Not sure what to do anymore...

[mzdawn74]

I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression over 3 1/2 years ago. I have not had any real significant help from taking medication. Actually all of the medications I've tried have made the symptoms I have worse. In the start most of my symptoms were basic normal anxiety symptoms such as: shortness of breath, heart racing, sweating, dizziness, and trouble swallowing. I also started having problems with memory, concentration, and issues with word recall.

Over the last 6 months these cognitive impairments have increased to the point I'm convinced there is something really wrong other than anxiety. I now cannot watch tv, read a book, or participate in a conversation because I cannot follow the storyline or understand the plot or topic. My memory is so bad. At times I can't remember what I just did, people's names, where I may have put something etc. I'm also struggling with being able to think clearly. My thoughts are either very disorganized and disoriented or my mind is just completely blank. I used to be able to function on a somewhat normal basis and now it's like even basic things like cleaning the kitchen , putting on make-up, and cooking dinner is difficult. I can't really express myself to others because I can't come up with the words to express how I feel. I'm so scared!! Has anyone else here had similar issues due to anxiety?

[Rachms11]

Hey there, yes I have. Do u know what bought your anxiety on? Everyday is a battle n I hate it. I just moved back home for a while cuz I couldn't handle being away my relationship with my partner isn't looking to good now either cuz of it

[mzdawn74 in reply to Rachms11]

Rachms11,

My anxiety I believe started from problems at work and at home. My marriage was going through very tough time, as my husband

cheated and had a drug addiction. I had a high stress job as a customer service manager that kind of just got dumped on me.

On top of that my life has always been very hard. I've been through a lot of things, and never really dealt with them head on. I would just kind of try to forget about them. I have a feeling everything just kind of caught up to me.

What's weird is I was actually doing really good up until November, and all of a sudden I started getting panic attacks. Since then things have just went down hill really fast!

I'm sorry you are dealing with this too. It does however give me a little comfort in knowing someone else with JUST anxiety is experiencing the same symptoms.

Are you on any medication right now? How do you deal with it?

[Hidden]

I relate to your struggle Mzdawn74. All of those issues you had with cognitive impairments are tortuous for me too. I might honestly have no memory of all of whether or not I put the clothes in the dryer. Sometimes I surprise myself doing housework and just about when I already to do a chore I discover I already did it or worse thinking I did do something and discover I had not. I blamed all of this on my antidepressants. So I quit them! And found out I was having cognitive impairments even without the medication. That really crushed my self-esteem to discover it was me and not a reaction to the medication.

There is times just the thought of brushing my teeth seems overwhelming. I start thinking about every step. Getting to the washroom, getting out the dental floss, taking the cap off'the toothpaste... Why is something simple and basic feel like I am being asked to,climb Mt. Everest? Word recall, mispronouncing basic everyday words by accident. Makes me embarrassed to even think about trying to talk sometimes. Then the OCD sets in. I start triple checking every locked door and storing my plug in appliances in hard to reach places to make sure I know they are safely unplugged. Out of all the things on my mind- taking care of me feels like the lowest priority. I'll run a mile to triple check if the iron is unplugged but thinking about fixing myself up nice or treating myself to a relaxing soak in the tub seems like such an effort. And the truth is taking care of ourselves should be among our very first priorities.

Anxiety is so delibating. Annoying people including someone yesterday said to me - everyone has anxiety so deal with it. My response was - does everyone else also have been told by their doctor they have an anxiety disorder? Does everyone else get precription medication prescribed to them for their anxiety? No. They do not. You and I have a disorder. Some people have trouble with their bodies regulating sugar, other people have trouble regulating anxiety. So if anyone ever says anything mean to you please know you don't deserve it.

I can't watch television either. My mind desires to keep busy spinning lots of plates in the air instead of actually sitting still and keeping quiet to watch a program. Medication has helped me. I quit it not too long ago and I even had my workplace complain I was acting very different. The symptoms you described I am mostly familiar with but things like having a dry mouth went away in time. Things like a racing heart is very serious stuff. Maybe you still have not find the right medication for your physiology? Paxil and Zolfot did not work for me at all. 300g of Wellbutrin and Lorzapam as needed is working for me. But I still struggle a lot. It is like having a knot in your stomach without having a definite reason as to why. I hope you feel better soon!❤️💐

[shoppaholicsue Star]

I can relate to all of that too. Problems with relaxation & recall are anxiety related. Deep breathing exercises often help over time.

Its just a case of trying thing and seeing what makes an improvement. Different things help different symptoms and different people.

We are all in the same boat, unfortunately! Just trying thing and seeing if it works.

you could try keeping a journal - especially if your memory is being effected. It will help you not to re-do things and it will highlight all the positives that are often overlooked. It's so easy to just focus on the negatives in life and I find that brings me down.

[losing-it]

I had an episode recently where I could not recall the name of a close friend that I was talking to at the time. My question for you would be, how are you sleeping and are you drinking alot of water? The reason I say this is when I was first diagnosed they prescribed me xanex to be talking during a panic attack however I'm a press operator and the xanex make me tired and I'm not alert which just causes more anxiety so instead I had my doctor increase the dose and used them as a sleep aid instead and to my amazement anxiety is almost nonexistent when I'm well rested and well hydrated. I'm only twenty six btw and I went to the er six times in one year over it. The entire experience can be terrifying but hang in there and make sure to set urself a specific sleep schedule with no less that 6 1/2 hrs. A night.

[dillydally1]

have you spoken to your doctor, had counselling, you shouldn't just be left to suffer like this x