Scared

[ups-and-downs]

Hi everyone, I’m new here. I went through a dark period a few years ago which finally lead me to seek help for my anxiety and panic attacks. I was in talk therapy and taking Xanax daily. Over time I healed. I stopped therapy and got to the point where I only took Xanax in emergency situations which were few and far between. Several months ago I started feeling alarmingly anxious again. It has been building, and I’m starting to feel scared, helpless, and hopeless. I am back in therapy, doing meditation and deep breathing daily, and I began journaling. Nothing seems to be working. The past three days in a row have been really tough. I avoid Xanax because it makes me feel frighteningly low. I have trouble eating properly when I feel this way. I don’t know what to do because I’ve read the way to get over anxiety is to lean into it and accept it, but I’m sure many of you know the mind and body wholly fights against that notion. I don’t know if at this point I should seek inpatient therapy somewhere. I know that I’m not, but I really feel so alone in this.

[TriggerPoint]

You're Not Alone Here. We Know & Can Relate To Everything You Said. Welcome To This Great Site. Just Keep In Mind That Your Anxiety Disorder Is No Different Than Other Disorders. A Diabetic Disorder or/ Say Asthma. Ours Is Just In The Brain. They Need Meds To Manage Their Disorders & So Do We. You're NOT Abnormal In Any Way. We Are Here For Ya !

Hang In There, You Got This....

[ups-and-downs in reply to TriggerPoint]

Thank you for your kind words

[Lazy_dog_lover]

Take a deep breath. Right now, in the entire world, the COVID19 chaos has set off a lot people's anxiety. Just as our shelter in place was beginning, I was in a bad car accident. I had no choice but to be isolated. I had several panic attacks in the hospital, but those may have been medication induced.

I had a broken heel, sterum and both bones in the right forearm, plus all the soft tissue damage. I was out of my mind. Anger, depression, anxiety, and a deep sense of helplessness were swirling in my head.

I would go back into weekly behavioral talk-therapy for the time being. It grounds me. I have never taken Xanax, so I don't know the side effects or if it is a drug that can be taken as needed vs. at therapeutic dose in the body. That is a doctor question. There are lots of meds out there, so if that is not working for you, try another.

What can you do to distract your mind when it starts? Hobbies, exerise, reading, etc.

[ups-and-downs in reply to Lazy_dog_lover]

I am so sorry to hear you went through that. And you’re so right about the world situation setting off anxiety. Every time I speak to my therapist she mentions how her case load is getting so large with this influx of new patients. I wish that the world would heal and we would all have inner peace. Unfortunately, I have not been able to distract my mind lately. Sometimes I’ll try playing games on my phone, pacing, listening to a guided meditation, or turning on a soothing video like Bob Ross painting. Often I do more than one at the same time. Really the only thing that works is time. But waiting it out is pretty miserable and uncomfortable when you’re basically anxious from the time you wake up like I was today.

[Lazy_dog_lover in reply to ups-and-downs]

You sound like you have some energy building up and it needs to be set free. Something more physical might get the endorphins going. Find a good little move and groove video on YouTube and get your blood moving. Not tripping on your feet will become the focus of your mind. Can you video chat with friends? Try a jigsaw puzzle. Those keep my mind busy easily.

[Elise5]

I hope you can feel better soon. I just signed on here because I'm feeling so nervous and couldn't leave the home the last couple days to go get my medicine and groceries. Hoping to do that Tuesday. Right now I'm too nervous to really say anything else. I take medicine but the extra stress lately made anxiety kick in more, so I know how you feel. I literally get ill physically from the stress and then it affects my sleep more and it just is like a domino effect. Not sure if I am making much sense.

[ups-and-downs in reply to Elise5]

You’re making total sense. It’s like everything compounds on itself and makes everything worse. The stomach, eating, sleep. I haven’t left my home since last Thursday when I had to go to my doctor for a blood draw, and I couldn’t even drive myself. And the last time I left my home before that was two weeks earlier when I had my first blood draw to see if there were some underlying reasons for my anxiety. I hope you’ll be able to go out on Tuesday. I need to shower and to move my car, so hopefully we will both be able to get those tasks done.

[JustWant2bHealthy]

I totally hear you and understand. Not easy what we deal with. So scary

[spiral25]

I'm sorry you're having a rough time lately. I hope you find comfort here. I just joined today and am finding it's nice to read others posts and how supportive everyone is.

Maybe it is time to start therapy? It sounds like you've done everything you can do to help yourself. Perhaps a therapist is the next step?