New to Anxiety

[Calmlover]

The last three days have been brutal. I've had severe anxiety hit me out of nowhere. I've never been through this. I'm waiting to hear from my doctor to refer me to a psychiatrist, until then they gave me Ativan. Any tips, help or recommendations? I'm really down and have this constant fear and nervousness in the pit of my stomach. Any way to make it stop? Sorry if this. Bit much but I'm desperate and need help

[Mofro]

Sorry to hear you're feeling the extreme anxiety you are. It sounds like you might be having panic attacks, or are close to it. Yep, I can relate more than I want to. It's good to know your doctor is working with you, and has prescribed something that will address it short-term. Hopefully it will work fairly quickly.

If you don't have any background on Ativan, it's a benzo or downer. This year, after years of trying, I was finally able to discontinue clonazepam, another benzo. They aren't supposed to be prescribed long-term because they can be very addictive. I didn't know this until I'd been on it for many years. There came a point when I knew it wasn't effective anymore, and probably doing more harm than good. I tried several times over the course of many years, and am glad to finally put it behind me. Okay, so much for the benzo scare 😲, I just hate to think of anyone else going through the same thing. As was in my case, doctor's don't always know best, and sometimes that's a frightening thought.

Unfortunately, I still experience overwhelming anxiety much of the time. I started taking buspione about 3 weeks ago, but still don't think it's doing anything. The extreme level of anxiety I'm having was brought on by the current situation I'm in, so it's largely situational. It just doesn't seem to want to go away without a fight to the death.

I understand the fear and nervousness you're experiencing, especially when we can't even nail down what our fear is about. Anxiety doesn't play by the rules, and often brings his/her playmate depression along, just to make matters worse. When they get together they dance until after midnight, arm in arm and totally in love. A marriage made in heaven. When it gets bad enough it starts to attack the physical body, which would explain the feeling in the pit of your stomach. I've been having small muscle tremors over different parts of my body, I have high blood pressure, restless leg syndrome and insomnia to show for all the chronic anxiety.

I'm sorry I can't offer any suggestions that you couldn't find yourself by Googling "how to ease anxiety", or to do a search on YouTube. I've always been an over-researcher which can work both ways. I know you're at the point of screaming "I need something now!". I have much empathy for those that reach that point, because it's a very lonely place to be, as it is with many mental health disorders. I'm feeling very lonely tonight. Maybe I'll at least divert you attention away from your anxiety, if even for a moment. It's always good to hear someone tell you that you're feelings are validated and you shouldn't fear or judge them. That you're not only heard but understood. Diversions are good as long as they don't pose a risk to ourselves or anyone else.

I will give you one suggestion that just popped into my head. If you haven't heard of this person or watched him, give it shot. Get on YouTube and do a search for Bob Ross 😁. If you've heard of him, no more needs to be said. If you haven't, well you've got nothing to lose. He's a good diversion.

Keep us updated and I hope in the short term you find some relief with the Ativan.

[CountrieSweetie in reply to Mofro]

I like your style! I don't usually get online and stalk the comments most of the time. This time this caught my eye and I swear I was thinking every word that you wrote. I also think its important to not suffer in silence alone. But, I have not been very good at practicing what I preach. I just had to say thank you for your post or reply it made me smile. Good luck with your anxiety, I know it cant be easy, well, bc its anything but.

[Mofro in reply to CountrieSweetie]

I'm the same as you when it comes to commenting. I usually read through posts in communities I'm interested in, more than I post myself. Here's the thing with me though, I'm constantly trying to find diversions away from my own pain, such as coming here and just reading if nothing else. I would probably try to contribute more, not that doing it would meet some expected requirement, but more for truly wanting to be more helpful to people. What stops me are my own insecurities. I have a real issue identifying with who I even am anymore, and often feel as the world isn't real. Dissociation. It's very uncomfortable and I'd like it to go away 😣. Somehow, I don't think I'm alone in what I'm experiencing. It's getting crazy out there.

But every once in a while the real me will pop out, and give me a glimpse of the person that never had issues with public speaking. I'll start a post, not knowing if I'll finish it or not. If I think what I'm typing might truly get across what I want to say, I'll finish it. It's rare though for me to ever use the (!) at the end of a sentence though. That would imply I was either happy about something or yelling at someone, neither of which I experience much, if at all .

If I find a diversion that works for me, I'll roll with it although it's usually temporary. I get bored and restless very easily, and always have to move on to the next thing. Like reading books. I know I've finished a few, but I get about 3/4 way with most, even if for the first 3/4 I think the book is the best thing I'd ever read. Maybe it's ADD, or so I've been told.

So thanks for liking my style. It's a limited edition unfortunately, as I've reached the age where I've had to admit my own mortality. Sighhhh........ 🙄 If you're reading this reply, I must have decided what I was typing might actually get across what I wanted to say. (Until I hit the reply button).

[Goldilocks11 in reply to Mofro]

Your posts are great and I hope that your confidence has improved so you feel free to write/post whatever you're thinking.I look forward to reading more.

[Mofro in reply to Goldilocks11]

You are very kind. Reading comments like yours can only boost my confidence, that's for sure. 😊

[Boston001 in reply to Mofro]

"I have a real issue identifying with who I even am anymore, and often feel as the world isn't real. Dissociation"

I can so relate to this sentiment. I have so little in common with the average person on the street I sometimes wonder if I am of the same species and that thought only serves to reinforce the dissociative feelings of being an alien on my own planet.

[Mofro in reply to Boston001]

I hear that. It's a very lonely place to be. I think that's a common denominator for those of us that struggle daily with mental health disorders. I understand it's impossible for anyone that hasn't lived or are living it, to really get what I'm experiencing. I can only hope they have the capacity to have some empathy at the least. That's why I'm grateful for support groups like this where I can come and not feel so alone in all of it.

It's a temporary relief though, because soon I'll have to find someway to get through another day. It's not easy in any event, but when I feel so disconnected from reality it starts to become a living nightmare. Intellectually, I know it's overwhelming anxiety that's making me feel dissociated. Unfortunately, when anxiety gets to a certain level, intellect doesn't stand a chance against it.

I keep telling myself, if I can finally get myself out of the bad situation I've been in for over 2 1/2 years, I can start to recover. I can only hope, but because I've been under such intense chronic stress for so long, I have a deep fear things will never be the same. Not that things were ever lollipops, rainbows and unicorns, but I would give anything to be my "normal" depressed, anxious self again. I suppose that sliver of hope is what gets me through most days. I feel like time is running out as the world keeps getting more unfriendly. So I'll keep coming here.

Charlie Brown and Lucy. "The doctor is in".

[LifeIsThePitts in reply to Mofro]

BTW...if you download the Free streaming service Pluto tv, there's a Bob Ross CHANNEL that only play reruns of his show. Believe me....I know the benefits of The Bob since childhood on PBS😁🍄I still watch to this day 😀

Your post was ABSOLUTELY SPOT ON!!!

[Mofro in reply to LifeIsThePitts]

Bob IS the real deal. 😁

[Anmu]

hey there, in my experience I did took Ativan for like 4 months, I did not like it because it is a narcotic medicine I don’t want to be addicted to this kind of pills, I had to take Ativan 3 times a day, the anxiety and panic was every 10 minutes I had to visit the er almost every day,

In my believe I don’t recommend Ativan to anyone for being a narcotic medicine, it is a strong medication you don’t want to be control by it, I was 3 wasn’t enough 😔… I had to take more actions and get help in the hospital, they got me off of this med, psychiatrically knows this is a addictive medicine so in the hospital they gave me lexapro only, I was a nightmare, narcs make me addicted to alcohol to other kinds of medicine like pills to sleep,

Talk to your doc maybe they can give you a non addict med, god bless you! You will get out of this

[Goldilocks11]

I have been given beta blockers (propananol) to take away the physical symptoms of severe anxiety. If you Google this medication then perhaps you could ask your Dr for it.My reply is late, sorry, I hope you're feeling calmer now.

[Boston001]

You have an opportunity at your feet if you have never had anxiety and panic issues. Unless you are being triggered by something that is putting you in direct danger, don't feed the fear by worrying about it. Ground yourself, Google or Youtube, "Mindfulness grounding" Acknowledge the feelings your body feels, but don't judge them. My heart is fast, My breathing is quick, My stomach is fluttering, then look around and see that you are in no imminent danger. Acknowledge the feelings and move on without trying to control them. Unless you are in imminent danger this should declaw the cat and help you carry on as normal. Worrying about anxiety creates a loop, where you get anxious thinking about anxiety happening again.