I'm a 42 yr mother of 4 and wife. About 2 yrs ago doc diagnosed me with moderate hypertension and started taking medication. Last April had 2 major panic attacks and started having pvcs. Went to er and the doctor said I had general anxiety disorder and my heart was fine. Ever since life has been a roller coaster. Each day brings something different. Some days the anxiety is horrible and some days it's ok. Things that used to be so simple that I put little thought into, now have irrational fears. Like going to the grocery store or out to eat. I've tried lexapro and ended up back in the er with worse panic and anxiety. Now I'm just taking vitamins and natural supplements, changed my diet, do daily prayer and reading and standing on God's promises for healing. I refuse to except this is the way life is going to be for the rest of my life. Anyone relate?
I never thought I would be going thro... - Anxiety and Depre...
I never thought I would be going through this.
turning to god,will help you allot,hes allways their for
people,but sadley these days people just wont ask him
me being no exeption,prayingperson,peek
Thank you for your encouragement! The bible says ask and you shall receive. We just need to ask God for the grace and strength to keep standing and believing until we get our breakthrough.
I pray every single day..
Hi there I'm sorry to here your suffering so much with anxiety do you also have depression! I've had anxiety and depression for a few years so I can simpithise with a lot of what you say! I'm unfamiliar with lexapro but if you don't think they are helping you go Back to your doctor and hopefully he will give you something more agreeable! I truelly hope things get better soon for you God bless you and your family 🙏
Hello thank you for your kind words. Yes I do have depression as well when I feel like the anxiety is never going to go away. I'm going to a new doctor next month, so I'm hoping she can help me.
when my dear sister died,i blamed god for all the troubles in the world.
you see she had terrible throte cancer,she was allways a cathelic school
teacher,and even towards the end did not blame him.but I did how could
he let her die.i then fell out with him,for years,resently ive been trying for
him to let me back.sorry m god.peek
Peek, he always accepts us back. Read the story of the prodigal son, remember that Peter denied Him 3 times. He knows we are flesh, He is always ready to forgive and forget. Even if you don’t feel forgiven, He is true and faithful to forgive, this is what scripture says, believe it.
o thanks
Prayer is part of my daily routine, and it will help to bring you calmness and peace. But you may need a new medication to help you get through this rough stretch. Lexapro is an antidepressant (an SSRI), and that class of drugs has different side effects with different people. You might discuss with your doctor about an anti-anxiety med like Ativan to take as needed.
You also may want to read any book by Dr. Claire Weekes, such as "Hope and Help for Your Nerves", which you can buy on Amazon. There are videos of her on YouTube you can watch right now, but her books are better.
I wish you peace.
Thank you so much for the advice!
Yes, in my own way. I also have GAD. All of my life, though it only became bad enough to be diagnosed at about age 33, the same as 1 of my sons. Unlike you, I went with my doc's recommendation of a benzo drug and I had been on 4mg/day for about 26 years. TWENTY SIX YEARS is a long time!!!! I never have had a panic attack unless being in a state of panic and extremely high anxiety for several months at a time 2 times in my life counts. I mean horrendous anxiety that didn't allow me to eat or sleep or work or just about anything but survive, and that wasn't easy either. I was on the edge of not making it many times in these 2 "breakdowns". One time I admitted myself to the psych hospital just to get my meds looked at and adjusted adequately so that I could handle the utter misery of constant high anxiety.
Yes, I trust in God for so very many issues and pray and study. I've felt the anxiety trying to fixate itself on some irrational fear many many times, but I'm determined not to let that happen. I've lived through a period where I didn't speak my natural way but was extremely soft-voiced and quiet speaking. Yes to vitamins and improved diets.
After my husband died, I became extremely sleepy often and fell asleep sitting at my table working at home. I backed off of my benzo as my best guess for a solution. I continued to back off until I no longer fell asleep like that...and until I no longer took ANY benzo at all!!!!!
Now how in the world did I need it 4mg/day for 26 years and then don't need it at that level? NOT just a decent decrease but TOTAL ELIMINATION!!! I thank God for this blessing because that's the explanation that makes the most sense to me. but possibly
I was under less stress after becoming a widow? But even so, 4mg/day is a huge difference.
Well, you know there's always hope in God and our trust is rightly placed if we just trust that things can change in his time. I hope the same for you!!! Hugs, Love, and Blessings....
Thanks so much for sharing your story and I'm so sorry for the loss of your husband! I definitely agree it was God that helped you get off the meds. He has a way of working behind the scenes of our lives sometimes and before we know it our breakthrough has come. I believe sometimes he has us walk our healing/miracle out and little by little we get better, which I believe that's what's going on with me. The doctor prescribed me xanex and I try not to take it everyday because I don't want to get dependent on it, but it does help on those bad anxiety days. I declare Isaiah 53:5 everyday. God bless you!
I so agree with you on everything you said! Is 53:5 is a good passage for us! Oh yes, isn't it great to have a back-up in Xanax when you really need it? Hugs and Love!
I can absolutely relate. I had to quit my job the panic attacks were so bad. Hyperventilating, vomiting and freaking out my children every morning for starters. It has been a battle and what I THOUGHT was anxiety disorder is actually PTSD. Tried Paxil, only made my aggression worse. Almost lost my newborn in a routine surgery. It will get better. It won't get any easier, but you'll have the coping skills and strength to get through it. Use your support system. Take a little time for you. Head above water. Remember, if you're going through hell, keep going.
Thank you for sharing and your words of encouragement!
I have GAD and depression. I was prescribed an anti-depressant that also treated anxiety with clonazepam as a back up only when needed ie. severe enough that I couldn't function. Also, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and recognition of cognitive distortions that cause irrational thoughts and generate anxiety are helpful. You can look up cognitive distortions on the web and see how these generate the kind of anxiety you mention. Recognizing and controlling these thoughts diminish anxiety. It takes practice. Wishing you well.
Thank you for the well wishes and sharing with me your experience! God bless!
I've had panic disorder since age 19 what helped me was reading claire weeks seIf help books. You dont feel so alone and yes it's so debilitating at times. I just had to start facing my fears and know the attacks dont last forever even though it feels like it. Mine would just come out of the blue ! I start cleaning or exercise to keep them at bay. Everyone has their own way of coping but it's always nice to get others input.. hope you feel better soon ..
I just listened to her last night on YouTube and it was very helpful. I'm definitely going to order her book. I tried her techniques last night when I started to feel anxious and it really worked. I was able to actually sleep through the night! I've been trying to fight against the anxiety all the time and it made it worse and last longer.
Hi Praying person. I pray to Jesus every morning for my family, myself, and the world. I also ask for the intercession of saints and also read a chapter of the Bible. Faith in God is very important. I think if you can find a natural way to completely get healed of the anxiety it's much better than taking the pills. God bless you.
Thank you and absolutely agree! God bless you!
Hi Prayingperson, I am so glad you reached out on this forum. Boy do I understand the struggles of anxiety and depression. It started 21 years ago, six months after my second daughter was born. I thought it was PPD, but it turned into severe depression. I remember walking in a grocery store, trying to shop with a 2 year old and new born and had to walk out and leave a full cart of food because my anxiety was out of control. I actually had to be hospitalized twice in my life due to suicidal tendencies. I am a Christian, love the Lord, and know Jesus is my savior. I couldn't understand why I was struggling if I was a Christian. Overtime, I learned depression and anxiety are diseases. With the right medication and counseling you can live a normal life with little or no spiraling. It took me over 19 years to figure this out. I have been on and off medication for over 20 years. Every time I would go off, the next episode would be even worse. The the doctor explained to me that mental illness is a real disease, like diabetes. When the chemicals in our brain are off we need medication to help regulate it and get it balanced. Just like insulin for a diabetic. This expatiation really helped me put things into perspective. It does take time to find the right medication that works for you. I am on Wellbutrin.
In the past two years I haven't spiraled at all, even though my circumstances we tough and even at times not stable. I have God as the center of my life. I learned what my triggers are and aware of what to do if I start to feel them. A lot had to do with giving myself a break, not being so hard on myself, being aware of unrealistic expectations, and knowing no one is perfect. God created us uniquely and wonderfully made. He loves each of us. We each have a precious purpose for Him. I also focus on the fact that God is in charge of all things, so I do not have to worry of fear. Anytime I start to worry I say to myself Gods God This!!! God is in control!
Each day I do a daily devotional, pray, and seek Him first. One of my favorite authors and speakers is Joyce Meyers. Currently, I am doing a daily devotional of hers called Joyce Meyers : Promises for Your Everyday Life, in the app YouVersion (it is a bible app that includes bible studies and devotionals). It is nice to have it on my phone so I can take it anywhere I go.
My prayers are with you. Please continue to keep in touch. It is encouragement to know there are others who struggle, but still have faith in our Heavenly Father. Have a blessed week. Sending Hugs and Love!
I get ya.. it's been never ending in my life ..it comes it goes away for years then back again feeling like a fish out of water and a heart attack dizzy ... so sick of it! I can ride my bike 1o miles walk 4 miles feeling great... but when I'm sitting around it just pops its ugly head out PANIC ! WHY??
First trip to ER-palpitations
I feel like I am the only one going through this 
Will I always be this stressed?
This is why I never had children, and I sadly guess I never will.
How my anxiety got significantly better
