Anxiety is never going away

[Byoung]

I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that my anxiety, especially in the morning is never going to go away. I'm doing everything I can with meeting with my counselor and being very compliant with my meds, but nothing is working...it is only getting worse. Again, today, I was a grown man reduced to a puddle of tears and paralysis because I woke up feeling like something disastrous is going to happen. I'm beyond tired...I'm exhausted. It seems that everything that I once was has been stripped away. I no longer recognize myself.

[RemySue]

Same here (except I'm female :)). I just want to be the strong, content woman I was. Anxiety is just so bizarre to me-sheer panic. I don't see my counselor until Thursday and I'm so tired of feeling out of my mind. I hope you (and everyone else) find some relief-I wish I had the answers for you

[Agora1]

Byoung, I understand your anxiety in what you went through. It is okay for a grown man or woman to feel the emotional pain of fear and anxiety after going through a life changing experience. Your body and your mind are going through the transformations and once they settle down, and they will, you can bless the gift you have been given and continue on with your life.

Mornings, for most anxious people, can be the worst time of the day for a reason. Once you accept and believe in that reason, you can work to counteract those natural feelings and sensations and not think of it as catastrophic. There is a hormonal change that happens during the wee hours of the morning preparing us for "fight or flight" as the adrenaline and cortisol levels rise.

The actual fact is that there is no lion or bear to fight and so this can keep us in a state of

the fear stance. Whether we had gone through a medical or emotional issue at one time or

a continual stressful situation, you do not have to take anxiety as a lifetime sentence.

Nothing may seem to work (meds/counseling) because we tend to stay stuck in this pattern of fear. The magic key you are looking for is within you. When you open the door to your future, you will find that all your fears and worries were a mindful thought and not a reality.

Worrying and fearing each day is very exhausting and does nothing but allow us to stay stuck. Once we take that step forward, we can become who we once were, that strong and

competent person.

Believe in that my friend. I've been there. After 30 years, I used the key to success that was in my possession all this time. I am now here to pass my success forward. It is possible, very possible. I'm glad you are here with us. xx

[Livelydively]

Hello. I greatly struggle in the AM as well. It is when my chest tightness and shortness of breath are the worst.

Agora has a lot of wonderful points that I try to remember thought my morning. I realized that what I am feeling is the cortisol in the AM and I remind myself that I am safe. My breathing will normalize and my chest tightness will get better. I do a morning meditation to help get me in a centered place. I hope you find something that brings you comfort. Best wishes.

[Hidden]

I am in a similar situation as you. I know how hard it is and how demoralizing and devastating it is to know you are trying your hardest and it feels like nothing is working. I do want to say that you are trying and that is amazing. You are not giving up and that is admirable. You are taking steps forward even though it doesn't feel like it. Progress with mental health is a lot like the stock market it will go up and down and vary throughout the day. But overall you are still moving forward. Keep working on you, keep looking for new coping skills. Perhaps making mornings your safe time, drink a cup of hot tea or do something that relaxes you when you first wake up. Again, I know how hard it is but you are doing your best and you are still here fighting which amazing. Keep going you can do this.

The last thing i want to say is that anxiety never truly goes away. It's an emotion not unlike excitement after all. But what does happen is we learn to get better at dealing with it. Take anger for example. As a kid you get angry and do a bunch of crazy thing, throw tantrums, kick and scream, sob uncontrollably. As an adult we don't do those things because we have better learned how to express our anger and let it go. It's the same thing with anxiety. We need to learn to feel it and let it pass but not let it overwhelm us.

[Byoung]

Thank you to all of you who took the time to respond to my post. It is comforting to know that I am not the only one who suffers from this...although many times I feel that way.