What kind of person recovers from anxiety disorder? Make no mistake, everyone can recover fully from anxiety if they set their heart and mind to it.
Not those people who simply sit and watch their symptoms come and go and just hope they will all go away.
Not those who think it's someone else's job to cure them whilst they act as observers.
Not those who believe someone will come along with a magic wand one wave of which will bring an instant fix.
People who recover are those who take active control of the search for a cure and take positive steps to find those methods that have brought success to so many.
People who concentrate less on their countless symptoms and more on the actual cause of those symptoms - anxiety due to over-sensitised nerves.
Written by
Jeff1943
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21 Replies
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Have you recovered? Are you medication free? What worked bes for you? I did read the book by Claire Weekes. It’s interesting and reassuring to know I’m not weird because of my anxiety (even though knowing it and feeling it are not always the same)
A few deaths and the prospect of moving overseas caused my first severe episode of anxiety. To make sure I was able to cope I started on SSRI. Two years ago those stopped working and I had some physical stuff going on, which caused new anxiety. Last year doc switched me to an snri and things were lightening up. With a yoga practice I enjoyed immensely, I thought I was ready to quit the meds. Tapered then quit. Withdrawal was not easy but doable. About 6 weeks after stopping, anxiety kicked in again. Tried some other meds that might cause fewer side effects, didn’t work. Now back on the same snri. Half the days I’m fine again, the other half I struggle with disappointment and the feeling I failed stopping meds, and worry if I’m ever able to do so. Maybe not. That should be okay. I do have a family to run.
Not a victim story, but some days it would be nice if I could just turn that anxiety switch off.
But maybe something good will come out if this. Searching for where yoga, meditation and (western) science meet with regards to (mental) wellness, so I can possibly help other people in the future.
Dtchgrl, you have clealy not been a spectator of your anxiety disorder and have persued all the possibilities. Maybe like me your anxiety is inherited: I am never going to be entirely free of it but by practicing the teachings of Claire Weekes (and an occasional diazepam) I am in charge of my anxiety rather than the other way round. It would be interesting to know in what percentage of people with anxiety it's genetic: I would estimate 20%.
But Claire Weekes reckoned that if you could cure yourself once through acceptance you could do it again (and again) so you were cured.
My mom died twenty years ago (too young) but I know she had thyroid and anxiety issues as well. I suspect some other family members do too.
I do hope I can eventually get rid of the meds, but going to give myself a break first.
Thx Jeff, I wish you all the best
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Hi Drchgrl. I have often wondered how many people that are undiagnosed with thyroid issues have anxiety. That also runs in my family. I am stable at the moment but have had overactive thyroid then after thyroid partial removal, under active. I take 125 mg currently of thyroxine. But it deffo contributed/contributes to my anxiety when it’s off balance I wish you luck and success in your journey to come off of meds if and when u want too
I believe I too possibly inherited anxiety/depression? still I recovered (apart from having the normal amount of anxiety that alerts me to real danger) I never wanted to eliminate anxiety completely, why would I? anxiety has it's uses in times of danger, the secret is knowing when that danger is real and not some "what if" fear that our mind has imagined, recovery is possible for everyone. I don't mind the thought of being on long term meds either, people with heart conditions have long term meds, why not accept them for mind conditions too? during my recovery I never let the fact that I was on meds concern me, think I just learnt to replace "what if" with "so what" on many levels, it's great to not care about things too much xxxx
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Love the “so what” instead of “what if”!
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Exactly. I take 21 pills daily for various issues heart being one of them suzie 482. So I figured. Not to feel bad about anxiety ones either. They keep me sane x
I have definitely inherited it Jeff. At age four my mum told me , that I was an anxious child. Also unfortunately runs in my family behind and forward. I have many other heath problems, but this has been a challenge. I read a lot, and listen too things online. Your words also have been very helpful Especially the scientific side. Not being something that’s shows up on scans etc. although it’s very real to us, the mind plays games with us too. Thankyou.
Absolutely. It’s hard but so worth it! I got Claire Weekes book and joined NAMI peer support group meetings. I start soon. I haven’t started the book. Finishing one for book club but can’t wait to read it. I function through my anxiety though. I know what it is. I don’t go to hospitals for every symptom. I do love the support I get here though. My mom said I’m so much better since joining here. Of course I’m in my late 40’s and she doesn’t live with me but I talk here instead of to her. She notices a difference though. So that’s good. Sometimes a kind word or ear can help a lot and then you get it out and move on. That’s what I’ve been doing. Anyway it helps. I love your posts! I
WOW, you sound like an uncompassionate person? Have you ever suffered from anxiety it sounds like you don't know what we go through? it's not so easy to just do what you say? it's like a person with an addiction you can't just talk it away.
Anxiety isn't something that you can just handle alone just like I said about addiction, try to have a little compassion okay? you might find yourself in our position? For some this is the only place they can go and speak to somebody and get advice.
PJRR, do you actually read posts before you comment on them?
What is "compassionate" about encouraging someone to endlessly list their false* symptoms in posts in the mistaken belief that this will bring about a cure? Because it won't.
PJRR, some people need some tough love.
They need to be told that after an initial period of swapping symptoms they need to actually DO something to bring about their recovery. They need to take control of their recovery by taking positive measures. These may include finding a med that is effective, engaging in face-to-face therapy or studying a book or two about self-help written by people with a record of success. Or maybe all three.
If you can encourage somebody to take that first step to recovery then that is real compassion.
Leaving people to wallow in self pity is not compassion regardless of what you believe.
Therefore, PJRR, I must reject your belief that the best option is "waiting for a miracle" (your words not mine)..
*fake symptoms are those symptoms that imitate genuine organic illness like heart disease and cancer but are in fact muscular tension caused by anxiety disorder and have been diagnosed as such by a qualified health practioner.
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