Hi! I'm new here and just learning the ropes. I have GAD which is pretty well controlled most of the time but I've been sick with some bowel obstruction and a stubborn kidney stone over the past several weeks and my anxiety is bad.
The minute I wake up my system floods with adrenalin and I feel like the day is already determined to be a bad one. Anyone else experience this? What helps? I spend most of my day trying to battle back from the "flood".
What do you mean by a bowel obstruction? If you are referring to constipation, that can be helped with a variety of OTC products. If, however, you mean a true bowel obstruction, you need an emergency room and a colorectal surgeon. I am replying because I did have a bowel obstruction of the small intestine and had emergency surgery for it. I hope you are in touch with your doctor and these problems get resolved soon, as they are not any fun. x
I should have said partial obstruction. I have severe adhesions from past abdominal surgeries (bowel obstruction included) and now I get partial obstruction if I don't stay on a low residue diet. I tend to get worse anxiety when the physical "ailments" flare up and it's the worst in the morning. The kidney stone finally passed and the partial obstruction seems to be rectifying itself, but I'm still anxious. What helps you get through it?
I also have more anxiety when there are physical issues. It is hard to tell what to do. It is also difficult to understand what exactly the anxiety is. Sometimes I think it is mostly health anxiety, but the problem with that is that there are actually some real issues. I rely on an occasional tranquilizer and exercise. They both do help. I cannot take SSRIs because I have an issue with low sodium and they tend to deplete sodium. x
I hear you. It's hard to decipher which is the physical issue ends and the anxiety begins. They both overlap in my experience. Once the CT scan showed some partial blockage and a kidney stone my anxiety spiked and has been sticking with me since. I'll get out and take a walk this afternoon, even though my anxiety tends to land me in the 'freeze' phase of fight flight or freeze. Thanks for the info. Sounds like you are doing pretty well. I'm glad.
Before I started gabapentin, I had terrible anxiety every morning, then it would break around 5-6 pm. I would feel better at night. I think it has to do with the daily cortisol cycle which peaks in the morning.
That's my pattern too. Does gabapentin have a lot of side effects? I need to be able to work during the day. I'm so tired of starting the day this way!
For the first couple of weeks I had sleepiness and a feeling of being unsteady on my feet. Because of that, they start you off on one dose before bed. Now I take it 3 times a day with no side effects. I've been taking it for about 10 months.
Welcome to our forum. Bowel issues are also part of my anxiety. It is frustrating but hang in there and know you are not alone.
As if anxiety isn't bad enough, we get bowel issues too - such joy! lol
I've had experiences waking up into panic or even a panic attack. I don't have any advice unfortunately but you're definitely not alone in this.
Thanks! I does help knowing I'm not alone and someone understands exactly what I'm referring to. I agree with RM Hiker it seems like a huge flood of cortisol or adrenaline that take all day to neutralize. Hope you have a good morning tomorrow!
Hey there. Anxiety can be debilitating even without the physical issues you are dealing with. Like you and RMHiker anxiety has always been worse for me right away in the morning, and it eases up in the evening. That cortisol is a bugger.
I am back on Gabapentin, and it seems to be more effective this time around. Thank goodness, because I was at my wit's end.
It is making me tired (it's only been a few weeks), but the trade-off is that the intrusive thoughts and rumination have eased up a lot.
I still have chest tightness and am unsettled, but there is improvement.
I wish you the best on your journey.
💫💜💫
You're right , anxiety on it's own sucks without being sick too. For me they are pretty interwoven right now. I'm meeting with a PsychNp today. My GP has been prescribing my Pristiq and it's clearly not working . My pattern has been that I'll do well for several months and then it's like the meds just stopped working - like they stop absorbing. I was on Zoloft for 17 years and it worked fine until I hit menopause. Hoping for some answers today. Thanks for your response and best wishes. Have a good day!
Menopause is adding to my struggles as well. Good luck to you.🌈
Having a rough day...
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Rough Day
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