An Anxious Life's topics - tribe.net

Effexor

2008-06-13T02:24:21Z

dr wants me to try this?
what do you all think?
any reviews?

posted in An Anxious Life - 17 replies

Nightmares every night! Help!

2008-06-10T07:37:46Z

Hi. I think the last time I had a nice, or even funny dream was about 20 years ago. I have only nightmares, often gruesome, every single night, and often have panic attacks in my sleep. I wake up in the middle of a nightmare every morning, and spend my days half in the nightmare. I had a horrible dream about my boyfriend last night, and can barely look at him today. My father died 20 years ago, and I have recurrent nightmares about him tormenting me while he's dying. I can't stand it anymore. It's making my life a daily hell. I posted something on the lucid dreaming board...does anyone here have any ideas???

posted in An Anxious Life - 3 replies

Colonoscopy, damn I'm kinda scared

2008-05-19T01:48:54Z

Anyone here ever had this done? I have been having abdominal pain and the verdict is to get a colonoscopy. I know the procedure isn't painful but for some silly reason I'm afraid to be sedated, even though I am sure it will feel fine once the stuff kicks in. I can't seem to get a straight answer from the nurses as to if I can take Ativan (lorezepam) on the day of the procedure, they say they would prefer I didn't but to just take .5 the night before if I need it, I am afraid that I'll need it the day of though.

I wonder if anyone here may have experianced this and has advice to offer.

thanks.

posted in An Anxious Life - 17 replies

hello.

2008-05-16T20:20:48Z

just joined you, hi everyone.

what do we get out of being anxious? or, shell i ask, what do we pay for by being anxious?
i think often of it ; i'm an artist, i paint and write; i feel anxiety and depression are a part of the package.
do you feel so to too?

posted in An Anxious Life - 3 replies

noticing my heart beat way too much

2008-05-16T02:27:37Z

So, funny thing... I think I'm almost all better and now the last few days i have started to get a heart issue. it's not skipping or fluttering, it's just too noticeable. Like I'm sitting here typing and I can feel my heart beat in my whole chest area, which makes me a bit prone to anxiety, it hasn't freaked me out too bad yet but it's really annoying.

Could this be high blood pressure or low? I don't have a history of either. I don't think it's the caffeine but I'll cut that off again to be sure (however I am really enjoying being able to drink tea once more :)

Any of you guys get this symptom? If so what helps?

posted in An Anxious Life - 6 replies

accupuncture

2008-04-14T05:18:34Z

I was wondering if anyone has had any experiences they would like to share about using accupunture to treat anxiety.

posted in An Anxious Life - 1 reply

bad medical thoughts

2008-02-26T04:52:37Z

so although i am still doing well here i noticed one of the things that keeps getting to me is bad medical thoughts. they range from me worrying about having ingested poisons or some herb that is going to give me an allergic reaction all the way to the standard I have a pain in X spot and therefore i must have a terminal disease.

like lately i have been having less then great bowel movements, chances are it's from stress, but of course i'm stressing on what could be causing it because i didn't think i was stressed before they started so now it's a loop.

how do any of you that have this problem deal with it? i suppose i should go meditate and stop worrying for starters.

posted in An Anxious Life - 6 replies

Toxiphobia anyone?

2008-02-24T08:12:57Z

Anyone here have that, other then the medical worries (mentioned in the last post) i get this is my main lurking problem, not sure if i really have a full blown phobia but i worry far to often about drugs being in my food or some herb i'm taking having a bad reaction etc. Has anyone here been treated for this type of phobia, I would love to know some simple CBT or other techniques for this particular problem. It's not quite like fear of flying because I'm not going to be working my way to take acid again to conquer my phobia that's for sure .

posted in An Anxious Life - 0 replies

is your anxiety like mine?

2008-02-17T00:41:01Z

I want to say I really like my friends. They are good people who have never treated me bad nor would I ever think they would.

Thing is I can't be around them in a big group. I get so anxious I either drink so much till the point of blacking out or not go. I can go out and have a good time with 1 or 2 friends at a time even at a bar or some place similar. More than that and I start to into an attack. Even thinking about being around my friends in a big group starts it up again. I just don't understand why being around my friends in a big group makes me feel anxious?

If you are like me or have any advice I'd appreciate the replies.

posted in An Anxious Life - 6 replies

Angst and Belonging

2008-02-11T07:20:54Z

This is, in some ways a continuation of the subject I (very rudely!) hijacked Chris's post with. There were enough of us who responded to the topic there that I decided to make it its own post here.

So, why or how is/was it that you feel/felt out of sync, as I believe most of us do or have done? What have you found that makes you feel more of a sense of belonging--ever by yourself?

posted in An Anxious Life - 20 replies

nutrient lacking...

2008-02-08T04:20:45Z

According to Dr. Norman Shealy, magnesium and taurine are essential nutrients that are sorely lacking in depression and anxiety patients and in the general population. He gives more info on his site about which forms of magnesium are better assimilated. He came to my attention when I heard his interview on a podcast called "Theatre of the Mind" -it's free on itunes- subject title "Depression". He also mentions the Liss CES machine and one other device for relaxation as an effective treatment. His site is normshealy.com. He also has a book out on stress relief.

posted in An Anxious Life - 3 replies

marijuana- good? bad?

2008-01-30T03:01:49Z

Does it help or hurt anxiety disorders?

posted in An Anxious Life - 35 replies

the holidays

2008-01-15T01:55:22Z

i'd taken lorazepam and paxil for about 3 years, and having reached a good point in my life, decided to come off of the drugs this summer. everything seemed to be going along well, until the holidays. then the panic attacks struck. without work to distract me, there was very little structure and motivation to my days. i began to worry that i'd always be alone, be forgotten, be unloveable. my mind kept comparing me to others, and constantly berating me for past mistakes and speaking hopelessness for the future. it was like a movie on repeat in my head, that i couldn't stop, so i knew it was time to get back on the meds.

what do people do for a life, outside of their work? i've hit a most uninspired point in my life. and i'm scared of everything. i think most people change and take more risks than i do. when i was young, my family life was unstable, so i thought that if i got a good-paying, reliable job, that i would be happy. wrong. it's going to take awhile to understand that there's more to life than just doing what is expected. ugh. and i wish the morning panic attacks weren't happening... trying to get in touch with the doctor to refill that prescription of lorazepam...

posted in An Anxious Life - 7 replies

What help you?

2008-01-09T03:12:28Z

I'm not sure if this one has been covered before here but I think it would be really nice to hear what has helped all of us through times of anxiety, or even cured us of it. I keep thinking about writing a book, blog, or making short videos about all the things I have done to help myself understand and reduce anxiety and it's brutal effects on my life. But I am curious what works for others.

For me it has been some of the things I have mentioned many a time here but here is a little simple list in close to relative order of importance...

1. Regular intense but fun exercise, for me this is practicing Mixed Martial Arts ( I have learned that I am naturally full of energy and a bit of a nervous creature so this one helps quite a bit, plus I find a good session at the gym is akin to the best meditation you can have).

2. Mental training, just like physical training I have found that I have to keep my head clear and root out negative thinking quickly or it will get the best of me. This can be many things like... Getting in touch with feelings I had buried, such as forgiving old trespasses from others or letting go of self hate for mistakes I have made along the way. Also addressing some need I have to have some spirituality in my life, not religion per say but some sort of faith in the universe, faith in things such as that when I die I won't be stuck in some bad acid trip forever. Not letting myself start thinking about all of the bad things that can happen to me all the time is a big one, like worrying about brain tumors or death all the time etc.

3. Diet. I have found that the food I eat and the supplements I take can really effect my overall feelings. Sometimes I can use my mind to overcome this but overall if I eat crap or don't take the right supplements to make up for holes in my diet I start to degrade physically which then attacks me mentally. So now I usually eat regular (3-5 times a day) balanced meals and take a multivitamin along with some omega 3.

There are many other things but really I think those are the 3 big ones. What helps you?

posted in An Anxious Life - 41 replies

Anxiety and The Secret-or why am I leaving this tribe

2007-12-28T20:39:09Z

If you concentrate on what you DON'T want - you attract more of it. The whole anti-war movement creates more war,the whole anti-drug movement creates more drugs. Bring your attention from what you DON'T want on what you WANT to achieve/experience/manifest.
Instead of fighting AGAINST anxiety/phobia focus all your energy on everything that is the opposite of it:
Peace
Confidence
Wellbeing
Living in present moment
Positivity
Creativity
Healthy social skills
Concentrating on what is your innermost desire in life,what you want to achieve,what brings you greatest happiness to think of.
On this note,I'm leaving this tribe,see you on the other side ;)

posted in An Anxious Life - 9 replies

TRY GABA!!!!

2007-12-05T23:01:37Z

All y'all should try GABA. Did I already say that?

posted in An Anxious Life - 4 replies

Anxiety Symptoms

2007-11-30T19:14:06Z

Cut-and-pasted below is perhaps the most thorough list I've ever come across of anxiety symptoms on one site [anxietycentre.com]. Most are somewhat familiar but there may be a few surprises. Even with this long list, individuals could still add more from personal experiences. [Butterflies in the stomach, anyone?]

http://www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-symptoms.shtml

Body

* Burning Sensations throughout the body
* Chronic Fatigue
* Electric shock feeling
* Excess of energy, you feel you can’t relax
* Feel like you are going to pass out or faint
* Feeling cold or chilled
* Hyperactivity, excess energy
* Increased or decreased sex drive
* Muscle twitching
* Neck, back, shoulder pain, tightness/stiffness
* No energy, feeling lethargic, tired
* Numbness or tingling in hands, feet, face, head, or any other places on the body
* Persistent muscle tension, stiffness
* Sore or tight scalp or back of the neck
* Startle easily
* Sweating, uncontrollable profuse sweating
* The floor feels like it is moving either down or up for no reason
* Trembling or shaking
* Urgency to urinate, frequent urination, sudden urge to go to the washroom
* Warm spells
* Weak legs, arms, or muscles
* Weight loss, weight gain

Chest

* Chest pain or discomfort
* Concern about the heart
* Feel like you have to force yourself to breath
* Find it hard to breath, feeling smothered, shortness of breath
* Frequent yawning to try and catch your breath
* Heart – beating hard or too fast, rapid heartbeat, palpitations
* Heart - Irregular heart rhythms, flutters or ‘skipped’ beats, tickle in the chest that makes you cough

Emotions (see mood)
Fears

* A heightened fear of what people think of you
* Afraid of being trapped in a place with no exits
* Constant feeling of being overwhelmed.
* Fear of being in public
* Fear of dying
* Fear of losing control
* Fear of impending doom
* Fear of making mistakes or making a fool of yourself to others
* Fear of passing out
* Fear that you are losing your mind
* Fears about irrational things, objects, circumstances, or situations
* Fears of going crazy, of dying, of impending doom, of normal things, unusual feelings and emotions, unusually frightening thoughts or feelings
* Heightened self awareness, or self-consciousness
* Need to find nearest washrooms before you can feel comfortable
* Need to seat near exits

Head

* Burning, itchy, tight scalp
* Dizziness or light-headedness
* Frequent headaches, migraine headaches
* Feeling like there is a tight band around your head, pressure, tightness
* Head, neck or shoulder pain, tightness/stiffness
* Giddiness
* Shooting pains in the face
* Shooting pains in the scalp or head
* When you close your eyes you feel like are beginning to, or will, float upwards
* Sore jaw that feels like a tooth ache
* TMJ (Temporo-Mandibular Joint) - clenching of the jaw or grinding of the teeth

Hearing

* Frequent or intermittent reduced hearing or deafness in one or both ears
* Low rumbling sounds
* Ringing in the ears, noises in the ears, noises in the head

Mind

* Deja Vu, a feeling like you've done or experienced something before
* Desensitization, depersonalization
* Difficulty thinking, speaking, forming thoughts, following conversations
* Fear of going crazy
* Fear of losing control
* Fear of impending doom
* Feelings of unreality
* Frequent feeling of being overwhelmed, or that there is just too much to handle or do
* Having difficulty concentrating
* Obsession about sensations or getting better
* Repetitive thinking or incessant ‘mind chatter’
* Underlying anxiety, apprehension, or fear
* You often feel you are carrying the world on your shoulders

Mood / Emotions

* Always feeling angry and lack of patience
* Depression
* Dramatic mood swings (emotional flipping)
* Emotionally blunted, flat, or numb
* Emotional "flipping" (dramatic mood swings)
* Emotions feel wrong
* Everything is scary, frightening
* Feeling down in the dumps
* Feeling like things are unreal or dreamlike
* Frequently being on edge or 'grouchy'
* Frequently feel like crying for no apparent reason
* Have no feelings about things you used to
* Not feeling like yourself, detached from loved ones, emotionally numb
* Underlying anxiety, apprehension, or fear
* You feel like you are under pressure all the time

Mouth/Stomach

* A ‘tinny’, ‘metallic’ or ‘ammonia’, or unusual smell or taste
* Aerophagia (swallowing too much air, stomach distention, belching)
* Choking
* Constant craving for sugar or sweets
* Constipation
* Diarrhea
* Difficulty swallowing
* Difficulty talking, pronouncing certain letters or sounds, mouth feels like it isn't moving right, slurred speech
* Dry mouth
* Feeling like you can’t swallow properly or that something will get caught in your throat
* Feeling like your tongue is swollen
* Frequent upset stomach, bloating, gaseous
* IBS
* Lack of appetite or taste
* Lump in the throat, tight throat, something stuck in your throat
* Mouth muscles twitching/jumping
* Nausea or abdominal stress
* The thought of eating makes you nauseous
* Tight throat, lump in throat
* Tongue twitching
* Urgency to urinate, frequent urination, sudden urge to go to the washroom
* Vomiting

Skin

* Burning skin sensations, skin sensitivity
* Skin problems, infections, rashes

Sleep

* Difficulty falling or staying asleep
* Frequent bad, bizarre, or crazy dreams
* Hearing sounds in your head that jolt you awake
* Insomnia, or waking up ill in the middle of the night
* Jolting awake
* Waking up in a panic attack
* You feel worse in the mornings

Sight

* Distorted, foggy, or blurred vision
* Dry, watery or itchy eyes
* Eye tricks, seeing things our of the corner of your eye that isn’t there, stars, flashes
* Eyes sensitive to light
* Spots in the vision
* Flashing lights when eyes are closed
* Your depth perception feels wrong

Touch

* Burning skin sensations, skin sensitivity
* Feeling cold or chilled
* Numbness
* Pain
* Tingling, pins and needles feelings

Other symptoms are described as:
Being like a hypochondriac, muscle twinges, worry all the time, tingles, gagging, tightness in the chest, tongue twitches, shaky, breath lump, heart beat problems, head tingles, itchy tingling in arms and legs, and so many more.

In addition to these symptoms, you may also find yourself worrying compulsively about:
• Having a heart attack
• Having a serious undetected illness
• Dying prematurely
• Going insane or losing your mind
• Harming yourself or someone you love uncontrollably
• Being embarrassed or making a fool out or yourself
• Losing control
• Fainting in public
• Not breathing properly
• Choking or suffocating
• Being alone

posted in An Anxious Life - 15 replies

book review, highly suggested

2007-10-26T00:56:58Z

Hey guys, check the review tab to see a book review I did, I highly recommend this one for us anxious type, best one I've seen yet.

posted in An Anxious Life - 0 replies

Boredom

2007-08-24T02:56:30Z

Does boredom make you anxious?
It does me.

When I am Boring myself ! Ack!

When others are boring me & I'm stuck......
but the group is the boring majority & I don't 'get it' so I am anxious & boring.....

posted in An Anxious Life - 12 replies

Addiction

2007-08-23T23:00:56Z

I've been told, I don't remember by whom, that benzodiazepines are extremely addictive, and I'm starting to wonder whether I am addicted to my anti-anxiety medication, Klonopin (clonazepam). I used to take .5mg at a time.....now I take 3-4mg at a time......I was told that this was one of the least addictive benzos, but I am taking it a lot now, and I think my dr. may be concerned that I am getting addicted as well. Has anyone had any experience with addiction particularly to clonazepam? I was wondering if this was even a possibility, because I'm really not educated well in this area......

I see my dr. today also, so she might say something then.

posted in An Anxious Life - 3 replies

Suicides of Military personnel in Iraq/Afghanistan etcetra

2007-08-16T16:02:54Z

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070816/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/army_suicides

posted in An Anxious Life - 0 replies

free and easy way to help homeless children

2007-07-28T00:52:27Z

Please use www.railwaychildren-friends.com/email.asp as a search engine for your internet searches and you'll raise a massive 10p per search! please set it as your homepage for ease of use and start raising money today ;)

You can have a snoop on the charities efforts at www.railwaychildren.org.uk

They are mainly a preventative charity which in terms of being a street child can mean the difference between a world of pain and heartache and a life worth living. Railway children endeavour to meet runaway children before pimps, pushers or abusers do. They are even getting to help the kids in Siberia who are living in the sewers.

80% of their money goes straight to the projects, 17% fundraising, 3% admin etc, so they are a 'fair-enough-trade' charity.

10p a search is phenomenal and it means that the average amount spent per child -£44- will take 440 searches...its fairly usual for me to search 20 items per evening, so that means in 22 evenings that ground level support for a child is reached. www.railwaychildren-friends.com/email.asp

There is a snag with the search page which is that on entering a search it automatically redirects to a normal search page for the results. So inorder that you keep raising money for the charity you have to go back to the root page with the picture of the child and the green bits for each new search subject to raise another all important 10p.

Thanks very much for your efforts and please do enjoy your days. Also if there are any forums that you can forward this message or indeed your own personal email contacts please do send this on, more the better. ;) *

Has an email ever changed your life? Lets do that help for the ones who don't have internet access or in alot of cases protection or food

posted in An Anxious Life - 0 replies

Interesting article

2007-07-16T00:13:12Z

Hi everyone,

I found this article on MSN and wanted to share it with you. The link is:

http://health.msn.com/centers/depression/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100165580&gt1=10201

How to Fight Depression and Anxiety

Most people with major depression also suffer an anxiety disorder.

By Hara Estroff Marano for MSN Health & Fitness

Q: What is the best way to deal with depression and anxiety?

A: Quickly and definitively. Whatever kicks them off, depression and anxiety both are maintained by styles of thinking that magnify the initial insult and alter the workings of the brain in such a way that the longer an episode exists, the less it takes to set off future episodes.

Anxiety and depression are probably two faces of the same coin. Surveys have long shown that 60 percent to 70 percent of people with major depression also have an anxiety disorder, and half of those suffering anxiety also exhibit clinical depression symptoms.

The stress response system is overactive in both disorders. Excess activity of the stress response system sends emotional centers of the brain into overdrive so that negative events make a disproportionate impact and hijack rational response systems. You literally can’t think straight. You ruminate over and over about the difficulties and disappointments you encounter until that’s all you can focus on.

Researchers believe that some people react with anxiety to stressful life events, seeing danger lurking ahead everywhere—in applying for a job, asking for a favor, asking for a date. And some go beyond anxiety to become depressed, a kind of shutdown in response to anticipated danger.

People who have either condition typically overestimate the risk in a situation and underestimate their own resources for coping. Rather than developing the skills to handle situations that make them uncomfortable, sufferers merely avoid what they fear. Often enough, a lack of social skills is at the root. Some types of anxiety—panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and social phobia—are particularly associated with depression.

The fact that anxiety usually precedes the development of depression presents a huge opportunity for the prevention of depression. Young people especially are not likely to outgrow anxiety on their own; they need to be taught specific mental skills.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) gets at response patterns central to both conditions. And the drugs most commonly used against depression have also been proven effective against an array of anxiety disorders.

Although medication and CBT are equally effective in reducing anxiety/depression, CBT is better at preventing return of the disorder. Patients like it better, too, because it allows them to feel responsible for their own success. What’s more, the active coping that CBT encourages creates new brain circuits that circumvent the dysfunctional response pathways.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy teaches people to monitor the environment for the troubling emotional land mines that seem to set them off. That actually changes metabolic activity in the cortex, the thinking brain, to modulate mood states. It works from the top down. Drugs, by contrast, work from the bottom up, modulating neurotransmitters in the brainstem, which drive basic emotional behaviors.

Treatment with CBT averages 12 to 15 weeks, and patients can expect to see significant improvement by six weeks. Drug therapy is typically recommended for months, if not years.

Exercise is an important adjunct to any therapy. Exercise directly alters levels of neurohormones involved in circuits of emotion. It calms the hyperactivity of the nervous system and improves function of the brain's emotion-sensing network. It also improves the ability of the body to tolerate stress. What’s more, it reduces negative thinking and changes people’s perception of themselves, providing a sense of personal mastery and positive self-regard.

However, just telling a distressed person to exercise is futile, as depression destroys initiative. The best thing a loved one can do is to simply announce: “Let’s go for a walk.” Then accompany the person out the door.

posted in An Anxious Life - 4 replies

small aircraft misery

2007-07-14T19:09:40Z

This is probably not a 'topic' but $@^@%^@%2 for discussion as I hope no one else has gone through this but if so, if it is happening elswhere~~~~~~~~
This was an Anxiety attack with a big A!

For 9+ hours today & into the night a small loud engined plane circled our area. When it 1st flew over my 82 yr old neighbor who is a little hard of hearing complained about the noise & said it needed a heavy muffler & I laughed.

After 2 hours it was getting on my nerves so I tried to read a mystery & just chill on the swing. Going onto 5 hours I called [crying by then] the closest airport to ask what could be done & they said if I get the tail N # he would write a nasty letter to the pilot bcz it is truly bad behavior. But it is under the FAA jurisdiction>>>>>>>>I<<<<<<<<<

At the 7th hour I was shaking, trembling, nauseous, had even thrown up from the tension, was dizzy from repeatedly looking up when it would come over my way again & again & again & again & again & again & & & & & &&&&& ~~~~~~~~
I mean ANZIETY of the worse kind.
I thought I was going to just lose it. Thought maybe I should even consider going to ER for the trembling & the spacy weird headache that was making me throw up. But I couldn't drive for being dizzy & shaking & what would I say? I have airplane trembles? Engine vomiting with around & around head?

Then I started actually getting paranoid; I mean what the hell are they doing!?! why? We're just a small town with nothing going on here but non fragrant roses for export........
This is way past a real estate developer checking the land out. Are they spraying something unseen???? Are they taking pics of everyone in CA with some weird ass camera so they Know whats inside yr house??

So I called the Sherrif's dispatch in case they could send the hiway helicopter out to intercept it --- maybe even a big torch thrower or sumpin'; but just stop it I can't take it any more. Sherrifs said they can't do anything it's out of their jurisdiction but they have lots & lots of complaints & we have to call the FAA.

So I call to lodge a complaint at least doubting that anyone is going to do anything but at least I can Talk to someone about it. The FAA woman is of course bureaucractic cold "it's not our problem & *'the project' is approved...."
WTF what project, what kind of *project?
"I can't tell you but I can give you the # for what organization approved the project but you have to call tomorrow during biz hrs"
Stop it stop it just stop the damn circling airplane it is over 9 hours of this noise.
"...I can give you the # if you want but that is All I can tell you.....I can't tell you if it is the government or not. Do you want the number? That's all I can do is give each of you the number & you can call tomorrow if you still want to"
AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

So I call any way to the 'Flight Standard Business' (???) that approved *'the project'* to leave a nasty rambling message about their inconsiderate project. OH Yeahhhhh just try & figure out how to leave a message on this machine. So I ramdomly pick a guy & tell him off for the horrible way I am feeling & others evidently that are calling. Somehow the 2nd time I call I do get a general box & do it again til the machine cuts me off.

Do you think *the project* was just to make people go into a fear paranoia state? Kinda like up the fear or attack threshold?

I am Not one of the afraid of terrorists people. I'm more afraid of like the water department or having to see people that have hurt me in the past but don't care if they did; I'm not even afraid of my neighborhood wanna gangsters but this gave me the momentary feeling of what torture must be like. I could understand that a continual monotonous irritant to the neural receptors & the mind trying to deal with it could get you to fall apart; be weakened. What a horrible state it must be for people who have been held captive & gone through something so infiltrating.

My parents generation was WW2 & so the idea of "brainwashing" was used alot. I suppose James Bond is the closest I consideredit though I certainly understand being brain washed or "gaslighted" in everyday life ..... But this experience showed me a hugerunderstanding of being under attack.

posted in An Anxious Life - 4 replies

Anger????

2007-07-11T17:59:57Z

I have been noticing lately, with my panic attacks...or when I get edgy - before a panic attack - I get really mad...angry. It is just like a fuse in my brain....just...I have to yell - at whomever is nearby (okay - that isn't true...it is usually at the person who is trying to help me). Does this happen to anyone else? Or am I just slowly becoming psychotic? I just get so mad while I panic...I don't know if it is because I am frustrated that I have let the attack take control again or...what. So, when it hits I get angry...I get mad...and I feel horrible for yelling at the person trying to help me...but I just can't help it. After it is over I realize it is me that I am mad at...but, of course by then everyone thinks I have a problem with my temper...which isn't really true. ERGH...does anyone else seriously have this problem?

Miche

posted in An Anxious Life - 9 replies

SSRIs as treatment for anxiety.

2007-07-11T17:54:15Z

Anyone here take any SSRIs as treatment for anxiety?
I take zoloft and at first it worked very well but now I am just sick of the side effects. I'm thinking about switching to another SSRI but I'm not sure which one would be best.

I see a therapist, and my medical doctor who first perscribed me the zoloft won't give me any Benzodiazepines. I may try to see a psychiatrist if they will take my insurance before it runs out. I'd just go to see what she/he reccomends as a medication for me.

posted in An Anxious Life - 30 replies

peace of mind

2007-06-21T00:51:07Z

I have found an awesome technique. It helps with many stressors including anxiety.
Video shorts can be seen at www.thework.com
Byron Katie is an author and teacher who has helped thousands.

posted in An Anxious Life - 1 reply

Can you Relate? Poem titled "Anxiety"

2007-05-21T23:03:13Z

These thoughts wont stop, I am dieing, I am sick,
I know I am not, so I start to think I am crazy, for thinking this.
They still won’t stop, millions at a time; “maybe I am crazy,”
are the thoughts that fill my mind.
It’s the same fears, over and over,
The same fucking fears, how do people stay sober?
I want out of my skin, out of my head,
The last thing I thought I would ever say,
Is that I would rather be dead.
My bodies shaking, my chest hurts, I can’t breathe,
Vertigo’s fucking with my eye’s and I can hardly see.
People around me, their voices are like echoes,
I know what they are saying, the same thing as me,
But I can’t reason, can’t hardly see them, “come on David,”
think of good things, think of God, think of tree’s & meadows.
I review doctor’s words repeatedly, “you are fine, it’s not cancer,
Your hearts fine, you are not crazy.”
But for some reason I have convinced myself they are lying,
Or weren’t very thorough, or maybe careless and lazy.
I reach for my Xanex, Pfizer’s wonder drug,
I am even afraid to take this, who fucking knows long term what it does.
Breathe, find some water, my mouth is so dry,
I swallow my pill, the thought of relief on its way, makes me begin to cry.
Why wont they just go away, leave me alone,
like demons haunting me, day after day, I am tense to the bone.
The fear of it coming back is enough to make me crack.
One little tiny fucking thought, and here goes another attack.

(C) David C. Evans 2007

posted in An Anxious Life - 4 replies

therapist sighting outside therapy: awkward

2007-05-20T23:42:13Z

today something extremely awkard and unsettling occured. Background:I live in NYC, large city, right? maybe not. two weeks ago I sat down at a restaurant with my mother. the moment I reached the table and realized my pysychiatrist (almost sure it was him) was behind my mother I made a beeline out the door and my head pounded for the next several hours. Worse theb this today I went to see a broadway musical with a friend who is returning back home for good. She chose the musical. I see so few of them it ani't even funny. When I am leaving the mezzanine I look up to where we were seated and who do I spot: my psychologist (no doubt whatsoever it is her) with her husband I suppose. She was seated in the same section as I what appears to have been behind me. I know she saw me not because our eyes met, it would be nearly impossible she hadn't. We talked about my premonition I would see them in the streets and she asked besides my psychiatrist have I ever spotted her. Now I have. Monday I'm sure since I am so wierded out and uncomfortable by her sighting the situation will be awkward. She'll ask how I felt and what I thought of the situation. Well I had always assumed she was wealthy being she is extremely smart and capapble at working elsewhere than the low income clinic I go to for therapy. But obviously she is not, she would not have seats in the boondocks if this is so. Obviously I won't tell her this thought. Also since she is so pretty and thin I assumed she would have a gorgeous husband but I could not be further from the truth. Obviously I won't tell her this. I hate having spotted her, it's like looking at a projection of all my neurosis and pathos only she is fully aware. Also my therapist is not a person to me she is a therapist. She has never divulged any private information about herself since she believes, from what I've detected at her evading private questions in a a strict patient/client relationship (as do I now). (she prefers to explore the subconciouss intention of the question) I spotted her once leaving the clinic while I was on a payphone. I know she saw me but we both pretended we had not. I am unsettled by the experience of having seen her at the musical. When I tried to get away from the theatre as fast I could my friend made it seem like I was overeacting; to her we could have said hello to one another so she minimised my feelings on the matter and I told her so only to have her mad at me (she got over it soon enough). I suffer from anxiety, what do you guys make of all this?

posted in An Anxious Life - 2 replies

Doctors/Dentists/Etc. make me nervous- and I need to see several

2007-04-28T13:14:05Z

I know most people start off by introducing themselves, but I'll do my formal introduction later. Right now I just want to complain about something. I'm afraid of doctors........ and dentists, which by the way are just orally specialized doctors, anyway, right? I used to even be afraid of eye doctors. My eyes were light sensitive and sometimes they make you look into a machine and flash a bright light into your eyes. I was afraid of that machine. My eyes aren't quite as light sensitive now, though they still are somewhat. I'm less freaked out by the machine now, though. It doesn't scare me, but it still makes me a tad nervous. So does that machine that puffs air in your eyes, though the last time or two I found it oddly un-bothersome. Anyway, I also hated eye drops and I still rather dislike them. So, I guess that made me dislike the eye doctor even more. I'm not afraid of them now, though, but I don't exactly look forward to visits.

Other doctors (dentists included) make me nervous, though. My heart rate speeds up, my blood pressure gets elevated, sometimes I get shaky, flushed, etc. and for awhile there I used to find it hard to talk to them at times. Although my fear has greatly lessened throughout the years, I am still nervous about going to the doctor. Even if I'm not nervous beforehand, I'm usually nervous once I'm in the office. I even get nervous going for things like a sore throat when you know all they will do is swab the back of your throat and MAYBE, not even definitely, but maybe they will ask you to have a blood test, which you can refuse. They also might offer a shot instead of other meds, but again it can be refused. Yet, I still got nervous. I'm getting nervous thinking about them right now. *sighs* I also always pray for God's protection and help when I go. As I said, my fears have lessened and in the past were much worse, especially for certain types of doctors, but I still don't like seeing them. I still get nervous. In the past, there was a time when I used to avoid going to a doctor unless I was sure that I absolutely had to.

You know what sucks? You know why I bring this up? Because I have a lot of stuff that needs medical attention and I don't want to go! It's not as bad now as it used to be, so maybe it won't be that hard to go or that bad as long as I'm not particularly nervous that day and as long as the doctor is nice, competent, etc. Also, when it's all said and done, at least I'll have these problems taken care of and the situation with the doctors (this includes dentists) in the past and maybe I won't need to go back again for a long time. Still, I wish I didn't have to go. This sucks- not nearly as bad as it once would have, but still....it sucks. Also, if things go bad......well it'll suck worse than I'm anticipating. Anyone else dislike or even hate doctors? Do they scare you/make you nervous or just make you sick/angry (some of them make me sick and angry, too, but that's common with humanity in general, myself included)? Do you need medical attention right now? Are you going to get it?

posted in An Anxious Life - 5 replies

triggers....

2007-04-22T21:31:26Z

so i am finding awarness to be a potent remidy
so figuring out what triggers i have
is helping me
some of mine are

not eating
not getting enough sleep
violence (in speech or action)
feeling there is no excape
large descisions ( new house.....trips)

what are yours?

walking at night?

will you share ?

some times it's great to know others share you quirks

posted in An Anxious Life - 26 replies

Losing myself

2007-04-19T10:43:07Z

Hi everyone,

I'm just wondering if anybody else experiences this. I have had a problem with crowds forever. I get very self conscious and my legs go numb and wobbly and I can't walk properly which makes walking past difficult and embarassing. It goes away when I am alone. Another thing that happens is when I'm socializing with new people I get a sense of detachment and also it feels like I'm outside of myself; like I'm losing a part of myself. All my focus goes to the person I'm talking to but it feels a little bit wrong. I'm in a hyperalert state like I'm afraid to miss anything. It's crazy. I don't enjoy socializing too much because of these problems.

posted in An Anxious Life - 22 replies

i need online friends,

2007-04-17T02:51:20Z

Anybody? Bueller? Im a sailor in the navy stationed in Jacksonville Fl, and i need friends to talk to, someone to just have an ordinary conversation with, wihout the judgemental crap i have to deal with every day, i have a lot of problems to deal with and im drowning, my ship just left on deployment and im left behind with no one to talk to and no money friends or transportation, and trapped on a military base, not my idea of fun. I want to get to know people, make friends ,chit chat, lean on, and be leaned on, support and be supportive. care to get to know one another?

posted in An Anxious Life - 16 replies

Good online resource

2007-04-06T01:42:40Z

There is a great page on www.psychresources.net about anxiety and one on social anxiety. It helped me a lot.

posted in An Anxious Life - 2 replies

neck pain caused by anxiety?

2007-03-27T15:55:12Z

if anyone else shares these symptoms, please let me know so I don't freak out into hypochondriac mode and think it is happening to me alone. My anxiety makes me very uncomfortable, so I find myself tweaking how I sleep at night and even sometimes hold my head (often supported by a hand). However, now I have really bad neck pain and my neck pops all the time - really tiny pops - and my head hurts a lot. anybody have/had this happen? I am really interested in the link between perceived illness (anxiety) and real pain, which is the physical manifestation of anxiety. It really sucks... any thoughts?

posted in An Anxious Life - 25 replies

giving up caffine sucksssssss

2007-03-18T15:13:43Z

so i have found on of the things that make me anxious and ready to flip out and worry and yadda yadda is caffine. which totally sucks because i always had a cup of something with it. and then life got so stressful the anxiety things started kicking.
i get nothing done without caffine though and i noticed i am more prone to having low moods or bad moods. and now when i have caffine it affects me greatly. i am up for days and nervous about things and paranoid and cranky on the comedown along with cloudy headed.

rant over.

posted in An Anxious Life - 32 replies

advice on books on dealing with anxiety

2007-03-17T22:11:05Z

Hi,
Man, what a tough couple last two months. I just started to have anxiety attacks, and it's the scariest thing in the world. I am looking for recommendations on good books about dealing with anxiety, or remedy books. Has anyone found anything good?

posted in An Anxious Life - 7 replies

My experience

2007-03-17T21:04:22Z

I hope I am not too boring but I am so glad I have found a place to share.

About six months ago I was having symptoms of feeling feverish, heart racing, hands numb, disorientation, feeling I just had to walk around and feeling I had to put my arms up behind my head. I felt like I was going to die. This happened at work. The third or fourth time i say to my boss that I have to go to my doctor and told her what was happening to me. She said do you want someone to drive you there or call an ambulance? I said I think I can make it. Big mistake. Traffic was crazy. I was shaking like a leaf. No way would I make it to my doctor's office which is about ten miles from work. So instead I went to a local hospital which is about ten blocks away. It took me forever to find a parking spot. I finally make it into the emergency room. I go to the window and tell the girl I need help. She says she will be with me in a few minutes. I tell her no, you will see me now because I am having chest pains and my hands are numb. You should have seen her jump. So I get a quick EKG and pulse temp etc. Then she takes me down the hall to the waiting area and she says someone will be with me soon. HAH. It took at least an hour.

But here is the good part. In that hallway sitting next to me was a little old black lady. We were talking about why we were there. Damn if she didn't have the same symptoms I had. But then she said she felt like she wasn't here any more and that she was going to go join God in heaven tonight. And then she told me that I will make it and when she is in heaven she will think of me. That was probably the most amazing experience in my life. Well the hospital people came and got her and I thanked her for talking with me. She was a calming force for me. Shortly after that they came and got me and asked me countless questions and did chest xray, ekg etc. Then they came and gave me a pill to stick under my tongue. Then a doctor came and talked to me who told me I am suffering an anxiety panic attack. He told me to see my doctor and go from there.

My doctor had a long session with me and told me to think about caffeine and nicotine, both of which cause dehydration which causes the heart to work harder thus triggering the paninc attacks. I now do decaf but still smoke. I still have attacks but at least I know they are panic attacks.

Thanks for listening. I hope I wan't too boring.

posted in An Anxious Life - 9 replies

Advice, please!

2007-03-04T20:08:59Z

I suffer pretty severe anxiety and can't be away from home for too long without losing it. The length of time I can tolerate seems on the whole to be getting longer. Depending on circumstances, 3-4 hours is usually doable. So here's my thing. My mother, teenage son, and I have wanted to go into SF to the Picasso exhibit and then hit Chinatown. My son and I adore just wandering Chinatown and buying anything under $5 because it's such a bargain, whether we actually want the thing or not.

Anyway, we're supposed to be going today, but I slept badly with nightmarish dreams about the trip, and was awake for the most part from 4am on from anxiety. Do I hope that those fears will prove unfounded and go? Or do I have my mother do it with my son, but without me? He is 16 1/2; I'd hate for too many of his "family" memories to exclude me.

Um, we're supposed to leave in an hour, (!) so any QUICK advice would be much appreciated.

thanks, Survivor

posted in An Anxious Life - 4 replies

Moving day approaches.

2007-03-04T17:24:54Z

Well, I will be on a train Tuesday night. I will be moving to Arizona to stay with friends while I continue treatment for my illness.
My hope is to get on social security/social security disablity insurance.

I'll probably have to go back into the hospital to further my treatment when I get out there.

So my friends, wish me luck...
I won't be on as often, as I will have to be using a public computer at the Winslow public library for a while.

So thank you for all your well wishes in advance.

~Mojo

posted in An Anxious Life - 1 reply

Has anyone tried Homeopathic Ignatia? does it work?

2007-03-03T18:43:37Z

I have been on this kick of trying to address my anxiety without using medication. So far it hasn't worked out as well as I hoped. I still find days where an alprazalon is almost mandatory. But, I am looking for natural/homeopathic ideas that have worked for others. If you have had an experience with something that works, how does it compare to our western medicine?

posted in An Anxious Life - 12 replies

Buspar--any experience?

2007-02-27T22:34:33Z

So I have to take like these huge sized pills the doctor said they are called buspar for anxiety and those things are huge. Point is, does anyone have any experience with it, is it good or bad, ya know, that kind of thing.

posted in An Anxious Life - 4 replies

Is it just me...

2007-02-24T19:48:13Z

Weekend news: Britney Spears checked out of rehab, went to a salon, shaved her head bald and got a tattoo — all within a matter of a few hours. There are photos and videos all over the internet of her breakdown, and even a site where her hair is up for sale.

I don't understand how so many people just stood by, ogling and taking pictures, without offering empathy, compassion or help. Not one person. I hear she checked herself back into rehab today, but not until radio DJs, TV personalities and comedians had a field day at her expense.

I "get" the jokes, but I just can't go along with the national "laugh track."

Is it just me?

posted in An Anxious Life - 31 replies

Drake Magazine article on phobias

2007-02-20T20:25:29Z

My name is Chelsea Hottovy. I'm a writer for Drake University's magazine, Drake Mag, in Des Moines, Iowa. I'm currently writing an article on phobias. I'd like to talk to someone who has a phobia. The interview will be short and quick, just a couple questions. I can keep you anonymous if you'd like. Please email me if you'd like to help.

Chelsea Hottovy
Drake Magazine
clh012@drake.edu

posted in An Anxious Life - 1 reply

anti-depressant question...

2007-02-20T04:13:11Z

i have been taking a pill called zyprexa for over four months.

i just went online to look up some information.
"zyprexa is for schizophrenia and acute mixed or manic episodes of bipolar disorder and maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder."

holy shit. why did the doctor prescribe me zyprexa for symptoms of depression and anxiety? no wonder i can sleep up to fifteen hours in a day, i do not get manic! i don't know how many times i've been to the walk-in clinic, trying to find some medication support. bah to those doctors who do not LISTEN.

have you tried meds for depression and anxiety that has helped? i am weaning myself off the zyprexa right now and want to go back to the walk-in clinic soon to try another med. it would be nice to be more informed this time.

thanks.

posted in An Anxious Life - 15 replies

panic in the mornings

2007-02-20T01:18:33Z

so pretty much every morning for the past two months or so, i have woken up in a mild panic attack. my heart is racing and i'm a little shaky and it lasts for about the first half hour of my day. i can't figure out what's causing it because there have been no external triggering events at that point unless there's something going on in my sleep that i can't tap into. anyway, i am wondering if anyone has any suggestions or words of wisdom on what to do about this? anything would be appreciated, i'm pretty much at my limit with this thing. thanks!

posted in An Anxious Life - 12 replies

Linden Method

2007-02-17T23:10:06Z

this looks promising for people, anyone tried it?

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=CharlesLinden

http://www.stopworry.com/

posted in An Anxious Life - 2 replies

hypnosis

2007-02-16T18:00:15Z

Has anyone tried hypnosis to deal with their anxiety? If so, what was the outcome? Apologies if this topic was at any point threaded.

posted in An Anxious Life - 8 replies

Product Recommendation for anxiety (bio-feedback system with guided exercises)

2007-02-15T08:39:24Z

http://www.wilddivine.com/products/healingrhythms/

This is my favorite new toy and the thing is just spectacular. I will just paste the product description below but I urge all of you to check it out at the link above. Also I have tested the device with a few people and is just fucking amazing to see something on the screen react to just a simple thought you might have.

----

Healing Rhythms Guided Training Program

Introducing Healing Rhythms, the first biofeedback training program that brings together the most prominent leaders in the field of health and wellness and combines their guidance with beautiful on-screen graphics for a happy mind and a healthy body. Healing Rhythms artfully combines effective biofeedback training with guided meditation and breathing techniques, allowing you to witness and transform the rhythms of your mind and body as they play together on-screen.
Featuring Deepak Chopra, M.D., Dean Ornish, M.D., and Andrew Weil, M.D., Healing Rhythms delivers the expert advice never before offered in one package!

Optimize sleep patterns, reduce stress, increase well-being, and achieve optimal health as you rediscover your body’s natural healing rhythms.

posted in An Anxious Life - 2 replies

just almost completing my holter monitor test

2007-02-10T01:19:54Z

they have been treating me with beta blockers...last night I was symptomatic...
could be hormones, anxiety, who knows..
anyway..anyone else here ever had a holter monitor for palpatations, what were the results?

posted in An Anxious Life - 1 reply

might want to beware of the Kava Kava

2007-02-02T19:10:29Z

http://www.everydayhealth.com/publicsite/index.aspx?puid=493e0b8e-2585-4bb8-ac88-57a90372520a&p=10

posted in An Anxious Life - 9 replies

spiritual gatherings

2007-02-02T19:05:59Z

Sssooooo
a newish friend leaves a message inviting me to go with her to a benefit concert featuring a songwriter/pianist/guitarist which is being put on by her Church but "....it isn't churchy music...."
So I think hey ok it's just a couple of hours & anything can be interesting~~~~~

So the surprise is No it's not traditional churchy but it is new churchy or rather *unity* spiritual people, many that I once knew from a distance but chose not to be involved in bcz of their hippieish spiritual unity that we are all blessed & the world/life is great, we are one; even if we seem to have chronic political infighting for who is/not the spiritual leaders & what their concepts are & where can we meet ___ bla bla bla & oohhh those poor unenlightened other people that don't know pure love ____

Anyway; not to insult anyone bcz a lot of their professed beliefs & desires I am in agreement with. What bugs the hell out me is the hug everybody twice every time yu say hello or goodbye, the close standing parameter, gossiping everybodys business(I love gossip) but under the guise of 'just caring' withoutI don't know - attachment. Damn Gossip, admit & be attached to the outcome!

Anyway: I am also Not a singer. Besides that I have Never been on key 'cept to Neil Young's songs, & I can never remember more than a phrase or two sometimes of my favorite songs, besides I had the song scared out of me by my mommie dearest, I have physical Throat problems that inhibit my speech (hence I type alot for conversations ;;])

Sssooo the anxiety! with a big A! of politely sitting in the back enjoying the uplifting sentiments until the 3d song of "get up & sing to a partner! & Hug Them!! before moving to yr next partner!!! round after round after after after~~~~ for an eternity & the ___ ____ songwriter purposefully send a 'matron' over to get me "up & included" {{{{
Before I can sit down another person comes up & thoughtfully endearingly looks deeply into my eyes & starts singing "...yr an angelllll, yr a child of goddd____ uhhh yr an angelllllll. repeated people ad nauseum!
I sat down quickly after the 4th yet another comes up & by this time it is assumed I have difficulty standing so they
!kneel! & sing to me, then the Next kneels & sings!! swear! Finally I point to my throat & shake my head so now I get a !group of 2 hug & singers kneeling to include me! omg.

The night was interminable. My friend is so kind & lovely but after that I was not ready to have her "only praying for my healing (healthwise), holding my hand with tears in her eyes, the singer seeking me out across the audience's heads with great sincerety ad nauseum. Do 'religous' or 'the spiritual' or 'huggers' or singers' not understand Boundaries?? Or that maybe somebody suffers anxiety from strangers touching their body!?? Or understand I have Never been to yr church so just let me observe without being "joyously drawn into the healing light of god"? etc etc

Later on the drive home in answer to some unconnected talk in reply to another persons anecdote I finally blurted out the words I had tried to squelch all night What the Fuck!?!?!?!
I have visited churchs on my own & found profound experiences but by myself, for myself. & I always resent anyone proseltyzing to me as if I have made it to 59 withuot having a 'calling' of my own; uuhhh I'm a savage with no spirit....

Do these kinds of situations freak others out? Does it keep you away from churches? Or do you find refuge in yr church?

posted in An Anxious Life - 15 replies

Insomnia, Anxiety, and Depression??

2007-01-29T15:30:42Z

I've been not taking my anxiety pills for a while now.....YIKES!! I didn't think it would affect me. Then I went off the prozac onto celexa, and constantly slept that entire couple weeks before she changed me to zoloft. Now I've gotten approx. 20 hours of sleep IN THE PAST WEEK. That averages to about.....maybe 3 hours a night? My anxiety has been worse because of the lack of clonazepam, or maybe the addition of zoloft? I have no idea, really.....and I haven't gotten much better in the depression department. Suicidal thoughts, etc. are more common now.....

*Don't worry, I see my doctor soon, and my counselor too*

In the meantime, I was wondering if there's any link between the three, anxiety, insomnia, and depression. Seems to me like they would go together....makes sense.....just.....I don't know, I'm lacking on sleep, forgive me, so I can't really think straight. I don't remember the point of this post now. Somebody help me out here lol.....

posted in An Anxious Life - 5 replies

Never realized how much my life has been affected by anxiety...

2007-01-17T03:40:40Z

So I have this therapist I've been seeing the last few months... and he is really amazing at connecting the pieces of my life together and looking at things I've inherited, both enviornmentally and physically, from my family. In any case, he is always making connections from the issues in my life to my anxiety. I have a Jewish family and my mom holds a lot of anxiety. I guess the right way to put it is that she expresses every emotion she is feeling, right when she's feeling it, with a lot of intensity. In some ways this has been a great model of self expression, but in other ways, she gets to let go or release her anxiety while I am left feeling it. So I think I've internalized a lot of that... and it makes me upset because it wasn't my choice. All in all my attitude about most things in life is pretty mellow... but I have this anxiety that feels predisposed, innate... I'm just so sensitive to things.
In any case, I took Lexapro for a few months about a year ago and it really helped me out. I felt like I could actually function in life and it was amazing. But I got off of it for various reasons... and I still take Clonopin whenever I need it, usually to get to sleep at night (which lately hasn't been that often, thankfully). I also take SAM-E everyday which totally helped me get off the Lexapro but now I'm a little scared to get off of that.
So I've just been thinking about anxiety a lot lately... how I got it, how it's still here, thought patterns that contribute to keeping it here (I am counseling psychology graduate student so I have a lot of opportunity to think about and explore this topic!)... I am generally a highly functioning person however there are some ways where I want to function better.
My worst feeling ever is overwhelm. I hate it. I get physical sensations from it, stomacheaches, headaches, totally drained of energy. Then I shut down. Sometimes taking a short nap helps that out.
Panic attacks and such are mostly under control so I'm no where near as extreme as I used to be... which is awesome!
But still realizing how many things in my life are touched by my anxieties, worries, fears and guilt.
How does anxiety affect your lives? Anyone else get that feeling of overwhelm where they get physically ill and shut down? I haven't ever had a full time job so I worry (big surprise!) sometimes about how I will be able to handle it when it happens... How do ya'll handle working when you have the looming threat of anxiety?
Thanks for reading this long random rant post if you have!
:) Smooches

posted in An Anxious Life - 5 replies

PureCalm (natural remedy) combined with...

2007-01-04T16:30:27Z

Can the natural remedy of PureCalm oil be used in combination with anti-depressant drugs?

posted in An Anxious Life - 17 replies

Books on Social Anxiety?

2007-01-04T04:11:06Z

Among other things I just found out I have social anxiety and that I was born with it and that it will never go away completely.

Wondering about suggestions for books to read on the subject since none of my doctors have been helpful.

posted in An Anxious Life - 6 replies

Tornado Warnings and Car Wrecks

2006-12-31T03:54:29Z

Today was a rough day for me. Twice they moved everyone to the safest spot in the store because of tornado warnings, and kept us there for about 15 minutes. All those people in that small area....yeah, didn't do wonders for my anxiety. Then there was the information given to me that one of my friends was in a car wreck last night and they had EMS and everything else out there and yeah....on top of the tornado warnings, worrying about a friened and not knowing what is happening with them does NOT help. Someone send me something calming. lol....

posted in An Anxious Life - 1 reply

new years party anxiety: herbal treatments

2006-12-30T00:21:41Z

somone asked a question about this on another tribe.

heres what i wrote back.

valerian root capules, but mixed with alchol that will knock you rite out..

5-htp, but only if you've used it before and are faniliar with it's efects,

one of the best is flax seed oil, good for your brain in general, it helps you think more clearly and so can make it easyer to overcom your anxiety.

creatine suplements, 700 mg or so (thats for my body weight at round 360 lb's) it can make you feel a lil more invigorated (agresive at high doses or if taken regularly over long periods of time) and help reduce fateeg that may otherwise mess with your mood/confidence, all the bad stuff you hear about creatine suplenents is usualy the result of over use or extended use. taken once in a blue moon it's prety safe.
but it efects difrent peaple difrently, depending on diet and motabolism.

all three of these are actualy suplements derived from foods , creatine from meat, 5-htp, is if i remember corectly derived from fish, and flax seed oil from (big suprise) flax seeds. (a plant)

flax seed oil contains omega 3 faty acids also found in fish oil and um borage? oil i think . anyways flax seed oils is the veegan one.

creatine comes from meet , red meet i think, createin is to protien , as , sucrose is to carbs. istant energy for your musles, no prsesing needed, all the strengtheing efects of a bigg pile of red meat without all the red meet. or the full to bursting tummy.

5-htp is a natural mood stabalser, i think it dose somthing with seratonin levels or somthing, it realy helps me a lot with anxiety, but like any mood stabaliser , some peaple have a bad reaction to it, so be carfull with it untill you know how it efects you.

thats basicaly the stuff i use for my anxiety, it's taken me a few years to figure it all out , and it works great for me.
good luck.

posted in An Anxious Life - 1 reply

are you a freak?

2006-12-07T01:25:38Z

i think alot of my anxiety throughout my life has come from not really understanding how people are reading me.

i think i'm pretty normal because i have the same basic motivations as most people, but i've been forced to also understand that to most of society i'm pretty much a freak. accepting my freakdom has made a big difference in my comfort in the world, especially when i can seek out other freaks to be with.

do you think that you may be a freak? does that make you happy or upset you? do you think it has any impact on your anxiety?

posted in An Anxious Life - 30 replies

Meds reviews from patients

2006-12-07T00:56:45Z

go to this site if you have questions
www.askapatient.com/index.asp

posted in An Anxious Life - 0 replies

cymbalta and getting off.........

2006-12-04T00:11:40Z

I am getting off of it, I mean I stopped taking it slowly but the withdrawls suck. For about a week now, I have been getting weird dizzy spells, that seem to get worse in the afternoon. Its like a shock of dizzy.........
Ever have that???? Also it makes me teary eyed, and I am not really a crier...........
ugg

posted in An Anxious Life - 2 replies

how can anxiety sufferers get health insurance?

2006-12-03T00:08:14Z

So Blue Cross wouldn't take me cus I told them the truth about my anxiety. So the advice I got from most folks was to lie on my next application. So I lied to HealthNet and said I didn't have any problems, they accepted me. But now they just cancelled my policy because they checked my doctors records and found out I didn't disclose my anxiety issues to them. Arrrrg.

I really need my health insurance mostly for piece of mind, any advice guys and gals?

posted in An Anxious Life - 22 replies

Understand and stop a panic attack thru proper breathing. :)

2006-12-01T11:56:19Z

Since writting my story about Agoraphobia, a few people have contacted me privately... shared their stories and expressed how my story has touched them. I had so much doubt when posting that story but now I am so glad I did and that I've been able to help out!! So, in an effort to help even one person, I'll post this:
Ahna
-----------------
http://Ahna.Etsy.com

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, follow the advice of your health care practitioner.

Ok, first you need to understand what a panic attack is and what is happening to your body when you have an attack. It..s the basic ..fight or flight.. response only there is no danger. So, what happens when we have a panic attack? First comes our ..fear.. or fearful thought, then adrenaline is released, our heart starts pounding because of the adrenaline and we literally hold our breath! When we hold our breath, blood starts leaving our brain and we become dizzy and disoriented. That in turn makes us more nervous and by that time we don..t know what the hell is happening. Of course being nervous leads to sweaty palms and such.

So, if you can learn to recognize the first sign which is the fear or when that little voice inside says ..oh no.., you can prepare yourself for the adrenaline release and all the physical symptoms that follow. Your body can ..digest.. the adrenaline in about 30 seconds to a few minutes. So, let..s say you get nervous and you catch yourself... you know adrenaline is going to follow so that..s when you want to monitor your breathing. Learn to ask yourself through out the day, ..Am I breathing?... Place a few sticky notes around the house.

Ok, the breathing part is easy... nice slow deep breathes, in thru your nose, out your mouth. By the 5th one, know that the adrenaline has been absorbed. From the slow breathing you should notice your heart is beating normal and you will notice that you aren..t dizzy or feeling light headed. You just headed off a full blown panic attack!

A note on breathing. The first few times you practice your breathing, it might make you dizzy. Practice at home, sitting down. Try practicing about 5 times a day.

The next exercise is to make sure you are breathing correctly. Lay down flat, put your hand on your stomach. When you breath in, your hand should move upward as your lungs fill with air and on the exhale your hand should move down.

posted in An Anxious Life - 0 replies

GABA Goodness

2006-11-30T02:15:20Z

Anyone had any luck using GABA to help with anxiety? I feel like I have mine under control but then i'll have a cup of regular tea and i'm back to near panic so I'm trying to add something more to my supplement list.

posted in An Anxious Life - 1 reply

do panic attacks make you puke?

2006-11-21T16:48:12Z

i had what i am thinking was a panic attack last night. i've had anxiety attacks before but this was crazy. i felt as if all of my cells were ragingly nauseaus. then i ended up puking and having the runs. i've had this happen before when i've been on recreational drugs which is why i don't really take them any more. i don't know that i've ever had this happen without any outside substances. not like this. i was in a stressful conversation and did feel as if my whole world was slipping so the panic attack does make some sense. i'm wondering if the puking and digestion stuff is related or something unrelated and coincidental.

posted in An Anxious Life - 1 reply

Leaving

2006-11-18T06:51:01Z

I have decided to leave tribe.net. Probably just temporarily. I don't want to be in the way anymore. I don't want to be an annoyance. I don't want to bother people. So I'll just go.

Here are my e-mail addresses if anyone cares:

agoodfriendforlife@yahoo.com
agoodfriendforlife@gmail.com
memyselfandi0509@aim.com

posted in An Anxious Life - 8 replies

The only thing you have to fear....

2006-11-14T04:54:57Z

An interesting online article from Reuters UK on anxiety and mental health.
http://tinyurl.com/ynfar4

It seems that science has proven what many of us already knew. Anxiety can come from anxiety. Post-traumatic stress can come from post-traumatic stress, and so on.

The article begins by paraphrasing Franklin Roosevelt. But I couldn't help but to wish it had finished with something a touch more hopeful; perhaps a quote from Winston Churchill: "If you're going through Hell, keep going."

posted in An Anxious Life - 0 replies

Thunderstorms

2006-11-07T04:22:15Z

Does anyone else's anxiety go way out of whack when there's a thunderstorm?

I coulda swore I just heard thunder.......Not good.......thunderstorms, for lack of a better phrase, scare the shit out of me....I guess cuz usually down here there's usually tornado warnings and stuff involved.....but even just seeing lighting or thinking I hear thunder scares the shit out of me. And I now have confirmed it is thunder because I heard it again. Off to dose up on the pills I'm not supposed to take and hide under my bed.......curled in a fetal position wishing for the storm to go away......

I don't mind a little rain, but I could do without thunder and lightning......

Anyone else like this? Or am I just weird? I feel like a little kid, being afraid of storms....but it's true.

I'm also deathly afraid of spiders, snakes, bugs (anything with more than 4 legs), heights, falling, mice, my brother's room, and my speech teacher. *Shiver* It's gonna be a long night now......nightmares of falling into pits of snakes and bugs and spiders and my brother's socks from a great height during a thunderstorm when all I intended to do was give my speech that is due next week, but I was afraid she was gonna fail me......

posted in An Anxious Life - 5 replies

thoughts on zoloft

2006-11-04T04:38:13Z

hi again,

so i made the trip to the psychiatrist - why is it so hard sometimes? - and am now on zoloft. just started about a week and a half ago. I'm just curious other people's response to zoloft, feelings on it. Doc said it could make anxiety worse for a bit then better - how is this possible? I feel okay I guess, but still anxious a lot of the time.

any thoughts appreciated!

posted in An Anxious Life - 4 replies

All Eyes on You

2006-10-25T20:13:01Z

I'm making a speech in front of my class tomorrow. About today's society and how technology is interfering with normal socialization. Can't sleep. Have to write speech. Nervous as hell. God help me. And I'm carrying my clonazepam with me tomorrow. *Just in case*. Lord I'm such a nervous wreck right now.....[(holding my head in my hands wishing I could get a wink of sleep)] Wish me luck, hope that I don't like freak out or anything.....6-8 minutes in front of 30 or so people kind of is well.....nerve-racking to say the least. Especially when you don't have much time to prepare. And especially when you have anxiety. No attacks tomorrow, God, please no attacks. They're all going to be watching me. Me. The person with the ugly face, the pudgy stomach, the ugly wide feet......the person whom I do not like right now....the person who procrastinated on making their speech come together and is now PANICKING because they know they're not going to be ready........

posted in An Anxious Life - 5 replies

asking for accompaniment

2006-10-24T10:35:51Z

there are things that i find really difficult to do that i know would be easier and more likely to happen if someone came with me to do them.

like doctor's visits

i feel really uncomfortable asking people to help me do these things or go with me for them. does anyone have anything helpful to say about asking people for help?

posted in An Anxious Life - 8 replies

OCD and Bipolar

2006-10-18T13:00:20Z

all bipolar's are obsessive compulsives....

why?

b/c we obsess and compluse about everything!

posted in An Anxious Life - 2 replies

How to Deal

2006-10-15T06:21:48Z

My doctor changed my prescription to where I only take it 1 1/2 at night before bedtime.......I feel by the middle of the day like it's all worn off and get all anxious. I wish I didn't get so anxious so often. I wish I didn't have to wait until bedtime to take the pills. Ugggggh any suggestions????

posted in An Anxious Life - 1 reply

misery doesn't love company

2006-10-14T18:01:15Z

Depression and anxiety and the related negative thoughts and feelings are around again. And they are around a lot. And I'm so damn tired of fighting the same battles. But this is me, and if I choose to live, I have to live with me, so I keep on fighting. But what about the people who don't *have* to live with me, they choose to live with me? What can I tell them when I hurt them unintentionally because I'm once again lost in the negativity and confusion of my own head? Sometimes I don't even know I've done or said something hurtful. I'm sorry never feels like enough, and I know myself well enough that I cannot honestly promise that it will never happen again.

Another thing that happens is this: I feel bad, and my friends notice. And they care. And it bothers them. Sometimes I need help getting out of the mire, and the people I love want to help me. Sometimes that is possible and sometimes it isn't. Sometimes we don't hold our boundaries well. Sometimes communication breaks down. It's all complicated by my mood (and sometimes by theirs). I want to take care of myself, and I want to receive help from others to do that when possible without taking people for granted, relying too much on just a few people, or pulling them into my negativity. And I want to help them when they need it, too.

It all boils down to this: I want to be a good friend, and I hate it when my inner turmoil gets in the way of that. I have worked out practices to work with myself on my mood, what can I practice to improve the ways my mood interacts with other people (and their moods)? How do you wish your loved ones would interact with you when they are feeling blue? How do you want people to interact with you when you are feeling bad? I'd love to hear from anyone whose dealt with these dynamics.

posted in An Anxious Life - 2 replies

Speeches

2006-10-09T22:22:41Z

I am taking this public speaking class because it's required for any major, one of the core requirements....problem is when I get in front of the class I have TERRIBLE anxiety.....wondering if there are any techniques that will keep me from FAILING this class just because I don't present my speeches well.....I tried to explain but my instructor wasn't very understanding about the situation......she just told me "Well, everyone gets nervous before speaking" and left it at that. She doesn't understand that I'm not just nervous, I'm TERRIFIED. I guess that's the way college professors have to be.......but I need some tips so I can make it thru this class.....

posted in An Anxious Life - 4 replies