Anxiety back again

[ladydoot]

I’ve been in a bout of anxiety/panic/depression for about two months now (worst it’s ever been in the last 15 years). Last week I felt practically normal again; no physical symptoms, barely any worry, just a short fuse which I know is a symptom of anxiety for me. A couple nights ago my husband and I had a huge fight (we rarely fight and made up right after) and the negative thoughts came flooding back. Next morning the anxiety was back and I’ve been fighting it for two days now.

Does anyone else’s anxiety come and go like this? Did it really just come back because I had one stressful night? I’m just so sick of fighting it all the time. This is the longest bout I’ve ever had.

Thanks.

[EleanorRose]

It could only be temporary, you had a good week, try not to be too disheartened.

I often find I can go through periods of low/tolerable anxiety but then an ‘unexpected’ and sometimes relatively minor trigger can cause my anxiety/mood to suddenly worsen.

Fighting it all the time can be tough and tiring. Have you found anyways to help you feel more relaxed? What were you doing during/just before your good week?

[ladydoot in reply to EleanorRose]

I had been meditating and exercising for a couple weeks and I felt like it was finally helping.

Thanks for the encouragement. I know that I’ll feel better again but I just get so disappointed when it all comes back.

[EleanorRose in reply to ladydoot]

I understand that feeling of disappointment when you want the good feelings to last.

Maybe get back to the meditating and exercising?

This is just a temporary blip, things will be good again.

[MARYRD27]

I know how you feel. When things are going well in my life the anxiety disappears. But there are stressors that will bring it back. And for most of us who suffer from panic attacks, it’s because we have more sensitive nervous systems that more easily go into the fight or flight mode. Our brains detect something ( e.g., pain can cause us to hyperventilate which causes dizziness which triggers panic) and the unconscious mind misreads it as something dangerous thus triggering fight or flight. The key is to recognize what’s happening before it turns into a full blown panic attack. Sometimes I have unrelenting anxiety that is so bad that I have to take Xanax. But once I feel normal again, I don’t need the Xanax. In my case, it’s the anxiety that causes the depression. A therapist suggested The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook by Bourne and it was a lifesaver. I highly recommend it.

[ladydoot in reply to MARYRD27]

I just finished a DBT workbook and it was pretty good. I’ll def give the anxiety one a try. My depression is caused by my anxiety too. Thanks for responding 🤗