New to all of this and looking for community, connection, and support.
Never really had issues with severe anxiety or depression my entire life.
However, several professional/personal events over the past year, beyond my control, have apparently put me in a downward spiral into this awful condition - just the "perfect storm" if you will - I never saw it coming 😬
The anxiety/depression is absolutely debilitating at times... making it difficult to interact positively with my family, perform my job, and function normally. I manage to 'power through' life these days but have constant brain fog (likely from not sleeping) and am living in constant fear/worry over everything... and let's not forget to mention the absolute inability to sleep - simply just creates a vicious cycle!
Finding it almost impossible to find a path forward/break out of this "jail" to move forward. Like I said, new to this awful mental health condition and previously a very strong person.
How have all of you managed to overcome/manage this condition?
Written by
pharos
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
My General Practitioner prescribed Ambien for me to help me sleep... and said I should eventually contact a therapist if need be - since I'm manifesting signs of GAD. Truth be told, he made me feel a bit awkward, like I was simply whining or something - I felt like he didn't want to deal with it - very disappointed :-(.
The Ambien does nothing except knock me out for few hours - I wake up feeling worse. My GP was averse to prescribing any type of anti-depressant because of conflicts with other prescriptions I take.
Not entirely sure where to go from here but certainly appreciate any advice from this Community.
Number one, not sure why the Ambien. Sure a good night sleep is great, if the drug even works but it's not going to treat your daily anxiety.
Number 2... I wouldn't go to your GP for psych help. Mine doesn't even believe in mental health at all. Her motto... flip the switch 🙄.
You need a specialist for specialized things. You wouldn't see a cardiologist to deliver a baby so don't use someone without experience in the particular field... lol
My story is I wouldn't have made any progress without meds or therapy. I also wish I had been more aware of my issues and was able to seek help much earlier but I can't change that now
I also do a lot of reading on my own, exercise, meditate, practice mindfulness, take good care of myself and probably a bunch more I can't think of.
Not sure if any of that helps but when I came here I was just so happy to find people that understood what it all feels like
I presume from your use of the words GP that you are in the UK? In that case you must be in a surgery with a number of GP's and you can see anyone you like. They won't all be as unsympathetic as the one you saw so see another one instead.
Hi hypercat54, I'm actually in the US. My General Practitioner clearly had no interest in helping with a mental health issue, in fact, made me feel a bit awkward about it 🙄
Hi Pharos. Welcome to the community. Like Dolphin14 said, this is a great place to get support and helpful tips from people suffering with similar issues. I am also in the US and have been through the wringer of PCP’s and GP’s who don’t truly understand GAD. I would recommend looking into Vita Health. It’s virtual therapy with great doctors all over the country who specialize in specific mental health care. I’ve used them in the past and it helped me. You’re not alone and we’re here to help you 💜
From the use of GP I presume the poster is in the UK. Its a bit different here as drs can and usually do prescribe ad's etc.
There is a huge waiting list for NHS mental health help and normally we wouldn't see a psychiatrist who can prescribe meds but a psychologist or counsellor who can't. So the GP does.
Good points. Mindfulness, meditation, exercise, taking care of yourself, and journaling all are very helpful. I too have GAD, and my psychiatrist has put me on a low dose of Buspirone (5mg). I am waiting to see if it helps (it takes 2-4-6 weeks to become effective. He also suggested seeing a therapist who I have been seeing for about a month. Talk therapy is helpful too.
My General Practitioner prescribed Ambien for me to help me sleep... and said I should eventually contact a therapist if need be - since I'm manifesting signs of GAD. Truth be told, he made me feel a bit awkward, like I was simply whining or something - I felt like he didn't want to deal with it - very disappointed :-(.
The Ambien does nothing except knock me out for few hours - I wake up feeling worse. My GP was averse to prescribing any type of anti-depressant because of conflicts with other prescriptions I take.
Not entirely sure where to go from here but certainly appreciate any advice from this Community.
Reading this brought tears to my eyes. It sounds exactly what my son is going through right now and it breaks my heart that I can’t help him. I hope you can find some answers and feel better soon🙂
Hi, areally sorry to here you are going through this, like you I am new to this although I had some anxiety as a teen it was nothing major and has come on very suddenly, there are certain things that trigger it and then it becomes debilitating and I can't stop thinking about itDo you have certain triggers or is it just overall
I have tried many things but am reluctant to go down the medicine route but may have to soon
Yes, exactly the same for me. Nothing major my whole life but now, out of nowhere - never saw this coming! You are spot on about it being debilitating - it's just awful - like I've lost part of myself. Like you, I definitely have some triggers which I just can't stop thinking about... which inevitably always seem to fuel other crazy worries that spiral me down the rabbit hole and incapacitate me.
Per the recommendation of several kind people in this forum, I'm currently trying to find a true mental health physician to talk to - something I would never have had the courage to admit to, nor actually do, without the encouragement here.🙂 *my GP seems to think I should just suck it up - and throws sleeping pills at me.
I am also very reluctant to head down the medicine route for fear of locking myself into something long term, however, I can't help but think what type of life would it be anyway if I always feel like this. Besides, who knows, maybe it's temporary and can be worked out with professional help/meds.
I hope you consider the same. Keep me posted on your journey! 🙂
Yes the Doctors here are the same just start you on anti depressants, there have been people in the forum that have had success with other methods, such as acceptance of the anxiety, going through the feeling and eventually it won't have a hold on you anymore, I am letting myself do this at the moment and had a few giid weeks but then it seems to come back in full force.I hope you get on well and start on the road to recovery, keep me posted too, I'm here if you need to talk
small steps, self care, acceptance of who and where you are at, nature , talking, counselling, writing stuff down, burning it, journaling . Sending good vibes xxx
Hello there. I’ve been dealing with PTSD, Depression and Anxiety for many years now and have been able to cope with it all the help of my wonderful therapist who I see every other week. I also attend a monthly therapy session, which comes from a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy program that started about four years ago as a weekly session and for a year and then a bi-weekly session for about a year and it has helped me learn Mindfulness, Communication Skills, Coping Skills and a lot about how and why I think the way I do. I am able to focus and work through my anxiety and get back to a better place. People have been saying use Self care but not explaining what that is and it may be different for everyone but a good place to start is going to a library or bookstore to the Self Help section and find some books about Mindfulness and Self Care. I wish you well.
I am sorry to hear about your depression and anxiety. Someone said anxiety is a "sour companion", and that is so true! What is helping me in dealing with anxiety is mindfulness (including being aware of your thoughts and feelings and how your body feels), deep breathing, journaling, and speaking with a therapist. I think anxiety is a life-long condition, at least in my case since I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder; the trick is learning how to manage it. My psychiatrist prescribed a low-dose (5mg) of Buspirone about a month ago, and I am waiting to see/feel the result (it takes 2-4-6 weeks to feel the effects). We will see.
Hang in there. Anxiety is manageable with some of the tools mentioned here. And know that you are not alone.
I am dealing with much anxiety as well. I don't know what other meds you are on, but it's possible that a psychiatrist, who knows more about mental health meds, will be able to find something useful. My PCP had no idea what he was doing with mental health meds, and actually made my situation worse.NO OFFENSE TO THOSE IT HAS HELPED, but the apps/therapists who tell you to try and accept the anxious feelings, and do things like "invite it in", don't truly understand how anxiety FEELS. It's absolutely terrible and debilitating, and all a person wants is for it to go away! Pushing through it and counting backwards, for example, may last for a few minutes, but for many people, the anxious feelings just come right back. Deep breathing and getting outside are the only things that have been helpful for me so far, as they are easily accessible. I talk to a therapist once a week, which has been marginally helpful. I am also starting Prozac tomorrow, which, of course, I am nervous about. It's such a process!
Please be aware that if you do end up going on medication, it can be super helpful, or can have bothersome side effects. Also, many of them have withdrawal symptoms (sometimes severe and long-lasting) that some doctors fail to mention (I am currently dealing with this with effexor). I am not a doctor, but have a degree in psychology, and much experience growing up in a family of "worriers". My unprofessional advice would be to find reliable, scientifically-based sites, and research everything so you can make an informed decision. And don't be embarrassed that you may have a mental health condition. You'll find as you work through it that it's more common than you may think. We need to erase that stigma.
Best of luck, and please check back in to update your story.
Hello dear one and so sorry you are going through this battle with fear. Anxiety at it's worst is fear of just about every feeling in your body or thought you may have. I have been battling it since I was a child and I am now 65. I do very well these days because I've learned how to get out of the anxiety when I feel it starting. First, please see a psychiatrist so that you can get prescription medication that will calm that anxiety. You need that anxiety to come down so that you can think clearly and get some good sleep. Some people will not take medication and will criticize those who do. To each their own. I take generic Xanax or lorazepam as needed. I don't need it often but it is a comfort and helps keep me calm just knowing I have it if I need it. Also, an SSRI antidepressant brought me out of the anxiety and depression between 4 and 6 weeks. I have been on the antidepressant now since 2013. It felt so great to come out of that anxiety! It was like someone just turned the faucet off and it was gone. As it happens often for many people, after a while the anxiety can come back because it's a learned response in our brains. But we can change our brains. We can actually change the neuropathways in our brains to feel and react the opposite of fear and anxiety. I have been learning how to do that through cognitive behavioral therapy. I had to look around for quite a while to find a therapist who specializes in CBT and actually does the work with me. I have found so much healing through CBT. I am strengthened and calmed by knowing that I do not have to spiral into anxiety and panic because I have knowledge on how to stop it in its tracks. Let me say, medication can be a life saver for many of us but it isn't a a life-long cure for us. I have relapsed a few times. Now, do CBT, and calming medication, I can stop the relapse before it gets a hold of me and I can live in peace every day of my life. It is so important that you know that you are going to be fine. Anxiety is the easiest mental health condition to treat. Between medication and CBT therapy, you can get control back of your life and stop the anxiety in its tracks. You also need sleep. Ambien is okay but for me it loses its effectiveness pretty quickly. I take a sleeping pill called temazepam which is a generic of restoril. It is a benzodiophyphine which is addictive and so I only take it when I really need it. Again, it's another item in my toolbox that I know I can rely on if I need it. This all helps me to feel safe in my world again. And for me, which may not be for you, I also pray and meditate on God's promises in my life. You will be okay. There are things that you can do, steps you can take toward getting back to yourself. You are a strong person. You can do this! I am proof, and so many others here, that we can break that anxiety and depression cycle. All my best to you!
It is such a comfort to know we are not alone. There is so much information here from people who have actually gone through it and come out on the other side stronger and living a full life. You will also. Allow yourself time. Be gentle and kind to yourself. Scary thoughts are not going to harm you. They are thoughts that can be changed to new and better ones. Just one last very important personal observation. My doctor, other people with PTSD, well-meaning friends, told me that it would be healing for me to tell my employer, my adult children, family members, etc, that I had anxiety and let them know what I was going through so that they could understand and be gentle with me. I was leery of that but I thought they were probably right so, as part of the acceptance theology, I opened up about it. I found that was a mistake for me. People started treating me differently, even my grown children. I would say be very cautious and wise with who you share with. Many many people don't understand mental health and think you should be able to snap out of it. Just a word of caution. It may be different for you but it's something to think about.
Appreciate you sharing your experience ArmorUp - duly noted and tend to agree. Prior to this - even I was skeptical - hard lesson learned! It’s painfully obvious to those very closest to me that I’m struggling. However, to your point, most friends / work are unaware as I try to ‘power through’ with my best game face - most just think I look tired / exhausted from a bad nights sleep 🙄
I understand you. I'm sorry I've written so much but I have so many years experience with this stuff that I think I could write a book! One more thing that really helped save my life was having one special person that I could talk to about it openly and even when I was at my worst point. That is my cousin who suffers from anxiety and depression also. We have been each other's lifeline, and are able to comfort one another with no one else can. Take care of yourself and I wish you all the best. Let me know if you need to talk, anytime.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
New here & looking for non-judgemental support from people.
New here and need support 
New and looking for writing advice! 
Hi everyone; I'm new here...
Hello Everyone. I'm New Here
