For the past three weeks i have been dealing with anxiety. Am a 21yr old college student.
I have headaches, shortness of breath,chest pain, stomach pain, jello-legs..my body is shaking as we speak and its 24/7.
I've had 4 ecgs done within the past month all came back fine and blood works as well which was fine...But my mind is doing me wrong. it constanly feels like if am about to have a heart attack and i hate the feeling... My heart starts racing and am scared. I feel as though no one understands what i am going through.
I feel myself isolating myself from people and from my classes, am always inside in my bed trying to listen to uplifiting music. I try to watch tv but sames like everyone is have some kind of heart problem and i start freaking out.
The problem with my anxiety is that i always feel that something is wrong with my body and it only gets worst every time i leave the hospital.
Am trying not to go back because i know their tired of seeing me. and my personal doctor doesnt want to give me any medication in fear that i may become addicted.
But sames like i need it. I did a 7 day trial period of ativan and it helped alot, but all that medication is gone and now am constantly crying because my body doesnt feel like my own.
Why does anxiety make you feel this way.
I try to go out and sometimes that helps, but other times when am getting ready i find my self balling up and shutting everything out. This shortness of breath happens all the time and then i feel like a wave come over me and i know that am about to have an anixtey attack. I prevent that by taking calming breaths and walking around my house.
I hate this feeling, anyone have ways to put myself at ease?
Do you take any natural supplments that may work. Do you drink any calming drink?
What type of work out do you do?
I just need ideas and ways to get my mind focus on somethng else so that i can go back to school and stress less.
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i feel the same. it really sucks. im going to see a doctor about it soon hopefully. Everyone always tells me breathing methods work or doing something that makes you relax but nothing ever stops my mind from racing with negative thoughts. so fed up with it ://
i recently just made an appointment with a therapist, so am hoping they can help me and put my mind at ease. This constant worry is horrible. Yea when am trying to do something relaxing my mind always finds ways to make it worst.
I 100% feel the same. You're not alone. I wish you the best with the appointment, i hope it goes well! I will be booking mine soon. Hopefully we will start to feel better after that!
You need to get off the anxiety train. When you're ready and you really want the truth, you just need to say to yourself that you're having too much anxiety and you're fed up with it and you want to get back to normal life. That is if you ever had a normal life with a normal anxiety level. Did that ever happen for you? Maybe you've lived all of your life with too much anxiety and you now have a chance to change it into what is now something far better than you ever knew it could be! Wouldn't that be great?
You just have to make up your mind that you're done with living as you describe it now. You can make an appointment with your GP and get put on an antidepressant that also treats anxiety. Give it a fair trial. You'll probably feel better in a few weeks, depending on if you get put on something else temporarily. Then you'll feel better sooner. With the levels of anxiety you mention, trying something natural probably isn't going to work. But once you're in a good place for maybe a year, see if your Dr. agrees to a trial with something more natural. Maybe while you're on vacation or off work or school for any reason.
The point is you CAN feel a whole lot better as long as your anxiety is under control. And that requires medication and counseling both. I'm going to answer your question about anyone having ways to put yourself at ease. I have a list of things people have said helps them to relax or understand the anxiety or make it reduce or puts them in charge of it. Take care.
For relaxation some people recommend Tai Chi, Yoga, or meditation.
Some natural remedies and non-drug sources of information are books, videos, and workbooks suggested by other people on this site:
1---"I've found David D. Burns' "Feeling Good" and "When Panic Attacks" to be very helpful."
2---"I am working through the anxiety workbook by Dr David Carbonell and it has helped immensely!!! "
3---Mindfulness has helped many people and is now recommended by doctors in the UK. Here’s just 1 link that explains it’s usefulness: heartwoodrefuge.org/benefit.... Another option of many is called MINDSHIFT. You can download it to your phone from Google Playstore.
4---TRE (Trauma releasing exercises) is something you can learn in a class but you don't have to talk about your problems and once you have learned the technique you can use it at home.
5---"A good book that I came across recently is "The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook, 6th Edition" by Edmund J. Bourne, PhD. You might find this book to be of some help to you, although communicating your thoughts and feelings in a group setting is enormously helpful as well. "
6---“The book DARE, which is about anxiety. It’s a very good book about accepting anxiety and letting go of the fear. The author is Barry Mcdonagh and he also has a YouTube channel and a Facebook support group.”
7---For anxiety: Claire Weekes audio books on iTunes. “Self Held for Your Nerves” is one title that is good. You can see her on YouTube. “The Dr. Claire Weekes book is easy to understand and will help you on your way to recovery through acceptance.”
8---Another really good CD and book is the Linden method.
9---How to be good with yourself: self-compassion.org/the-thr...10---Try the meditation app called Headspace. It's done in 10 mins slots once a day.
10---Videos on YouTube by THAT ANXIETY GUY helps with anxiety re: depersonalization/ de-realization states.
11—For UK residents: Have you ever been in touch with the organisation called MIND? They offer one to one sessions with a Project Worker free. They also run courses that you can attend free of charge. One of the courses is about Anxiety. Their website is mind.org.uk
12---"Go on the psychology today site and look for a therapist that specializes in anxiety."
13---Instead of mercilessly judging and criticizing yourself for various inadequacies or shortcomings, self-compassion means you are kind and understanding when confronted with personal failings – after all, who ever said you were supposed to be perfect? self-compassion.org/the-thr...
14---“Have you ever listened to Louise Hay on YouTube? Some of the talks help motivate you and hopefully you will feel a positive energy.”
15---“I called one of these online therapist sites. The therapist was really good. It was prestoexperts dot com. Her name was Lori Burke. Definitely a professional and she got me through this awful depression/anxiety morning.” (There is a charge for this service)
16---For meditation look at:
Tara Brach and Chopra Center
17---theworrygames.com/anxiety-f...
18---“AnxietyNoMore” by Paul Bywater. A phone app.
Practical DBT Exercises for Learning Mindfulness, Interpersonal Effectiveness, Emotion Regulation, and Distress Tolerance
By: Matthew McKay PhD, Jeffrey Wood PsyD, Jeffrey Brantley MD
A Clear and Effective Approach to Learning DBT Skills
First developed for treating borderline personality disorder, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) has proven effective as treatment for a range of other mental health problems, especially for those characterized by overwhelming emotions. Research shows that DBT can improve your ability to handle distress without losing control and acting destructively. In order to make use of these techniques, you need to build skills in four key areas-distress tolerance, mindfulness, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
Source: NewHarbingerPublications
Caution for non-Buddhists: Zen Buddhism inspired aspects of DBT, along with behavioral science and dialectical philosophy. Source: GoodTherapy.com.
You have all the classic symptoms of anxiety and its really horrible isn't it
First I would read as much as you can about panic and anxiety it will reassure you that that is what you have Relaxation is the key There are loads and loads of wonderful videos on You Tube Make time everyday for one it will help you so much
Tensing and letting go : Tense everywhere as hard as you can hold for 5 then breathe out and breathe deeply to count of 10 keep doing that It's fantastic and does work
Breathing techniques are always great Lie down and breathe right down to your stomach
Dr Claire Weekes books and DARE by Barry McDonagh are really worth getting
Magnesium I've found helps a lot I take a tablet a day and have noticed a difference
If you feel the panic rising up tense your body somehow it diffusses it and when you let go it feels fantastic
Walking is a brilliant and any exercise really to relax you
Keep affirming to yourself your heart is fine I was rushed into A&E last year with severe chest pains and believe me they don't send you away if they suspect the tiniest thing is wrong with your heart I was referred to a cardiologist and had an angiogram So be at peace about your heart you will not have a heart attack
I wish you all the best Take good care and get well 😉
Go to a psychiatrist they will give you the medication, they specialise in it and they will know straight away that you actually need it. A lot of general doctors are reluctant to give out addictive medication but the psychiatrist won't hesitate when you tell him whats going on.
The more you worry about your symptoms, the worse it gets. In a way the mind feeds off your anxiety and keeps it going. You should go back to your doctor and tell him or her, that the medication helped you a lot and could they give you something to relieve your symptoms. I have had anxiety/panic attacks for several years. Once you begin to feel a little more in control of your symptoms, things should improve. It is hard work though. It doesn't just disappear, most often there are underlying emotional issues that need to be dealt with.
I would recommend that you make sure that this is true anxiety and not a symptom of a bigger problem. Buy a blood pressure cuff and monitor your morning pressure, night pressure, and the moments when your anxiety is the worse.
Many years ago what I thought was anxiety was blood pressure. Years after that my blood pressure apparently was from my autoimmune disease (Graves). I received medication for all three issues and the first two were pointless.
College can be very stressful and making/keeping friends can be the same.
Take care of yourself, sip some nice nettle tea, grab a book, and try your best to relax.
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