there's a lot of different things to read.
Posted 7/14/2017 11:19 AM (GMT 0)

kellyinCali said...
Thank you for sharing. I would love to be able to write "Meds: None."

Please, if you don't mind, share with me (us) your road to recovery. I want to hear everything.

A little about me. I am a worrier but not always without cause. Yes, much is irrational but some of my triggers can and WILL happen in a matter of time. I am very hard on myself but I try to use self care. I have depression (possible bipolar II) and chronic pain. I am also a survivor of childhood abuse. Sometimes I just feel "damaged" but there is something inside of me that want to be victorious and beat the crap out of these monsters (anxiety and depression). Many days I wish I could be dead to just shut it all down. I'm so tired of the struggle.

I'm so sorry you had to suffer that in your youth. But your willingness to win Is a great foundation to build on. If you want to read my story, have a look at this thread: https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=9&m=3632037

I don't much fancy writing all that again smilewinkgrin . But if you need any further detail, just ask.
Posted 7/14/2017 12:28 PM (GMT 0)
I have a question! How old are you, if you don't mind? I would love to talk strategies with someone 50+. I have had health anxiety for most of my life, but being 50 adds a whole new dimension. In my 20's and 30's, most of my issues could be easily resolved with testing, to prove I was indeed fit and healthy. I am no longer fit and healthy. SOME of the health woes are real. I guess I'm finding it hard to balance that aspect and would love some tips moving forward. No offense, but if you are 32, it probably won't be as helpful coming from you. (Really, no offense! If you are young, I was there once too!!!)
Posted 7/14/2017 3:34 PM (GMT 0)
I recently turned 27.
Posted 7/14/2017 4:01 PM (GMT 0)
So awesome!!!! Congrats!
Posted 7/14/2017 4:03 PM (GMT 0)
Come see me in 30 years, ;) . Seriously, I'm glad you are doing so well. Please hold onto that feeling and ability to let it ride. It will help when things truly start to fall apart.
Posted 7/15/2017 1:35 AM (GMT 0)
OK. I read your post. I'm very happy for you and impressed by your determination. Unfortunately, I suffer with depression too. I am on disability and live alone and just moved an hour and a half from my former city. I very much need things to do but I need to avoid "triggers" too.
Posted 7/15/2017 5:34 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you! I know I had been searching and googling things and I agree to distance yourself is a great idea. How long were you doing exposure therapy for? I started a few months ago but sometimes I feel like I take a step back in progress. How was your experience in this?
Posted 7/19/2017 12:31 AM (GMT 0)

Heyitsfaith said...
Thank you! I know I had been searching and googling things and I agree to distance yourself is a great idea. How long were you doing exposure therapy for? I started a few months ago but sometimes I feel like I take a step back in progress. How was your experience in this?

I might be mis-remembering slightly as that part specifically was 2 years ago, but exposure therapy was an on going thing from the early Summer right through to October. It was hard at first but I think most of that difficulty came from building it up in my head.
Posted 7/21/2017 5:34 AM (GMT 0)
So happy you were able to overcome your symptoms nightcrawler. It does give me hope that I too will overcome this. I am older also. I suffered with these same symptoms in 2010 which lasted about 6 months. I keep trying to remember how I beat it then. I was taking pristiq, and remember that once I quit taking it as it wasn't helping anyway, I began to feel better. This time I took sertraline for about 2 months. I quit over a month ago, but still have the symptoms although not quite so intense.
Thanks for sharing your story. It does help to hear others are successful at beating this.
Take Care.. Matqi
Posted 7/24/2017 6:02 PM (GMT 0)
Great news. Sounds like me 23 years ago. I was agoraphobic and the panic was crazy. But i took paxil and was my old self a year later with cbt. Off meds for 15 years until i was diagnosed with crohns and its been a rollervoaster the past 2 years. I will get there again though.
Lets see my thoughts right now is what if i get worse and die? Or what if i get c diff and die. See pattern
Posted 7/24/2017 7:17 PM (GMT 0)
Barbz,

Yes you will...

...health issues make for an extra challenge...but you can manage all this with perseverance and extra work with health anxiety recovery. You are stonger than you realize!

We are here to encourage and support you. ❤
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply