What IS anxiety anyway??

Just sitting here struggling with my most recent bout of month long anxiety/panic/depression and I'm wondering if there really is, in fact, a definitive medical reason for anxiety - is it hormonal, a bad gene, etc? I've suffered with it all during my life on and off and never really knew why i (along with all you other sufferers) get this terrible affliction yet others dont - even people who have more trauma and bad life circumstances than some of us do. Sometimes I swear it has to be something physiological because yesterday, for instance, I was feeling quite good out of the blue,no anxiety for the first time in weeks, now today I'm a wreck and can't seem to shake it. It's almost like I don't have control over IT, IT has control over ME. I have to admit however, that on the rare occasions recently that I've felt good, I almost think myself back into anxiety because I can't understand why it went away.....it almost like a switch gets turned on and off...what a crazy vicious circle, as I've said before. I know that sometimes various conditions like thyroid, low potassium, etc. can be a cause for anxiety so that tells me that something has gone "tilt" in our brains but then when none of those explanations is present, what the heck is the cause. I guess I should probably ask - what are these benzos and anti-depressants actually doing inside our head to help us. I suppose I could just do some investigating online but I hate to start that stuff...just wondering if anyone has an answer.

Andwes

Hey there friend! I always follow your posts. That's a great question you've presented... Where does anxiety come from? I'm not sure. I've always assumed it comes to us from a couple different avenues such as genetics and situational circumstances such as childhood trauma or work related stress. I think my anxiety comes from a touch of both :)

I can totally relate with you, Andwes. When I go out to a restaurant, grocery store, or a ball game, my anxiety shoots up and I look at all the people there and almost feel jealousy (for lack of a better word) that they can move through life so easily. And if I am not careful, I begin to feel helpless and like this turmoil will never end. I have to remind myself that perception is not always reality and the fact is these people we see who seem to be "cruisin" through life, may have even higher mountains to overcome and more pain, heartache, and struggles than we do.

I know what you mean by appearing sane on the outside but miserable within. But as I've said, I've come so far. I remember that each time we went to a restaurant I could never make it through a whole meal. I would always have to get up (sometimes before the entre arrived) and go outside. I'm proud to say that I no longer do this! It's these "little victories" that keep me motivated and shows me true progression on this journey to "healing".

Andwes, I think you're right... We seem to have the same type of anxiety. It is so nice to be able to talk with someone who truly knows how you feel. I know my family thinks I'm crazy sometimes. They just don't understand what it's like. Thanks for listening!

God bless!

Cornell

Post Edited (Cornell) : 10/7/2014 8:20:35 PM (GMT-6)

I have two theories
1- it's hereditary- conclusion comes from the fact that my daughter is the 5th generation of women on my mothers side (that we know of )with anxiety and intensity seems to skip every 2nd generation. Great Grandmother took to her bed she was so sick with anxiety. Grandmother had anxiety and had many troubles come her way but was a conqueror, My Mother experiences intense anxieties, I do too but have acquired coping skills which keep me in check for the most part, My daughter- she can be a hot mess.

2- What do we all have in common besides blood? We all CARE too much.

I loved all the above posts and can relate in some way to each and every one of them. Yes, it is a mystery,and not a fun one. I too can come up with lots of situational reasons why I've had anxiety since an early age (that I won't bother you with here) but I also know that my uncle suffered from it as well as my mother, and now, to a lesser degree, two of my three sons. So i do believe there is a hereditary factor involved but still in the dark as to WHAT it actually is. I suppose it doesn't matter all that much, other than the fact that if researchers could find out, maybe they'd spend more time looking for a cure rather than just feeding it with all kinds of meds (although I guess the drug companies wouldn't like that very much). In this day and age of wars, illness, poverty, crime, etc. and the fact that we are bombarded with it on the news every day...more and more and more people are depending on these meds to get us through life....so I think it should be researched more rather than just shutting us up with meds. Granted, I depend on those meds too but it would be amazing one day to wake up and say "I will never suffer from this again" and I don't see that happening anytime soon.

And yes, Cornell, I get the "jealousies" too when watching people get through all the trials and tribulations of life so smoothly, or seemingly so. But then again, most people in my family and close friends I have don't have any idea how I suffer in silence. As a matter of fact they think of me as a happy, funny person....HA, what would they think if they really knew. I always worry that my 23 year old son (who has the least anxiety of any of my three boys) would think if he ever happened to look at my computer and see all these posts....he'd probably be floored. He majored in Psych in college and has such a positive attitude toward life that I don't want to burden him with this....I've actually always been his "rock" and I don't want him to see me in any other way but, darn, sometimes it's hard.

Getting off track here... so actually, Cornell, to your point... we don't know how many others who seem "normal" to us are in fact maybe suffering from the same thing. All I can say, as I've said so many times before, is that I am forever grateful for God leading me to this site....it is my tranquilizer, my anti-depressant, my psychiatrist and my hope.

I also meant to say- if there was a blood test, X-ray or MRI, we'd all probably feel better (maybe lol) because then we'd have a "provable" ailment. Instead, it's just vague and some people look at is "you're just too sensitive or put on your big girl/boy pants & get over it." It's still seen as a weakness (I'm guilty of feeling this way).

I have heard there is a blood test in the works to diagnose depression (which many times, anxiety goes hand in hand with). I wonder how the "general publics" view of depression & anxiety would change (even doctors), if there was a test that said we really do have something concrete like people with diabetes, cancer, thyroid disorder, etc that other people have and no one bats an eye at their illness/treatment.

Oh and someone said we anxiety & depression sufferers are caring people. That's me! I'm a social worker (homemaker now), and I can sure relate. I've always been an empathetic person, hence going into that career. Many of my peers in social work also have issues with depression & anxiety which is why we went into the profession bc we are empathetic and long to help others bc we understand and care. Rarely will you find someone "in the field" that doesn't have some sort of struggle or past history which leads them to be empathetic.

Wishing us all a day or hour of peace today!!

Lisa

According to Ayurveda, the traditional medicine of ancient India, anxiety is a manifestation of a Vata imbalance.
It is remedied by reducing Vata energy, thru proper dietary choices and simple lifestyle practices.
The best book explaining this is: Vital Energy, by Dr. David Simon (Deepak Chopra's partner at the Chopra Center).
After reading this book and implementing the suggestions, I never again sufferred another anxiety attack. (I still get some anxiety sometimes, but now I know how to bring it down before it escalates.) The book is a pleasure to read, not boring at all; in fact, it is fascinating - esp for someone wondering, "What is anxiety?" (and "Why do I have it?") I think u will love this book. :)