How to Cope

[tsukiii]

Currently being treated for GAD after it reduced me to nothing over the span of a few months. I lost my financial aid, friends and support system and I'm currently battling some unpleasant effects of a new SSRI I was prescribed. Does it ever get better? Someone PLEASE tell me it might get better. I don't really know who I am right now.

[fauxartist]

It can get better, it' takes a lot of work and patience with yourself and others, and finding the right SSRI with the right dosage does take time. It takes a couple of weeks for the SSRI to really kick in, then it's just a matter of understanding that this is just one tool, not a cure, you will also need therapy, writing, walking, what ever you need to do, and doing the work on yourself just takes time....

It got better for me eventually, and actually my life is 110% better than when I first started this journey... but it's going to be a rocky road some days, we just have to try and learn how to cope with it, and when to reach out for help...one day at a time.

[designguy]

I found medication helped some but did not resolve my anxiety issues. What really made the difference for me was learning everything I could about anxiety and understanding why and how I had developed it. Anxiety came stem from worries, fears, repressed emotions, shame etc... from our past, present and thinking of the future. I also learned that anxiety/panic is a paradox and the more we resist it the more it persists so the solution is to surrender to it and let it flow through us and desensitize ourself over time. Anxiety is our bodies built in warning system that is malfunctioning so we need to accept it instead of rejecting it and learn how to reset it. Also understand and know that the anxious thoughts are lies and to not believe them. My suggestion is to check out the DARE Anxiety book and youtube videos, another good resource is the youtube videos/website of Paige Pradko. There is alot of good information on youtube about it.

Learning and practicing a simple mindfulness meditation can be very helpful for learning to observe your thoughts and not attach to them so you are less triggered by them. It also helps with sitting with the anxious feelings and allowing them instead of resisting them.

It also can take 2 - 4 weeks for an ssri to take affect and make noticeable changes, the only side affect I had was some mild sexual dysfunction.

[fauxartist in reply to designguy]

This is really a great source of info...and you should post it as there are so many lost with how to deal with anxiety, ... I rarly read others comments and this one is very good.

[tsukiii in reply to fauxartist]

I'd say currently, it's less nagging thoughts and moreso I feel like I'm physically unwell, which is very distressing.

[designguy in reply to fauxartist]

Thank you, I think I will do that, good idea.

[fauxartist in reply to designguy]

the mind is a very powerful thing...our moods and anxiety play a big part in our health.

[designguy in reply to fauxartist]

Totally true, it's why cultivating awareness of our thoughts is really helpful and realizing that we have a choice whether to believe them or not.

[tsukiii in reply to designguy]

My psychiatrist permitted me to skip a dose to see if the wild physical symptoms I'm having is in fact the SSRI, or another underlying medical issue. It's really hard to remain optimistic.

[designguy in reply to tsukiii]

One of the things I found that really helped my anxiety is getting my hormones (testosterone), thyroid and adrenals all functioning properly and balanced. It really made a big difference in reducing my anxiety and how I felt so I definitely recommend doing it. Another thing that contributes to anxiety is our diet, you might eliminate caffeine and reduce the amount of sugar and alcohol you eat and eat easily digestible foods and see if helps your anxiety. Also know that anxiety is a trickster and will try to make you believe things that aren't true and even feelings/sensations as well as thoughts.

[tsukiii in reply to designguy]

I quit vaping, I don't consume things with caffeine in it anymore, my diet could be better, when I go a day or two without eating I usually reach for fast food when I have the energy to get out of bed. So, that's my fault. I'm very good at talking myself out of irrational thoughts, but the physical aspect of it is oh so painful. I can't get past it, I feel like I'm dying sometimes.

[designguy in reply to tsukiii]

You might get a physical checkup from a doctor to make sure there is nothing going on physically for you but anxiety can make you think and feel like something is wrong, especially the more you focus and dwell on it.

[fauxartist in reply to designguy]

I think a complete blood workup would help....

[tsukiii in reply to fauxartist]

I've had like one or two of those, when you say "complete", define complete.

[tsukiii in reply to designguy]

I have and nothing could be found nothing serious at least.

[designguy in reply to tsukiii]

Thats good that you did that to rule anything out and provide you with some peace of mind. Anxiety can make you hyper-focus on your body sensations and blow them up out of proportion and may result in health anxiety so it could be what you are experiencing. When my digestive system is totally out of whack I will do a bone broth fast for a few days which helps it reset and reduces the anxiety. The reality is that our body makes all kind of noises and sensations throughout the day which are all part of its normal process. Paige Pradko has good info on health anxiety on her website and youtube videos.

[tsukiii in reply to designguy]

I'm beyond relieved that it's nothing physically, and it's not like I have anything going on currently that's a serious life threatening stressor, so why do I still feel this way? I just have legit nothing going for me right now since the semester is over. If anything I'm just bored.

[designguy in reply to tsukiii]

GAD and depression often co-exist at the same time so it could be that you are also experiencing some depression which can impact how you feel physically as well as mentally. Anxiety and panic itself can also cause some depression because of the toll the anxiety takes physically and mentally on us. It sounds like from what you have been through lately you have good reasons to be depressed. There are also different degrees of depression so we may not be even aware that we are.

[Ladytrue in reply to designguy]

I have been battling nausea so much in the last 3 weeks like wanting to be hospitalized. My stomach sounded like a bomb! Scope and ct scan show nothing. So literally my anxiety is eating me. I took 9 days of 5mg Cipralex and now 10 mg for 12 days and every morning I wake up to the overwhelming feeling of nausea doom. If I take ativan it wipes it all away and I can eat. So crazy. I am keeping it under 1 mg for ativan. Doctors and pharmacists say 3-6 weeks for Ciprelex to kick in. If ativan works surley this antidepressant should work soon. No negative comments plz I am already on the edge!!!

[designguy in reply to Ladytrue]

Sorry to hear, sounds awful, our gut and our brain are directly linked and influence each other. It could be that you are suffering from SIBO (small intestinal bacteria overgrowth or candida fungal overgrowth both of which can cause lots of bloating and digestive upset. I have had both of them and worked with a naturopath and functional medicine practitioner to help heal them. i also found I was sensitive to wheat so I cut back eating it. There are tests available for both to see if it is what you are dealing with. One of the things I found was that I make too little stomach acid for good digestion so I take a capsule of Betaine HCI and also a digestive enzyme capsule with protein heavy meals. You can also do an elimination diet to see if it is food allergies you are dealing with. When I was feeling the worst I did a bone broth diet for a few days and also enemas to help move my digestion and felt better in a few days. Taking good probiotics is also very helpful for good maintenance. Hope you feel better soon and stay away from the edge.

[fauxartist in reply to designguy]

Exactly...it's all about balance.... and; 'you are what your eat'!