Anxiety Advice?

[PandaEnguin1]

Hello everyone! I am new here. I started suffering from anxiety about a month ago. I'm not sure what started it but I'm scared that everything is going to kill me. I am too scared to eat and too scared to sleep. It's difficult for me to complete these activities but I still force myself to do them for my health. I went to my doctor who checked me up and said I was perfectly fine. However, last week I ended up going to the Emergency Room from fear. After getting labs I was told that I was perfectly healthy! The psychiatrist came in and gave me some advice to relax. I have been regularly exercising, meditating, reading, and talking to others. Nothing seems to help. It feels as if I have a constant headache and I am not motivated to do anything. Sadly, I can't get therapy until next month and I'm too scared of taking pills. Anyone got any advice?

[Christory77]

Welcome to the site. You are in good company. We have all been there and then first step is reaching out for help. You’ve done that. Congrats and I hope you are able to meet people who can help you on your journey. Take it one day at a time and just know it will get better.

[Laurennnnnnn]

I’d say to keep on trying new things! Anxiety sucks, especially when it’s newer.

As for meds, I know it’s scary. I was very against it for the longest time (I didn’t want them “stealing my personality lol) but once I started taking one or two low dose Xanax a day to calm the panic, I realized that all it did was calm me down and I was still me. There are a lot of good choices out there that aren’t daily doses.

Also, there’s natural choices as well. I don’t know much about it but I have tried CBD and if you get a good brand it can help

[PandaEnguin1 in reply to Laurennnnnnn]

Thank you for the advice! Medication scares me for the same reason! I will look into more options with those before I decide anything. Please let me know for any more advice on medication, it's very helpful!

[Laurennnnnnn in reply to PandaEnguin1]

My biggest advice for meds is to use genesight! Your doctor (it can be a general practitioner like mine was) will order a kit and have you come in when she gets it. She gets some of your spit, puts it in a tube, and mails it off. Within two weeks (she said that was faster than usual tho) I had the results. They sent her a stack of papers saying what I can and can’t tolerate based on my DNA

Also cost isn’t too bad. It’s actually really nice because it’s based on your income- so the lower your income the cheaper it is. To give you an idea, I make around $50,000 a year and only paid $200. Best $200 I ever spent lol

[AnxM]

I totally relate to the feeling that nothing seems to help. I have been reassured that all the work I put into grounding practices, meditation, and physical exercise is not for nothing. The advice I got from my therapist and people who are going through this is to just keep doing the work.

But there are also days when I find relief from my own "creative" methods, such as swearing and screaming. It releases some of the energy!

Claire Weekes has a lot of great advice on coping with general anxiety. You can find her talks on Youtube or get her book, Hope & Help For Your Nerves.

[PandaEnguin1 in reply to AnxM]

I will look into Claire Weekes! That sounds very helpful. Screaming has also proven to be helpful for me, it's a nice release! Thank you for the advice.

[Kainan]

Hi Welcome to the group. It looks like you have some really good habits set in place. You're doing yourself lots of good by keeping them up. I was against taking medication too, but if there's a chance they could help you feel better, they might be worth trying. But again, medication is only part of the equation, and it seems like you're still engaging in activities and taking care of your health, which is priceless

[pink318]

Hi- Welcome to the group!

I’m glad you found us. Keep sharing. Feel free to post about anything, anytime. Online support groups like this can help you not to feel alone and less lonely. It’s also helpful if you have someone you can talk to, someone you can trust to walk with you in this journey. Journaling is also helpful. Write down your emotions, it’s like talking to a friend.

About medicine, I have a friend who is also hesitant taking it but when she tried, it helped her to stay calm whenever she has panic attacks. She’s also attending a life group which is a big help for her mood to improve.

One of my sisters was diagnosed with anxiety. She refused to take medicines and have counselling but I saw her struggling a lot. I talked to her almost everyday just to let her know that she's not alone. I also encouraged her to join a life group and it's helping her not only spiritually but emotionally. Her mood has improved, she volunteers, has pets and enjoys her gardening.

Stay safe and healthy. Try to do things that you will enjoy. Praying for you that God will give you peace and healing. I hope to hear from you again and let us know how you are doing. God bless.

[PandaEnguin1 in reply to pink318]

Thank you for the advice! I will definitely try journaling to let out my emotions. I'm glad that your sister found peace. I will look into life groups around my area, could you offer more advice on life groups by any chance? Thank you for your help.

[pink318 in reply to PandaEnguin1]

Hi- You can find a life group in your local church. When you attend, you can expect bible study and prayer.

In my experience with life group, it's very encouraging to be surrounded with people who encourages me and even corrects me when I am wrong. I also learn from everyone's life experiences. We pray for one another especially when someone is going through difficulty in life. I enjoy spending time with them once a week. We do it in zoom because of social distancing but we used to attend in person.

I hope you can find one and you will find it beneficial. Connect with the churches around your area and talk to any spiritual leader. Please keep us posted. God bless.