Constant Anxiety/Panic

Hello everyone,

I have been going through terrible Anxiety/Panic Attacks for a while now. I was put on 50mg Zoloft about a month ago and within 4 days my body totally rejected the drug had terrible side effects felt absolutely crazy from it. The dr took me off of it but ever since then I have been in a constant state of Panic and Worry 24/7. I think I was truly traumatized by my experience on the pills. I refuse to go on pills ever again for anxiety. I am being set up with a Counsellor/CBT. I went to 1 CBT session already they mostly just took down my information. Is there anything I can do to make the anxiety subside? I’ve been in my room all day everyday for the past 3 weeks as I’ve been having Derealizations/scary thoughts about certain objects in my home/Panic Attacks etc. I feel not safe in any other room of the house unless someone is here with me. I get a lot of

Adrenaline rushes and it really scares me. Anything I can do to soothe or eliminate all of this wacky stuff I’m going through? Doing my best to distract myself but it’s constantly on my mind.

Thanks so much for reading

[Abbiejade3]

I can totally relate and I know its really really scary. Ive refused prescribed medication for my anxiety as although sometimes I think I need it, deep down I know I dont and I wouldnt like to become reliant on it. Instead I got a box of Kalms tablets and also some rescue remedy pastilles/chewing gum/droppers, they sell loads of different products which I find helpful. Ive also had hypnotherapy which I found helpful but costly. I now do self hypnosis through phone apps and youtube were I just type in 'hypnosis for anxiety'. Its especially helpful on a night when going to sleep. I also take a hot bath and read with candles on before bed. CBT will definitely help but it is a process and I realise you need some helpful strategies now. I remember when all I did for a couple of weeks was lie in bed concentrating on not dying. I didnt die and its helpful to remind yourself that youve felt like this before and this too will pass. Getting some fresh air helps even if its just standing at the door. Talking to friends, family and all of us on here aswel. 1 in 4 people suffer with mental health issues so remembering your not alone and telling yourself you will be okay because you will. Try some breathing techniques though they take practice imagine letting any fears and worries go with each exhale. I also try to avoid caffeine and drink more water.

Its hard to think that this is our minds and not some physical illness but thats what it is. Grab onto the positives in life remembering that every day might not be good but there is something good in everyday and give your worries permission to float away. I remember when the pharmacist told me to walk on the sunny side of the road. I thought she was crazy as that wasnt going to get rid of my anxiety but I realised its about accepting it, not fighting it but letting it pass. Whats the worst that can happen? Theres also a poem that I find helpful: virtuesforlife.com/two-wolves/

Sorry for the essay haha but your not alone and you will begin to feel well again. Best wishes x

[Jeff1943]

Hi PDiVenanzo, first let me reassure you that all these bad feelings are perfectly normal for somebody with anxiety disorder. This occurs when our nervous system becomes over sensitised due to a period of stress, worry, overwork or disappointment. Only you can work out what the trigger was in your life but if you can distance yourself from the cause it will help and you should be ruthless in doing this.

But anxiety can be self-perpetuating, symptoms produce fear which causes more symptoms causing more fear and so on. The good news is that although anxiety is good at frightening us with all kinds of weird symptoms its power is limited. It can't kill you or disable you or make you lose your mind.

Despite your unhappy experience with Zoloft meds can be helpful in giving us a break from the bad feelings which is important if you have major work or family responsibilities. So there will be other meds which won't have the same bad effects as Zoloft, your doctor will advise you on alternatives should you decide your anxiety has become overwhelming. But meds only work for as long as you take them and you're looking for proper recovery.

The derealisation you mention is quite common, it's your mind's way of trying to distance you from the unpleasant reality you are currently experiencing. It will pass when your nerves lose this over sensitivity which is the root cause of anxiety disorder.

I can only recommend what I know from personal experience and the experiences of others. The aim must be to end the over sensitisation of your nervous system but whilst you are constantly bombarding your nerves with fear this won't happen. We must break the vicious circle of fear-symptom-fear and although what I suggest offers the certainty of complete recovery it is not a quick-fix.

You must stop doing what you're doing at the moment, you must stop fighting the bad feelings and strange thoughts. You must surrender to them for the time being because fighting causes stress and tension and your nerves have already had enough of that.

So let the bad feelings come, come one come all, they are fake feelings that can do you no real harm other than make you feel uncomfortable. They are toothless tigers indeed. In fact you must accept the bad feelings and strange ideas for the moment and I mean accept them calmly and without adding second fear to first fear. Fear is what frazzled nerves thrive on, remember.

Acceptance is key and must be practiced with persistance. When anxiety strikes feel every muscle go limp, in your limbs, your body, even imagine there is a muscle in your brain and let that go limp too. But keep practicing acceptance, to begin with you may be able to glimpse acceptance for only a few minutes or seconds but keep practicing. And eventually in time your nerves recover because by accepting you are no longer bombarding them with shed loads of fear. And when your nerves lose their sensitivity you recover too.

Who says so? Doctor Claire Weekes says so, fifty years ago she suffered from anxiety and devised the Acceptance technique to effect her recovery. Then she wrote it all down so others could benefit in her first book 'Self help for your nerves' (U.K. title) and 'Hope and help for your nerves' (U.S. title). Both are available from Amazon new or used for a few £$ but first read a few of the short reader reviews 90% of which rate the book Very Good or Excellent. The phrase 'saved my life' appears frequently in the hundreds of reviews on Amazon.

I will say no more, my posting is already over long, except to say that I commend this book to you and everything is going to be fine, you are not going to feel like this for the rest of your life. All troubles pass and so will yours.