Reoccurring : Can someone help me? I keep... - Anxiety Support

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Reoccurring

TravisF profile image
40 Replies

Can someone help me? I keep fighting off anxiety and fear and panic and the few times I win, it comes right back. Please help me. I feel like it will never end. I feel alone.

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TravisF profile image
TravisF
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40 Replies
shazzafloyd profile image
shazzafloyd

Your deffernantly not alone mate I m here and so are hundreads of otheres feeling exactually the same and the way our lives have become with how we live everyday now struggling to buy food bills depts floods forest fires the world's not a nice place right now it's a struggle for all of us without feeling panic stress scared try and find a happy place that u feel safe in and take a small step from there it's hard bless you but we're all here feeling exactually like you x

MindfulMoment profile image
MindfulMoment

I’m so sorry you’re struggling. I know this pain all too well. It’s torture. The fear of how bad it will get and can you handle it. There’s nothing over that ledge you feel like you’re getting ready to fall over. It’s just more of the same. The key is to stop fighting. All of the symptoms are merely a chemical discharge of the sympathetic nervous system. They mean nothing except your nervous system is frazzled. It’s the secondary fear that leads to the anxiety and panic. If you can accept the sensations they will lessen until your nervous system can settle.

TravisF profile image
TravisF in reply toMindfulMoment

So just try to let it run it’s course so I doesn’t get worse? I will try. That seems scary but I’ve tried everything else

in reply toTravisF

That’s the magic.. it seems too simple but that is because it is.

moggie8 profile image
moggie8 in reply toMindfulMoment

So. True

TangledUpIn profile image
TangledUpIn in reply toMindfulMoment

Very interesting post. What you say makes sense 🤔

Beevee profile image
Beevee in reply toMindfulMoment

Spot on. 👍🏼

MindfulMoment profile image
MindfulMoment

It is extremely scary. When I first began my process to acceptance I was coming out of a week long nervous breakdown. I had seen an emergency room doctor who gave me a weeks worth of Ativan because I was such a mess I literally couldn’t cope with anything. I knew my PCP wouldn’t continue the meds. But the week of Ativan was enough that I could begin to think logically again. It was recommended to me to read Dr. Clarke Weekes book. It changed my life. I still have anxiety, sometimes I even have a panic attack but my frame of thought around them has completely changed. I’m not afraid of them, I don’t live in fear of the next one or what every little twinge I feel might mean. I accept when my heart is racing, and acknowledge that I have a healthy heart and it’s ok for it to beat hard and fast, sometimes I even challenge it to beat faster. Surprisingly it slows down. I have rejoined life now. Learning to stop fighting and just float through until the symptoms pass has been the tool I’ve been searching for for 20+ years.

TravisF profile image
TravisF in reply toMindfulMoment

It’s nice to hear a story of success like yours. It gives me hope that things will get better or at least easier. Thank you!

moggie8 profile image
moggie8 in reply toMindfulMoment

That's what I'm trying to do myself the acceptance method but is hard I was accepting but looking for it to go and as u know that's not accepting. We have to accept without trying to get rid of but that's our goal and I struggle with that . I gather your anxiety isn't as bad now insight would be great. Thanks

MindfulMoment profile image
MindfulMoment in reply tomoggie8

Time is the final step, you have to allow however much time to go by that it takes your nervous system to calm down and your brain to rewire. It isn’t an easy process but it gets easier as you go. Anxiety is never going to go away. It’s a natural response that if you were in danger would save your life. Your body is trying to help you, it’s just jumbled up. My anxiety is always there, my fight or flight kicks in just like it should. But when I’m not in danger I just accept what I feel as a chemical discharge that is completely neutral and remind my brain kindly that I don’t need that right now. Trying to make a primal response go away is never going to happen. You can however stop the secondary fear TO that fight or flight response by letting the symptoms pass over you without being fearful or interpreting them as meaning something more. They are neutral.

Beevee profile image
Beevee in reply toMindfulMoment

Great explanation!

MindfulMoment profile image
MindfulMoment

It can absolutely get better. While there is no cure if we can take on a mindset that we accept, regardless how awful it feels, eventually it doesn’t matter when you feel it or how much. I am certainly still a work in progress. But most days I am able to live my life normally. And manage the symptoms I feel. I still have to put in the daily work and in all honesty there are days it feels like such a pain lol. Do you know where your anxiety began?

TravisF profile image
TravisF in reply toMindfulMoment

It began when I was a child. But I feel like it happens at stressful times in my life and I can’t remember the last time it happened to me. It all feels new

MindfulMoment profile image
MindfulMoment

interesting, a lot of people with panic disorder specifically echo that. We can remember our first panic attack but it didn’t really make sense. Now when we feel stressed it rears it’s ugly head. What’s going on with you currently to bring on a cycle?

TravisF profile image
TravisF in reply toMindfulMoment

It started with stress at work. Now it seems that any little thing that brings stress triggers me

MindfulMoment profile image
MindfulMoment

Unfortunately that’s the way it works. I understand so deeply how you feel. It’s like you just can’t get away from yourself long enough to get a hold on things. And the endless breathing exercises and trying to distract yourself only last for a few minutes. For me it starts with a burning in my stomach and chest and it just moves out all over like wild fire. Tingly hands, headache, neck pain, nausea and vomiting, wobbly legs, racing heart. I always think anxiety is highest in the morning and that sets the tone for the rest of the day trying to get things under control and fight against the sensations. And I get this weird shaking inside my body and brain and I know I’m getting ready to fall over the edge. Do you experience rolling panic attacks where you have one but never really come down before another begins?

TravisF profile image
TravisF in reply toMindfulMoment

Yes I have rolling panic attacks and have been daily for the past week. My worst ones came today actually and it is so scary. But after the worst one I took some medicine and my body feels so tired that I’m in a daze almost. I feel ok right now and that scares me… I don’t want to go back to the panic but I know come morning it will cycle back. But that’s why I’m on here and communicating my thoughts. Everyone in this community has been so helpful. We are not alone.

MindfulMoment profile image
MindfulMoment in reply toTravisF

Anxiety is always worst in the morning. Stay in bed, medicate, do whatever you need to do to let those cortisol levels come down before you try to face the day. Sometimes I need a few days of Ativan to stop a cycle. Doctors are so rigid about prescribing it. It’s so frustrating. It’s what the medication is made for and they don’t want to give it because it’s “addictive.” I’ve taken it before when I wasn’t panicking. It does absolutely nothing. But when it stops a panic attack dead in its tracks and gives clarity and calm of course that feels good. Being addicted to feeling “normal” I mean come on. Sometimes I’ll take benedryl, that at least gives me sleep and a break. Hydroxyzine seems to be the go to for doctors, I haven’t had much success with it personally. It doesn’t calm me and it makes me so hungry but I can’t eat because I’m nauseous. Hang in there friend. This too shall pass. Like a kidney stone but it will indeed pass.

moggie8 profile image
moggie8 in reply toMindfulMoment

I thought you said you were getting better maybe I misunderstood

MindfulMoment profile image
MindfulMoment in reply tomoggie8

I am getting better. I am still a work in progress. I was sharing what things I have used in the past. To be honest sometimes I forget where I am and that those things are no longer my present. I still have anxiety. I will always experience anxiety. But I can leave my house now!!! I am a part of life now!!!! And I no longer live in fear. But there are times things happen in life and I have a recurrence of symptoms and it requires a lot to ground myself once again. I don’t think we ever are cured from anxiety. Because it’s a natural process doing what it should, we’d be broken if we didn’t have a working sympathetic nervous system.

moggie8 profile image
moggie8 in reply toMindfulMoment

Yes but using Claire weeks u can be cured. Meaning u only get anxiety when u are supposed to not when u not supposed to . I know a lot of people have recovered but it's all about the right inner voice as Claire weeks says. That keeps you recovered. Also vacate fear u tube he recovered and Paul david. It all comes down to worry. Are you are worryer like me. If we can contain that we would be cured like Paul David says he has a book at last a life and trying to fix anxiety keeps us in the loop. What's your view . Have you always suffered anxiety all your life

Beevee profile image
Beevee in reply tomoggie8

Mindful Moment is right in that anxiety is a natural reaction when there is danger and will always be there. However, it isnt appropriate to have anxiety all day, every day. With time, those symptoms fade away and your fight/flight response goes back to protecting you against danger and not firing off all day. In any case, if you follow the teachings of Dr Weekes, you will get to a point where you wont care if you are anxious or not. As you know, I had anxiety all day every day for some time but I no longer suffer that extreme. Even if I did get stressed about something, the symptoms are much less severe but I dont care about them.

To clarify, I have recovered and anxiety is no longer an issue for me. ❤

Marysblue profile image
Marysblue

I watched a good video today on anxiety and fear by Eckhart Tolle on YouTube

TravisF profile image
TravisF in reply toMarysblue

I will have to check it out. Thanks!

Lea1970 profile image
Lea1970

Your not alone. I have had panic attacks for years. Drs just tell me to breathe and have tried several medications that have not helped me. I start to feel like I can't breathe and get dizzy and my legs feel like jello. It helps me to call a friend or go set outside.

TravisF profile image
TravisF in reply toLea1970

I actually had my mom and wife sit with me today and I just cried to them. I was having a panic attack (probably the worst I’ve had) and it helped to cry it out. But I struggle to cry. I hate that because when I want to I can’t. But it helped to talk to them and I actually went outside for a bit today which I haven’t been doing.

awwwa profile image
awwwa

The main reason is to not fight against anxiety. It is to accept and feel normal with it. The more you think about it the more you start worry about. Try breathing exercises, walking, reading. Asking for help is not shame and do not guilt yourself for that, it is courage. Anxiety can only be understand when you not feeling anxious.

If it comes back it says that you keep cycle again and again. Something you not searched inside your minds. You must to feel your emotions. Start to asking some questions to yourself, never afraid to talk with yourself. It will translate some good minds, you will see. I am living with anxiety now one year, and still not cured full. But still going that bumpy road. It is normal to feel bad one day, like the sun hides over some clouds.

I am curing it without pills, meds, only vitamins and went to psychologist to heal my inner traumas for the first 4 months.

The “ OFF” switch is not just the mind … it’s the body too.

Let’s examine that sentence..

You cannot stop anxiety being fed if you just focus on symptoms… so body listening tends to feed the thoughts you have… just as much as the thoughts you have .. can feed the body’s responses… so it’s a two fold situation that is creating the vicious circle.

Anxiety does not need a response from you…

You do not need to react to it… you must learn to accept it… and try to control your breathing as you let it run its course.

Often a thought or feeling precedes the onset of fear.. or undue levels of stress.

Once you accept the feelings and let them do “their thing” the Adrenalin starts to burn off and the muscle groups can start to relax.

Learn the art of not reacting or responding.

Get hold of the best book that explains what I have just written..

by Dr Claire Weeks called “Self help for your nerves”

She called it “floating” letting go … let it wash over you and breathe… one of the best ways is gentle walking .. nothing matters but taking a step and focusing on nothing… slowing down everything and letting the anxiety do its thing… nothing will come of it… yes your heart may bear fast… you may feel sick… you may tremble .. or find it hard to take a deep breath.. these are your physical symptoms and cannot harm you…

Lastly get hold of some magnesium…glycinate… or threonate… often you use up magnesium reserves… through continuous bouts of anxiety which makes it very hard to relax muscles…

Do not fear “yourself” learn to let things be.. learn to relax.

You do not need a magic bullet but using pills short term can help whilst you begin to figure out how you stop responding to those sensations that come and go.

Early morning anxiety is just that… you wake up and try to control the hormones we all produce… but this creates your first reaction/responses.. just “allow” what ever happens… to happen… it might seem like the end of the world but it isn’t… it’s just you fear response… so keep telling yourself a simple sentence… each time you breath in say the word .. “calm” …each time you breathe out say “relax” and try to breath from your belly nice and slow… known as diaphragmatic.. it changes the blood chemistry in stead of blowing off carbon dioxide.(hyperventilating) that comes from shallow upper breathing… and holding yourself in a knot.

Many of the replies on this thread are saying the same thing… this is nothing to be afraid of.. your body is a wonderful thing and is your friend.. so make friends with it learn to like yourself back… once you realise the concept of letting go… letting God … your life improves.

Often long term anxiety can deplete the cortisol reserves and leave you “exhausted”

This can go hand in hand with anxiety because the physical feeds the mind and vice Versa

Dr Ekberg on YouTube explains how to restore your cortisol levels.. through correct diet…but you must continue to do these relaxation/breathing exercises.

I started “learning “ how to let go 40 years back and yes anxiety can pop in to visit out of the blue during times of extreme stress .. but it never stays long because I just let it pass on through…keep it simple… no need to buy book after book or watch endless tutorials.. learn to let it do it’s thing and breathe /float…best wishes from UK.

Twenty2 profile image
Twenty2 in reply to

I have read her books over and over and I have 2 audio recordings but I can’t seem to do it right. I’m in the UK

in reply toTwenty2

The basic concept … is you “allow” the feelings wash over you while you practice slow deep breathing… if you also practuce deep relaxation twice a day for 15 minutes or more.. your learned response will change .. your body will not kill you… but fear will continue to rob you of peace of mind..

Even if you only do the breathing exercise .. it will help..slow and easy does it..

At first I could not deal with queues or bus journeys.. now I fly to places far away.. I can stand in queues .. the only time I get very anxious is in traffic jams but… that can be controlled by slowing down the breathing and letting the arms and legs untighten.. I hope that helps.

Lynne53 profile image
Lynne53

Please consider buying a copy of Dr Claire Weekes book ‘Hope and Help For Your Nerves’ although it was written many years ago it is still considered one of the leading books for showing people how to fully recover from anxiety. It can be bought easily online either new or pre-used. The reason I think this will be the start of your recovery is you used the term ‘fighting’ anxiety. She shows you how to use a method that does the opposite of fighting anxiety and it’s SO simple and effective. I had crippling anxiety for 9 years, I read her book and never looked back. Good luck and much love to you.

SouthernSally profile image
SouthernSally in reply toLynne53

She also has free talks on YT.

designguy profile image
designguy

I had anxiety for years and what helped me the most was learning how to think differently about it and accept that part of me and change my relationship to it and be more accepting of myself. The reality is that anxiety is our body's builtin defense system but it is malfunctioning and you need to learn how to constructively deal with it and desensitize your body sensations and to not believe the anxious thoughts. Anxiety is also a paradox, the more you resist it or fight it the more it persists and the solution is to surrender to it and let it pass.

What helped me was the DARE Anxiety book and youtube videos, the book "At last a life and beyond" by Paul David and the youtube videos/website of Paige Pradko who is a therapist that healed herself and now helps others.

You may also benefit from medication at least temporarily, to help you heal. I found klonopin helped reduce my anxiety and helped me desensitize my body to the anxious feelings over time.

Beevee profile image
Beevee in reply todesignguy

Great post designguy. Acceptance is the key to recovery.

designguy profile image
designguy in reply toBeevee

Thanks, you and I are on the same page.

TegaItaisan profile image
TegaItaisan

TravisF I am sorry that it is reoccurring. It must be very frustrating and discouraging. I think it is normal to feel alone with this experience. You probably know, meet and see people who, seemingly, have no such challenges. However, what you see in people on the surface only covers what may lay beneath what you can see.

It seems to me that there may be a triggering event, thing or person and if identified, could be the key to solving the issue(s)?

It sounds like this has been cyclic thing for you and you might get some assistance from a counselor who can help to identify why this is happening. I think the sooner that you can identify the cause the less if will compound the frequency of it happening.

You are not alone though. We are all here for you and I am sure there are many more members that have not yet responded that can share a similar experiences.

Good luck to you

FlamingoSiren profile image
FlamingoSiren

Keep fighting. Lots of positive self talk. I take lexapro and the occasional clonidine. It helps me tons. And you’re not alone!!

Terribly sorry that I just saw this. I suggest The Tapping Solution, listening to binaural beats, meditation, and worksheets. I get mine at therapistaid.com

Easier said than done, I know this as I also deal with your same issues. It's a struggle that we've got to win. Keep fighting.

kangleipak1988 profile image
kangleipak1988

Dont worry brother, you are not alone. I have been experiencing the same for a long time now. I know how it feels. I am currently on medication. You cant depends solely on medication for this condition. I recommend you try meditation and practice self affirmation techniques. It does help a lot.

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