Anxiety

[BluesTraveler]

With daily meditation, exercise, and all the doctor recommends, I still have anxiety attacks. I try not to dwell on circumstances beyond my control, but when time passes with no progress, anxiety happens no matter what I do to ward it off.

[Footloose83]

I feel you. I take Prozac, exercise daily, learn calming techniques l, eat healthy, have up alcohol years ago but my GAD keeps sneaking up on me randomly for the past 20 years. I finally came to terms that’s it something I’m going to live with forever. That I need to manage it the best I can and try not to dwell on it. The physical symptoms are the worst. I can wake up and feel off and know that anxiety will be coming soon. Have you tried cognitive behavioral therapy? I’m in the process of doing it and it helps.

[BluesTraveler in reply to Footloose83]

Thank you. I'll check it out. I've always suffered in silence but now it's too strong to ignore and hangs on longer.

[Footloose83 in reply to BluesTraveler]

I’ve always heard the best combo is medication and CBT talk therapy. The medication part is up to the person. It helps me some but the hard part is finding the right one you respond to best. If you’re a big caffeine person (I was) it helps to reduce your intake as caffeine can drive up anxiety.

[BluesTraveler]

I don't like meds because I'm too sensitive to them. I've cut way down on caffeine. The programs and guided meditations on Gaia TV app help me alot. Then a day eventually comes and nothing helps the 'fight or flight' urge... Thought I'd try this and maybe get a therapist through my doctor. Thanks for your replies. It's made a difference in the isolation I was feeling.

[Barbloki in reply to BluesTraveler]

I just told my husband the same thing yesterday. I'll be going along fine and then BAM! the anxiety just rises up from nowhere, the fight/flight mode. Then I find myself breathing in my chest, shallow breathing. It's like I'm possessed or something. I hate it! I wish I could figure out what is bothering me and causing the fight/flight urge. If anyone here finds the cure, please share it.

[LoveforAll41]

Hi BluesTraveler (love the name!) I think that CBT is the key to a "cure". It may not have to be that necessarily, but I think that we have to change the way that we think if we want to change the way we feel. Our anxiety usually has some good message for us, but it gets out of hand. I always recommend the book "Feeling Great" by David Burns. I have recommended it probably hundreds of times on this site, and many are probably sick and tired of it. His methods have helped me feel so much more peace though so I can't help but share what has worked for me. I wish you peace and strength in your journey ☮️

[BluesTraveler in reply to LoveforAll41]

Thank you - Love your name too! I'll look for the book. I don't remember reading it before. Much appreciated. Thank you for the good wishes too. It's been a long time since I felt this 'fight or flight' fear syndrome. I wish you peace and comfort now and always 💙

[Craigliving4Jane in reply to LoveforAll41]

Just got the book today, love

I say keep bugging us

[Barbloki in reply to Craigliving4Jane]

I got it from the library but it was SO BIG that I got overwhelmed and didn't read it. Please let us know if it's worth trying to get over the anxiety.

[Craigliving4Jane in reply to Barbloki]

I will and yes ITS THICK

[Barbloki in reply to Craigliving4Jane]

Yes, it was very thick and overwhelming to me so I returned it without reading it.

[Barbloki]

Me too. I've been taking my meds and new supplements, doing the breathing, and everything else but I still get anxiety and I cannot identify what is causing it. There has to be a fix for this!

[Craigliving4Jane in reply to Barbloki]

There is. You just haven’t found it yet.

This world we live in can be extremely complicated to figure out but you will

I know- hurry the heck up

[Barbloki in reply to Craigliving4Jane]

I'm now pissed at myself for having to take a xanax. I wish I could get through just ONE DAY without it. I think I know what is triggering me and if I'm right, then there's really nothing I can do. I need to speak with my therapist about it tomorrow. Heading to the senior center now to be around people and forget my problems.

[Shep22]

Hi for lots

Its long term It never goes away And unlikely to changec

It might be the case

If so

Right meds etc

Help with pip benefits etc

And finding

Your right levels to function

to try live as much independence as possible

And levels will still go up and down over the year

For lots in this situation

Say out of 10

1 to 3 is very good to get to if it works for you

4 to 6 is a good bench mark for lots long term

Then there's the

7 to 10 when things go bad hopefully for just days

The right

Tools and help from a good

Gp

physiotherapist

Help a lot

Or

good psychologist 1 to 1 sessions

Or

1 to 1 senior OT

All above help will help if available

[Midori]

Sometimes You just have to tell the Anxiety that you don't have time for it today and to buzz off! Ultimately, you must take control of your primitive lizard brain which is trying to keep you safe, and learn that you don't need it's input. You may have to get angry at it, but scream and shout at it, tell it to go where the sun doesn't shine, I did and it worked for me. Sometimes you will need to reinforce it, but it definitely works. Pills and Therapists can only take you so far, and then you must take your further healing into your own hands, in order to finish the job.

Cheers, Midori

[Agora1 in reply to Midori]

Absolutely Midori...your words and advice are so true. I was amazed in how anxiety

backs off when we get tough. Great response xx