Anybody else suffer from anxiety?

Asa Samuel · #1 06-17-2009, 01:47 PM

Basically I suffer from extreme anxiety, not your average getting a little nervous. I get pins n needles in my hands, start feeling sick, huge adrenalin rushes and it's really getting in the way, I get like this even just going on the bus into town, don't go out a lot even with my gf so I'm seeing a homoeopath and a counsellor tomorrow and I'm hoping they can help me get it under control, although I feel really nervous going to see them even know I know they can help.

Does anybody else suffer from anything similar? What have you found has helped you keep things under control?

Asa.

dvh · #2 06-17-2009, 02:22 PM

Sorry to hear all that.

I'd recommend seeing a conventional Doctor as well - not just a homeopath. You need more than just that one opinion.

Asa Samuel · #3 06-17-2009, 02:27 PM

Thanks, I was thinking of seeing a GP as well. I know a lot about anxiety - fight or flight, adrenalin etc. etc. But I just can't get it under control.

I do find that doing things more often I get less nervous about doing them but every time I do something new it's just horrible.

fo shizzle · #4 06-17-2009, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dvh

Sorry to hear all that.

I'd recommend seeing a conventional Doctor as well - not just a homeopath. You need more than just that one opinion.

What he said. Resist the temptation to self-medicate. There are drugs available that will help you a bunch. Hopefully, the counselor can put you in touch with a therapist.

Good luck....... I'll be thinking of you.....

Nappa · #5 06-17-2009, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asa Samuel

Basically I suffer from extreme anxiety, not your average getting a little nervous. I get pins n needles in my hands, start feeling sick, huge adrenalin rushes and it's really getting in the way, I get like this even just going on the bus into town, don't go out a lot even with my gf so I'm seeing a homoeopath and a counsellor tomorrow and I'm hoping they can help me get it under control, although I feel really nervous going to see them even know I know they can help.

Does anybody else suffer from anything similar? What have you found has helped you keep things under control?

Asa.

My anxiety issues are not nearly as bad as yours.Though they are to the point where I cannot express myself (vocally or mentally) in public even among friends and/or friends without getting a weird feeling like standing next to something that could kill you.

Asa Samuel · #6 06-17-2009, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fo shizzle

What he said. Resist the temptation to self-medicate. There are drugs available that will help you a bunch. Hopefully, the counselor can put you in touch with a therapist.

Good luck....... I'll be thinking of you.....

I have had a look at sedatives, but I would only want to use them if nothing else worked, I would rather keep as much of my original personality as possible.

Yeah, I'm going for a chat with them tomorrow (the homoeopath and the counsellor are husband and wife) about what would be a good route to follow.

blueskid · #7 06-17-2009, 08:29 PM

cymbalta and klonipin work for me...usually
that and therapy
do not start the process of buying a house, that will make it worse.
and if you smoke pot, stop, that only makes it worse too
yoga helps, or any physical activity really
and fish, i can watch them for hours and it is so relaxing and nice
good luck, sever anxiety is awful

WickedPissah · #8 06-17-2009, 08:39 PM

I used to. Then for un-related reasons, I took myself off Ritalin. Soon after, the anxiety went away.

funkalicious101 · #9 06-17-2009, 08:48 PM

Yeah.

Ericman197 · #10 06-17-2009, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asa Samuel

I have had a look at sedatives, but I would only want to use them if nothing else worked, I would rather keep as much of my original personality as possible.

Yeah, I'm going for a chat with them tomorrow (the homoeopath and the counsellor are husband and wife) about what would be a good route to follow.

Neither antidepressants nor anxiolytics will change your personality in any significant way. If you are passive aggressive, you will continue to be so. If you are very charitable, you will continue to be so. If you are terrified of interacting with people - that is a mood trait, not a personality trait - medications may help you with that. But you won't become Mr. Popular overnight either. If you really dislike the outdoors, opera, animals, medications won't force you to like them - but medications may 'open new doors,' so to say, because you will suddenly no longer be afraid. If you really like cars, carpentry, or philosophy, medications won't change that.

Despite what some may say about the 'horrible' side effects and withdrawal of antidepressants, I guarantee you that they are not that bad. For anxiety you might be put on a low dose of an SSRI or SNRI, and you may be given a benzodiazapine for occasional use to stop panic attacks. Once you get used to it (antidepressants take weeks and weeks to really start working), the antidepressant won't have much of an effect on your life unless you suffer from bad side effects - and just as with any medication, talk to your doctor about it, and you and him will decide whether to stop the medication, keep going, or switch to another. For lack of any better common substance to compare them to, benzodiazapines are a bit like alcohol. They'll calm you down, and your actions, ability to drive, etc. may be affected. But because of that (and their tendency to be abused - many find them fun), they should be used only occasionally, or under whatever guidelines your doctor gives you (sometimes a daily dose is given, but this is generally avoided due to issues of dependence/withdrawal).

whoatherechunk · #11 06-18-2009, 02:41 AM

i take cymbalta. been a life saver for me...but i'd like to get off it.

**MAJOR METAL** · #12 06-18-2009, 02:55 AM

I have found graduate level writting to be a great source of anxiety for myself. I have taken such a beating on my writting abilites with little criticism of the content of my research, that every time I sit to write a graduate paper, it feels like there is a loaded gun to my head. You can only take so many hits in Grad School. Its only school and at the end of the day life is still beautiful and precious, wow I actually said that. Try focusing on the love people have for you when you enter your anxiety.

Asa Samuel · #13 06-18-2009, 06:27 AM

Just an update, I went to see the homoeopath today and he was really nice, I've been given a remedy and feel ok at the moment, just a bit nervous about going out tomorrow to my gf's art exhibition.

I felt really bad this morning and was sick but I calmed down once I got there.

Things are looking up I guess.

bmc · #14 06-18-2009, 07:06 AM

St. John's Wart.

dvh · #15 06-18-2009, 12:42 PM

**Eric Perry** · #16 06-18-2009, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ericman197

Neither antidepressants nor anxiolytics will change your personality in any significant way. If you are passive aggressive, you will continue to be so. If you are very charitable, you will continue to be so. If you are terrified of interacting with people - that is a mood trait, not a personality trait - medications may help you with that. But you won't become Mr. Popular overnight either. If you really dislike the outdoors, opera, animals, medications won't force you to like them - but medications may 'open new doors,' so to say, because you will suddenly no longer be afraid. If you really like cars, carpentry, or philosophy, medications won't change that.

Despite what some may say about the 'horrible' side effects and withdrawal of antidepressants, I guarantee you that they are not that bad. For anxiety you might be put on a low dose of an SSRI or SNRI, and you may be given a benzodiazapine for occasional use to stop panic attacks. Once you get used to it (antidepressants take weeks and weeks to really start working), the antidepressant won't have much of an effect on your life unless you suffer from bad side effects - and just as with any medication, talk to your doctor about it, and you and him will decide whether to stop the medication, keep going, or switch to another. For lack of any better common substance to compare them to, benzodiazapines are a bit like alcohol. They'll calm you down, and your actions, ability to drive, etc. may be affected. But because of that (and their tendency to be abused - many find them fun), they should be used only occasionally, or under whatever guidelines your doctor gives you (sometimes a daily dose is given, but this is generally avoided due to issues of dependence/withdrawal).

What he said.