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Does it get better?

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Posted 3/16/2013 2:31 AM (GMT 0)
I've been struggling since my first panic attack in December.

I now no longer have panic attacks, which is a huge deal (they were medication-related and stopped when the medication stopped). I'm still having a lot of anxiety from my GAD. And I'm severely depressed, which seems to make the anxiety harder to deal with.

It kind of comes in waves. I'll be alright for a couple of days to a few days and then the anxiety will be back. It's a lot better than it used to be, but I want it to be completely gone and I'm still barely functioning. I've had to take a semester off from school to deal with this and I hate to do it. I had to take incompletes that I am struggling to work on.

I'm trying a new medication (Prozac) and waiting the full 4-6 weeks for it to work. I'm seeing a psychologist for DBT and doing CBT on my own. It just feels like it's not progressing fast enough and any steps forward I take are baby steps.

Anyway..Is there hope? I want to go back to school in Fall and it's feeling like the anxiety will never end.

Av

Post Edited (Avrielle) : 3/15/2013 8:41:08 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 3/16/2013 2:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Av,

Yes, I do believe that you are on your way to recovery, but it can be a slow progress...and not always in a linear line.

There may be days when your progresss seems to take a detour, stop or even go in the wrong direction!  However, you keep going, knowing that you will make it eventually.:)

Anxiety is usually considered a chronic condition, but that does not mean that healing doesn't happen, and that management of the disorder isn't possible...look at how you have recovered from the panic attacks...that is huge!

Setting goals is great, so wanting to get back to school and starting in the Fall is a wonderful future endeavor...but be careful not to put too much pressure on yourself, or to make absolute deadlines on your recovery.  You don't need extra pressure, but something to aim for is a good idea!

Keep up the good work.  I can say that it does get better, and with all of the work that you are doing, I am sure that you will have a similar experience.:)

Talk to you soon,

S.C.

Posted 3/16/2013 5:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Avrielle, I've been dealing with stress and anxiey since 18 years of age. It's been four years since then and while I have anxiety mostly under control and I do great during the day, problems with panic and repetitive thoughts and even anxiety do still creep into me when I'm trying to sleep. Let me tell you that when you feel like you're hitting rock bottom, things do get better. I can tell you've put alot of thought into your condition, and that is the first step to recovery, at least in my mind. People on here can help, wether you have questions in particular or simply like to reflect ideas off a like minded community.

I wish you well today and hopefully some time spent anxiety free!
Posted 3/17/2013 2:49 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you both so much. It helps to hear that things do get better from people who have gone through the same thing.

I think I'm just impatient and that I have a hard time thinking positively because of the depression. I have to give time for the therapy to work.

SC, you're right about not adding extra pressure on myself re: going back to school and graduating in December. I've been trying not to but I'm pretty Type A and it's driving me crazy not to be in school. School has always been a distraction from my problems and without that it's hard. I just need to learn how to be ok without the distraction.
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