Just letting it out

[IlMinded]

Hoping this helps me now. Having trouble with anxiety today. Just came off medication I have been on for the better part of a decade. I was misdiagnosed/went through wrong treatment for that time. Met new psychologist who properly diagnosed disorder and is working with me on it. For longest time, we were not sure if medicine was helping. Now that I am off of it, I can honestly say my PTSD and Panic attacks are not as strong (the physical symptoms that is) being off of it, but my GAD is worse, which is leading to more panic attacks, just not strong ones. After a week of really good work performance, I am having an off day. It is my anxiety that is causing me to not be able to work. I know I am good to work on simple tasks, like writing short emails or looking into things, but sitting down and developing EXCEL worksheets for engineering stuff is out of the question. I have done the breathing and grounding exercises with no help. Switched it up and was listening to music, not helping today. Last resort before leaving work is this. I only have 2 hours left, hopefully this will help.

[012703060610]

Good for you for taking a mental health break. I too worked in an intensive technical job requiring a ton of brain work and too much screen time! Had I ever thought to do that, take a break for me, I may not be disabled today! What I can tell you is that work has become a slog for many. COVID wrecked up the flow and companies are still trying to figure out how they want to operate. Do you think you may need a new med or different med? It's good to hear the PTSD and panic is more limited, but maybe you need more time to know if coming off the med or meds was the right direction. I just started LDN for an autoimmune disease but it has actually helped my depression too. Attaching a link. There is also a forum for LDN here on HU. Again, kudos for taking the time out.

LDN is non addictive and doesn't mess up your organs!

ldnresearchtrust.org/can-ld...

[IlMinded in reply to 012703060610]

Thanks for link. Never knew there was an approach to handle depression from an inflammation standpoint.

My main issue is with anxiety. I spent 10 years treating depression and got no where. I am fortunate that marijuana helped me get to the point where I am. It is a tool I am using to help me get to the point I don't need medication. Just no there yet. I do feel like I need medication, so I have been hitting the self medication harder.

With that being said, I am cautiously of what I take. I have taken enough toxicology courses to know what to look out for. I just try not to over do it with my organs!

[012703060610 in reply to IlMinded]

I moved states in the US where marijuana is totally illegal. It really helped me with sleep and I haven't been able to really get back there. I had some marijuana withdrawal too so am glad you are mindful of quantity. I used to have a medical card. It is so sad they throw me now benzos instead. LDN treats anxiety too. My Mom is even on it for Parkinsons. It's the closest thing to no drugs that I can find since the dose is 3 mgs. Normally to treat alcoholism its 50-100 mgs. I know the LDN has improved my GAD, I just wasn't prepared to be happier but in an unhealthy body. OYE!

[grab0001]

It sounds like ealrier you had a good week and today you are having a not so good day which is okay! You dont have to be okay all the time! you can definatley take a mental health day. stick to your small tasks and no that you can alwasy try again tomorrow!

[IlMinded in reply to grab0001]

I feel guilty if I take an "off" day at work. I still get work done, just not at the high volume I can normally do.

[designguy]

Getting off a medication can cause anxiety because your mind and body are trying to adjust to the changes. You are also probably hyper focusing on it which feeds the anxious thoughts and feelings. One of the things that has really helped me was learning that anxiety/panic is a paradox, the more we struggle with it, fight it or try to out think it the more it persists so the answer is to surrender to it and allow it and it will dissipate. Once you really understand what is going on and how to constructively deal with it, it helps take the fear and confusion out of it. You might check out the DARE Anxiety book and youtube videos or the youtube videos and website of Paige Pradko for good advice and information.

[IlMinded in reply to designguy]

Truer words could never be spoken. Its more the fact I have tons of issues that cause my mental issues. I am still figuring myself out now. I have it down to diagnosis and coping strategies for the biggest issue. The problem is different solutions work for different problems. As I am still figuring this out, its like throwing darts with a blind fold on. Is it medication, breathing exercises, moving, the list is endless. The worst is if you try something and it doesn't work.

If you're looking for extra work outside normal doctor appointments, there is another Youtuber that has helped me. It's called Therapy in a Nutshell. It helped me last year when I was starting to figure things out.

[designguy in reply to IlMinded]

I love Therapy in a Nutshell, she is awesome and has such clear, succinct information and advice. And you're right, anxiety can really make things confusing, one of the things that has really helped me is learning to detach and observe my thoughts and to never believe my anxious thoughts no matter how weird or scary they are and know they are lies. Learning and practicing mindfulness mediation has been very helpful to learn to sit with my thoughts and not attach to them, it's not always easy and takes time and practice but it is extremely beneficial. My method is simple, I just sit and maybe focus on my breathing and let whatever thoughts come up and go and if my mind wanders that's fine and just bring it back to focusing on the breath - simple.

You might also like the book "There is nothing wrong with you" by Cheri Huber, it's an older book but I found it very helpful.

[IlMinded in reply to designguy]

Love this and can't be so true. I work in the EHS field and constantly needing to do tree analyses. My therapist is often confused how I have been able to improve so much in so little time, its because I am trained to sit and break everything down to its core when looks at what is going on.

For me its some herbal supplements, a good tune selection and just zoning out. This, in a addition to morning recaps I do when getting ready, has gotten me to figure out what some triggers are and really sit down and determine what is really bothering me. My latest thing has been to sit down and go through my thoughts and feels with a song from Dave Matthews Band. In the song he talks about having a drink to remember and then one more to forget and move on. He talks about a love but for me I change it to loved ones that are now gone.

[designguy in reply to IlMinded]

Glad you have found things that work for you, figuring out what your triggers are and the beliefs behind them is really helpful as well as questioning your thoughts.