Feeling alone

Joah

Hello and welcome to HealingWell.  What a great introduction and I am glad to meet you.  I look forward to getting to know you better.

I have a 29 year history of anxiety and depression and you will find many member here that know exactly where your coming from and what you are going through.  It is good to see how proactive you already are and I commend you for advocating for yourself.

As for me,  I have lived with my dx and done very well for most of those 29 years.  The past 6 years got a bit tougher for me but I am always a work in progress.  I have a therapist and I do take meds. 

Keep in mind any plan for reducing anxiety must include gaining control of damaging thoughts and mental images. I use meditation and breathing control to help me through tough times.

Please know you are not alone  as we are here for you so talk with us, vent if it helps and share what works for you.

Again a warm welcome,

Kitt

 

Hi Joah and welcome!

You are so not alone...just by joining us you have made a bunch of friends that know exactly what you are going through...and we are always here to listen and help:)

I used to have daily panic attacks that were pretty debilitating. I sought help through therapy and self-help books and of course HW. (this forum!)

After time, and lots of practicing relaxation techniques and cognitive thinking, I am so much better, and am free from attacks, and manage the anxiety well.

I still have days when I am stressed and symptomatic (today in fact) but I have the tools to get me through...so don't give up on your therapy.

The medication will just enhance and help you in your treatment, so give it a shot if you want to, and see how it works for you.

Getting sick/nauseous is a huge trigger for me as well. That is probably the biggest thing that I still have to battle! CBT really is effective in dealing with the scary thoughts and feelings that go along with our biggest fears. If you are not currently working on this type of therapy, I would ask your therapist about it...or look into getting a self-help workbook and go through it on your own.

Don't get discouraged in your treatment...it takes time, but you will see improvement soon I am sure.

Keep posting with us anytime!

Scaredy Cat

Ca, Thanks for taking the time to reply. I havent been in thearpy to long. I have only been about to 7 sessions now. Things havent been looking up but I am still very hopeful for a change. I.m only 19 years old and this is no life for me. Some days I cant do anything. And I have so many plans for my future. :/ thank you again for the reply. Its nice to be able to express myself to others who understand (:

Joah,

I am currently taking Zoloft 50 mg daily, Buspar 15 mg twice daily and Trazodone 150mg at bedtime for it's side effect which helps me sleep.

I also have Valium 2 mg tabs for really bad anxiety. 

I have been on many of the meds and when I first started with the SSRIs 6 years ago I frequently was switched to another med as the side effects scared me.  I finally learned the trick to starting a new med.............just plan on having a few rough weeks until my body adjusted to the med but hang in there until I have been on the med for 4-6 weeks.  Most of all not worry about the "what ifs?" and plan on pampering myself while doing medication adjustments.

I also have a therapist which I will see frequently if I am having a rough time as she helps me with my mental health tune up when I let my fears and depression start to take over.

My psychiatrist explained to me more then once that the medications are not going to make me feel 100%.  Much like pain medications - the meds help with the pain but generally do not take it all  away.  Therefore I work with many of the other ways of dealing with my mental health issues.

I wish you the best and please let me know if you have any other questions.

Kindly,

Kitt