Help With This Anxiety!!!!!

[ToeTaprr]

This is my second time writing. I have suffered from anxiety all of my life since 5. Now that I am 65 it is effecting me differently. It makes my heart rate drop and my blood pressure which always scares me! I know it is a polyvagal effect. Does anyone on here suffer with this? I am lost at what to do. Been to the emergency room they say take deep breaths!!! tried Prozac recently. It seemed to work, but had a reaction to it. I was hoping someone on here had another suggestion I could try. Drs. are no help. I am in therapy and have been for years. I am also a double cancer survivor one of which was Esophageal Cancer which I had the radical Ivor Lewis surgery 10 years ago. Really scared and frustrated!!! Any help will be highly appreciated.

[1Penny]

I’m so sorry to hear about your struggles. I understand depression and anxiety very well. I’m 55 and I suffered from it all my life too. My psychologist ordered a DNA test last year that revealed why. I have a genetic issue with how I metabolize folic acid. I metabolize it too rapidly. Folic acid is what helps stabilize our mood. After years of therapy, different medications that didn’t work, and several hospitalizations, I’m finally free from all of that. I take L- MTHRAlso called methylfolate. It’s a supplement not a medication. It’s folic acid already metabolized, so it gets to my brain. Something my body can’t do no matter how much folic acid I consume. I can’t begin to tell you how much my life has changed. The depression and loneliness I would often times feel, even when around others, is totally gone. It’s amazing. I share this with people who say they’ve been depressed all their lives in hopes that it might help them too.

It’s wonderful to hear that you’ve survived cancer. That’s great news!

God bless you! I pray that you get the help you need.

[ToeTaprr in reply to 1Penny]

Thank You 1Penny it is nice to know that their are people in this world that use their time to reach out and help a stranger. Within the medical industry I feel alone, I feel not understood, I feel looked down upon. After all of that I am back to figuring it out myself. Thank You for your response. ToeTaprr

[1Penny in reply to ToeTaprr]

You’re welcome. I’m hopefully that you will have better days ahead.

[Hidden]

I understand what you mean about how anxiety affecting you differently as you age. I too have dealt with anxiety since a child. I was accustomed to waiting out panic attacks but now at age 70 it feels like a heart attack about to happen. I feel without help in the medical/mental health care system. It's like a 'not you again' attitude when seeking answers. Yes I have become bitter. My hope for you is to find someone who can understand your needs. Good luck!

[ToeTaprr in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for taking the time to reply. Heart attack is always what I am thinking about also when this happens. I have no luck with the medical/Mental health system either. All they say is Breath!!