Getting rougher the longer it lasts

[Trish23]

I have anxiety. It goes into periods of escalation that last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. It is all day and all night. Sometimes I can reign it in enough to have a little peace. The longer it lasts the worse I get. Nausea, fatigue, difficulty sleeping and horrible sweating. I am so lost. It is making me depressed because I can’t fight it off. My therapist says fighting it makes it worse. I don’t know how to not fight feelings that are this distressing. HELP. What do others do? I take medicine and they want me to up it. I am afraid that will never end. I feel so defective. I have a good life so I have no reason for this.

[Kelsey22]

Hi Trish! I am so sorry that you're going through this right now. We are here to support you. I have been where you are. As counterintuitive as it sounds, what you were told about not fighting your anxiety is exactly what you have to do to feel some relief.

The first time I heard this (only about two weeks ago) I thought it was a load of crap. How could I possibly accept the constant terror I was feeling and the overwhelming intrusive thoughts. I watched a few videos on the ADAA website about managing GAD and panic attacks. I downloaded an app called DARE that walks you through some of the experiences. I had to accept that I was not in danger. That fear is just a feeling. I had to accept that I was feeling a sensation but that it was just anxiety and it can't actually hurt me. The second you truly BELIEVE that you are not in danger - the anxiety loses its power.

I am not saying that every day is perfect now. I still struggle with pretty overwhelming moments - but they don't linger anymore. I moving more normally throughout my day. I have incorporated doing affirmations, breathing exercises, and meditations into the morning, afternoon and it has helped.

I am not an expert. I am not "healed". But this mindset shift and intentional relaxation and affirmations has truly changed the way I experience anxiety and has diminished it greatly.

I am hoping you find relief soon.

[Trish23 in reply to Kelsey22]

Thanks Kelsey. It helps to hear others experiences. I really do want to help myself. It sometimes just feels like a live thing that has its grip on you. Even when you have a few good times it’s like it is in the background waiting for me to give it power again. I know changing my thinking is the most important thing so I am not going to add a “but” comment to that so it is what I have to do. Hope you continue to do well.

[SayNOtoPanic in reply to Kelsey22]

Ditto Kelsey. Thanks for sharing this. I so relate. And Trish you got this. The stupid set backs and persistent bouts are not the business but unfortunately as we fight them they persist. And acceptance is very difficult. Try to do breathing exercises or positive affirmations several times a day in a quiet space for a couple minutes and look forward to that. Try to observe the physical symptoms and say ok Welcome back whatever. U got this. Ur not alone.

[CAGgmb]

Don't give up. I've had anxiety issues since childhood. After 17 years on one SSRI, it stopped working, so now I'm on day 13 of another SSRI. Are you seeing a psychiatrist for your meds? Increasing a dose can help, but in my case it didn't, so we're trying something else. Unfortunately, this can be trial and error. Keep fighting for yourself. You're worth it.

[Trish23]

Changing meds is so scary to me because of side effects. It is a control thing I think and they take so long to start working. It is just a vicious cycle of thinking. Thanks for reaching out. Keep me posted on how the med change is going.

[EndUser13]

There IS a reason for this, or it wouldn't be happening... but I hear you, it might not make sense right now.

You can't always be perfectly on top of things, sometimes you just need to learn to roll with the punches and accept things for what they are. So often I see how people with anxiety issues can be their own worst enemies- try not to beat yourself up too much. Be as kind to yourself as you can, evidently there's enough ugly going on

[Agora1]

Hi Trish23, your therapist is right in that fighting anxiety only makes it worse.

Anxiety starts with a thought that we allow to grow whenever we start to

fear or fight the feelings. Of course, it then goes into physical symptoms.

The Mind/Body Connection is powerful. Once we understand how the two

are interconnected we can work on our minds. Life is going to be stressful

from time to time. Knowing how to control that stress is all important. When

we don't, we tend to stay in a "fight or flight" stance. Head jutted forward,

shoulders up to our ears, jaw tense, muscles contract and breathing changes.

And then we wonder why we feel as we do. YouTube has always been my

"go to". Anything you want to work on can be found in a Meditation type video.

Each one of us reacts differently to methods and tools out there.

Medication and therapy are important but not necessarily the "key" to success.

This will end when you are ready to take control back of your life.

I know because I did and Life is amazing once more. I'm here to pass my success

'forward. Never give up Trish...Never xx

[Trish23 in reply to Agora1]

Thanks for replying. It helps.

[Carolina53112]

Hey!! I read some books that helped also practice some meditation and breathing exercises. Im not sure how severe your anxiety is but when I am telling you how I became extremely ill from these panic and anxiety attacks. Shaking all day heart palpitations couldn’t eat or take care of my kids! Lost 15 pounds in less than two weeks I thought i was going to die I felt numb. I remember my head slamming on the bed from my nerves being that bad and jaw kind of locking I had jaw pain for like a month after. I had to get on meds! Nothing else helped I was only getting worse! I tried Lexapro 10mg and it took like a month to work. Then once I got better It returned again even while on Meds. I read these books cut down to 5mg and have been doing soooo much betterrr. They also gave me Hydroxyzine at the time when I was that ill and its been about 3 months and still doing great not even taking it anymore only Lexapro. Please read the books to reassure you. You will HEAL!! And by the way mine came out of nowhere all new to me have no trauma or anything! Only stress but nothing majoy and I was at my worst and look at me now! Hopeful and Happy again. Yes I am sort of traumatized by it and i do think about it all the time I was even admitted at the time. But I continue to do research learn about this disorder! Don’t take anything

like narcotics! Go on youtube learn about this! It helped me so much learning of others with similar situations and just knowing they healed was all I needed! These are the books: Dare by Barry McDonagh and Feeling Great by David D. Burns. I use Audible and it made it super easy I would simply put my headphones on by doing chores!

[Trish23 in reply to Carolina53112]

Thanks for sharing.

[ZOO7 in reply to Carolina53112]

thanks for sharing the books and resources

[ZOO7]

Judson brewers book unwinding anxiety and dr Claire weeks books helped me a bit too. It is so tough with anxiety. Mine comes and goes. When I’m more stressed in any way it gets way worse. At times I don’t even know what I’m stressed about but my body is reacting. I found yoga to be helpful. If you can’t get to a studio yoga with Adrienne is on YouTube. Different breathing and monthly massages! Sending 🙏

[Trish23 in reply to ZOO7]

Thanks for the suggestions.

[Hidden]

hello love. I have GAD and depression. Although I feel like I’m crushing my depression and anxiety. Depression is caused by things being out of our control that you are trying to fix. Anxiety is living in the future or past. Practicing gratitude and mindfulness will get you where you need to be. As simple as that sounds, it took me until I was 49 yrs old to realize this. Some people go through their whole life not getting it. Just remember that you are love and you are loved. Let me know if I can help.