The constant Anxiety

Hi People,

               Just wanted to share my experiance of this life destroying condition, all started when i split up with my long term girlfriend, then came the stomach pains (IBS) shortly after this my sleep was very poor, my sleep then turned into complete insomnia after a few months the anxity was overwhelming the feeling of insanity was very present i was convinced i had Schizophrenia.

I was put on all sorts of meds from sleeping pills to anti-depressants, the mirizapine manged to get me partly back on track, at least i can focus enough to write this!

although im much better now and through yoga i can sleep about 5 hours a night without any meds, I still have a racing pulse, look pale and worn out struggle to focus at work and cannot seem to think about anything else but this horrid feeling which is anxiety ALL DAY, EVERY DAY, there never seems to be a break from it.

This has been going on since April 2010, i have gone from being the most outgoing person to well the exact opposite.

When im speaking with anyone i cannot seem to be 100% in the conversation just cannot concentrate.

My question is this, is it possible to get back to my normal self? and is the IBS all linked to the anxiety?

Respect to anyone who has had to go though this, i cant imagine anything more difficult.

at one point i hit stage 20000000 anxiety, i fully understand why people top themself's there would be no way i could of sustanied that level of existance for a long period.

Oh yer the constand headache on my forehead always remainds me.

I just want to be able to walk into a shop like i used to and be super confident.

Well thats my moan! i feel for anyine going through the same thing to the bottom of my heart, on the plus side i am a lot better than i was, just cant quite seem to get 100%.

PS if i cycle my push bike any harder my legs will fall off (15miles every day)

Any thoughts would be great, and would be nice to know if anyone has completely recovered?

 

Your post sounded all too familiar to me! It started for me with one isolated panic attack. That evolved into a constant state of high anxiety, full of terrifying physical symptoms. I was not your textbook 10 min panic attack person-I could cycle for days. I wholeheartedly believed I was dying. I was diagnosed w/ anxiety and went through two rounds of therapy. It changed my life. Like Kitt said, the tendency towards anxiety will always be with me, but I 'm now equipped to deal with it. Funny thing about the bicycling that you mentioned. In every book that you read re: stress they tell you to exercise (and all will right itself!) Well I am a dance and fitness instructor, teaching 16 clases a week, plus jogging ave of 12 mi./week. If I still have anxiety, exercise may not be the cure all-at least for me. (That's not to say you shouldn't do it!) I think that it is a combination of different things for each individual. Start with your regular dr.-ask for a referral for a therapist. Read up-there are great books available at the library-they can teach you some basic relaxation and breathing techniques. Read the old posts (archives) here, they are a wealth of information. Keep posting! You are surrounded by support here-let us know how you are doing.
Take care,
Scaredy Cat