Is anxiety an recurring thing?

[Staciel]

I used to think that anxiety is like chickenpox, once solved it will never return back. But the reality shows otherwise. What's your thoughts on it?

[kia100]

I thought the same thing I suffered about 18 years ago for about two years it slowly went and I was totally fine until 4 months ago it came back very hard I'm finding alot harder this time around even tho I have some experience with it.

[Staciel in reply to kia100]

Totally understande you. It is so irrational. My reaction to a lot of things is the one of panic, though in the past I didn't even notice these things at all. I'm self-conscious of my body, like it's not mine.

[Dnel82]

Anxiety is ugly and miserable. My disorder began 3 years ago. It's been the longest 3 years of my life. It never gets old and it's something you find you never get used to. It's always like you're experiencing the symptoms again for the first time.

It's said the the road to recovery is to accept the anxiety and not to fight it. Be with it no matter how uncomfortable it is, and to behave without overreacting. This is done in order to desensitiz the brain (subconscious mind) and allow it to see things as a non threat. On paper this makes sense and in theory it'll work, but it is extremely hard to execute and takes maximum effort.

I'd like to categorize anxiety into two brackets. The normal kind which most people and non sufferers deal with on a day to day and the abnormal kind which is irrational and gets out of control which is us. Anxiety is normal. It's not until it becomes irrational that it becomes a problem. That's we can never get rid of it because it's essential to our survival. We need it.

What we don't want or need is the abnormal out of control kind. To sum this up what are my thoughts? Fuck you anxiety! Excuse my language. I hope someday there will be more awareness in order for a better solution to come along to help those who suffer and are hopeless. It's truly no way for people to live.

[Staciel in reply to Dnel82]

Thank you for such thorough answer. What triggered your anxiety.

[Dnel82 in reply to Staciel]

Something occurred with me 3 years ago that triggered a really bad panic attack. I thought i was having a heart attack and was rushed to the emergency room thinking that was the case. I was never able to get over what happened. I couldn't let go of the experience and anticipated another.

Now I have cardiophobia and fear of panic attacks. I get into more detail in my profile. Feel free to read my story if you'd like.

[Staciel in reply to Dnel82]

Same with me. But I just fainted. Loosing control over the body is the worst for me. But I think there is something more on the background. I really felt quite lost in life.

[Dnel82 in reply to Staciel]

I found this community about a month ago googling things online of course. When i came across several post from others experiencing the same symptoms like me i felt a little reassured. At the same time feeling saddened that so many people are out there struggling not being able to enjoy life.

I think about my life and how i was before this and it brings me down. But i guess i have no choice but to move on and accept how i am and how things are now.

[Staciel in reply to Dnel82]

Anxiety is just an error in the programme of our brain. Imagine how ridiculous, you sit calmly, and suddenly your brain sends a signal that it is time for a panick. And you understand that there is no reason for it.

I know that awareness and meditation helps, I can tell it for sure. It helped me a lot. It is not like you cease to experience doscomfort, but you just do not care about any changes occurring as long as there is awareness. But again it doesn't help when your nerves are extremely disturbed.

[scottlayton35 in reply to Dnel82]

You're not on your own. I too have been to hospital 3 times in an ambulance thinking i was having heart attack. I have cardiophobia and can not get rid of heart palpitations. I will read your story soon.

[greeneyes2]

Sadly I think it reoccurs it's awful...

[Meredyn]

Mine started 6 years ago from a single episode of bi-phasic anaphylaxis. I'd never experienced an allergy to anything before. After that, I became hypervigilant about pretty much everything - and it's never, ever left. It's not specific any more now (i.e. allergens). I don't really care about those any more, strangely. Now it's total fear and terror of the sensations of anxiety, day in, day out - and knowing that despite all the 'floating' and 'acceptance' that it's going to be with me. I'm with Dnel - there is only so much 'acceptance' you can take when your day starts every morning with you dry heaving over the side of the bed in fear from God knows what.