Hello fellow anxiety sufferers😰

Hi

I'm new here and suffer with anxiety daily. I am a nurse and have not been able to work for almost 2 years. I have lost myself somewhere along the way and feel very discouraged.

It will be nice to talk with others who understand.

Thank-you.

[Agora1]

Hi Mrae,  I'm sure you will find that all of us not only understand but support each other while struggling through anxiety issues.   It's a great forum with a lot of diversified ages, family and working problems as well as male and female alike.  I welcome you to this anxiety site.   x

[Hidden in reply to Agora1]

Thanks Agora1.

Anybody have any cures for the sqeezing feeling in the stomach and abdominal area. It is always my first symptom after the feeling of dread runs through me.

[Agora1 in reply to Hidden]

Best thing Mrae,  is to reverse that feeling of dread before it takes hold.  I know what you mean.   I am so trained in that deep breathing that it automatically kicks in the minute I feel the butterflies.   Even if

you miss that opportunity, it can still be stopped or lessened by breathing it away.  I'm sure others will join in with some ideas as well. x

 

[Beth1982]

Welcome, I'm not for sure I can offer much help but I'm definitely here to talk. I'm a new sufferer and need help daily.

[Hidden in reply to Beth1982]

Hi Beth

I would love to help you any way I can.

[Hidden]

Thanks so much.

I do deep breathing a lot, it helps a bit sometimes but not when it's really bad.

I wake up with it and then it's hard to break the cycle. 

The thoughts must come as soon as or even before I wake and then the churning/sqeezing starts, and of course this increases the thoughts and so on it goes!

There must be an answer.

[Agora1 in reply to Hidden]

Mrae,  I suffer big time from morning anxiety so I know what  you mean.  The minute I see daylight as well as my eyes open, my stomach drops, feel the butterflies, churning etc.  Then tears roll down my cheeks and I start shaking and feeling doomed.  I immediately start deep breathing and reach for my headphones and listen to a 30min relaxation/imagery tape.  No matter how many times I listen to it, I am always amazed at hearing something I never heard before that starts me relaxing.  Youtube also has wonderful audio meditation.  Pick and choose one that has a voice that is calming to you.  Usually just 10min and I can walk away from the computer feeling more at ease.  So there is an answer, short of taking a pill, we can do therapy, cbt, biofeedback, hypnosis, muscle relaxation and on and on.  Knowing what causes your anxiety is something to be worked on with a therapist.  Sometimes we live in a situation that is not a positive environment, then we have to reverse the negative thoughts to positive.  I hope this helps in some small way, at least it's a start.   As for myself, I am a former paramedic, came off all benzos, and use the above techniques to quiet any intrusive panic thoughts they may want to turn my world upside down.  Interesting enough, I never suffer anxiety while being in the medical field, this all came about when my daughter became anorexic 6 years ago.  Stress definitely makes an impact on anxiety disorder.  

[Hidden in reply to Agora1]

Thanks So much.

I too am just over 2 months off a  benzo and Cipralex and have just come off Mirtazapine.  What a mess. I am on Lyrica and don't want to increase the dose just yet.

I have listened to many relaxation/meditation recordings, they help if I'm not too bad, but if my anxiety is high i find them irritating.

Thanks for all the suggestions, I just have to keep trying.

It's our 43rd wedding anniversary today and we are going out for supper. I hope I can settle down before we go.

Thanks again.

[Agora1 in reply to Hidden]

Happy Anniversary!   Enjoy your special day.

Talk soon. 

[Alice61 in reply to Agora1]

Hi Agora, I am interested in what u say about ur anxiety being worse in the morning....I keep asking this question, and do u find that ur mood improves and by the evening u actually feel quite normal. I sometimes think if I did not go to bed my mood would stay the same.

[Alice61 in reply to Hidden]

Do you always feel worse in the morning and better as the day goes on?

[Agora1 in reply to Alice61]

Dear Alice61,  well it must be morning because I'm crying and afraid. I have stayed up late at night not wanting to relinquish the relaxed feeling.  I've also tried sleeping later in the morning to avoid that fear. Neither works for me.  It seems like my body has adjusted to being fearful in order to start the day.  I know a big part of it is a learned behavior.  Each day greets me with things I have not addressed and keep pushing it for another day.  By the time the afternoon rolls around, I start feeling like I have somehow conquered the fear (not completely by any means).  I will usually set up doing things after 1pm. knowing that I will be in more control.  After dinner is the best until bed time.  I am relaxed and more rational.  Life seems more normal. That's when I wish I could attend to things.  It sounds like you are going through the same thing.  Morning anxiety has been the hardest part of anxiety to conquer. 

[Alice61 in reply to Agora1]

Hi Agora, I'm so glad that u confirmed that as I was thinking I was going mad and it was only me. My situation seems exactly the same as urs. Are u on meds and how long have u been having these feelings. I'm not sure where u live, but it's early evening here and I feeling quite happy, but hate the thought of going to bed and waking up all anxious again.

[Agora1 in reply to Alice61]

Alice, I understand all too well what you are feeling at night.  You don't want that feeling to end.  For a long time I was on benzos (Ativan/Xanax etc) The scared mornings continued and so I decided to come off the medication.  With my doctor using a slow weaning process which took 2 years, I finally am on no benzo and still continue to feel morning anxiety but not to the same extent that I did on the medication.  It has to do with the cortisone rising around 4am .  So you can see that staying up late or sleeping in to try to escape it doesn't work.  4am changes everything.  It all started 6 years ago with severe anxiety turning into agoraphobia as well.  I have been off benzos for 2 years and just started going out and driving to the grocery store and pharmacy.  Still have a lot to work on in getting out.  Again that's another learned behavior.  Let me know how you are doing, what you are doing to handle the morning anxiety.  take care  xx

[Alice61 in reply to Agora1]

I had a few things going on in family life, can't get a job etc. and I had a total meltdown several weeks ago. Dr gave me diazepam but couldn't sleep at night then got sleeping tabs & Citalopram 20mg. I have been taking the Citalopram for almost 4 wks now....stopped the sleeping tabs as they made me feel weird. I'm told 3to 4 weeks and I should start to feel improvement so fingers crossed. Go to bed and pray that mayb tomoro will be the turning point. Good to chat to someone experiencing the same as myself. Take Care for now Agora xx

[Agora1 in reply to Alice61]

Alice, have a restful night.  Talk to you in the morning.  x

[Alice61 in reply to Agora1]

Thanx Agora....u too xx

[Alice61 in reply to Agora1]

Hi Agora, how r u today's? Did u have a good nights sleep & how has ur morning been ? Xx

[Agora1 in reply to Alice61]

Sorry Alice for the delay in responding.  Had a therapy session in person and just got back.  (usually it's done by phone)

How are you doing today?  Were you able to get some sleep last night?  Hoping this weekend brings you some quiet moments

[Alice61 in reply to Agora1]

That's ok Agora, I just wondered how u were doing too. I had quite a good sleep last night and today I was slightly better than I have been....so fingers crossed the meds r beginning to take effect. Hope ur ok too xx

[Agora1 in reply to Alice61]

Hi Alice,  oh I hope the meds are making you feel better and stay that way.  If it gets rid of the morning anxiety that is a big start.  I think it was 3am last night when I finally went to bed.  Just feeling as happy as a clown at night       Today for the first time in years, I went to see my therapist rather then talk on the phone. I was shaking even in her office, we had to do relaxation and deep breathing.  And that was w/my therapist.  Just the wrong time of day.  I really hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend.  Keeping you in my thoughts.  xx

[Hidden in reply to Agora1]

Hi 

What will it take to get over this awful daytime anxiety?

I can't spend all day trying to meditate?

I have no life!

[Agora1 in reply to Hidden]

I understand all too well Mrae.  Our whole life seems to be spent in deep breathing or meditation.  I sometimes think I would be okay if hooked up to a meditation player.  It's truly a full time job with slow improvements over a long time.  I choose to finally get off medication after 30 years and seeing no improvement.  It's better but it's still there only in lower levels. We have to be persistent in doing all we can to keep anxiety under control.  I am better when occupied with grocery shopping but then I have blurry vision.  I am amazed at all the symptoms anxiety can give us.  It's more the worry we have in our anxiety getting the best of us, but I can bet you if an emergency arose, you and I would be able to function.  This is truly a mind/body effect disorder.  And because it is, it can be conquered.  Keep the faith, think positive.   x

[Hidden in reply to Agora1]

Thanks.

Good for you, wish I wasn't on medication. Nothing seems to help.

[Alice61 in reply to Agora1]

I had a telephone assessment with a therapist on Thursday and now on a waiting list for a face to face appt. do u feel it helped u?. Just take baby steps and hope every day brings improvement that's what I tell myself. Thinking about u too. Take Care & hugs xx

[Agora1 in reply to Alice61]

Alice, I've been in therapy for more years than I care to count.  It helps me in thinking for myself once I leave the session.  Most of my dialogue on here is from my experience as a medical person as well as my years of therapy.  Learning to put emotional and physical together with an explanation helps immensely. Taking baby steps is better than taking a giant step and sliding backwards.  It's the same when getting off drugs, slowly done in cutting and never increasing dosage.  It's a discipline we need to not give in to our anxiety bully.  Today my therapist shared that she suffered from a "simple" PTSD and went to a therapist, one time. It made me feel that no one is off limits to anxiety, it's a part of life.  Take care   xx

[Notalone8]

Hi and good morning.  I too have the struggle but it will be okay . I've had it for 3 and a half years now , and I too feel hopeless at time but I jump back up and fight it . The struggle is real you need to learn a live with it the best you can , you'll be okay . I take natural stress pills and drink caffeine free teas , pray ,meditation ,excerise and practice positive thinking to help my struggles . You can do it don't give up on yourself,  hope you feel better soon .

[Hidden]

Hi

I sure wish someone could come up with a cure this morning anxiety!

I attend a mood group and it seems this morning anxiety is very common.

I too, am usually very relaxed in the evening and don't want to go to bed.

[Alice61 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Mrae, just wish I understood how u can go to bed totally relaxed & feeling normal and then u wake up all anxious xx

[Hidden in reply to Alice61]

Me too.