Anxiety

Anxiety is a dreadful condition that to me is best explained as a sort of fuzzy veil between the sufferer and everything they do. I believe the right tablets take the edge off it and enable the sufferer to sort of drill down to what is causing the particular attack being suffered.
2gether (works with NHS) runs courses in groups and one to one. I attended the group course and was surprised at the amount of people who suffer. Listening to other people's experiences was part of the treatment to cope with it.
It was explained to me that everyone suffers from anxiety on a scale of "0" to "unable to function". I did not realise that panic attacks take so many different forms. I thought my patchy flashing lights and loss of vision was migraine but on analysing when it happens etc realised it was mainly anxiety.

Hang on in there Borogirl49. You truly can get this under control. I am glad you are seeing a professional. Take care.

My daughter was on the tube following the one that was blown up on 7/7 and since then has not been able to go on the tube. She's OK with trains but has panic attacks at the thought of the tube stopping between stations. She tried to travel on the tube once when taking me back to Kings Cross but the anxiety she suffered and tried to control, was heatbreaking.

She doesn't think it has anything to do with the 7/7 attack as it started 6 months afterwards but I think it was a delayed reaction.

She's had some therapy as she found it difficult to go on an aeroplane too but she's managed to get herself through that, and as she doesn't have to go via tube, (she uses buses and overland trains) it doesn't impinge on her life too much. Horrible to see the effect it has though.

I do sympathise with anyone who suffers from anxiety or panic attacks, I've had short term effects if I've had to do anything out of my comfort zone but once things are back to normal, I'm OK. Phew.

Your poor daughter mischief I can't imagine what that must of been like I agree with you soldiers get delayed reactions years after conflict hope with time it eases to everyone who suffers with anxiety I am sending hug ?

I have had mild anxiety for years. It was truly dreadful just before I retired early from teaching as the years of stress and pressure were pushing me towards a breakdown and ill health. I lead a quiet, calm, solitary, orderly life now away from any real clamour and I am a different person. I used to get the horrors and the shakes first thing in the morning.

Now, four years on, I am still anxious in the mornings and have disturbing dreams at night. I have panic attacks in shops and when I spend large amounts of money. However, it's nothing like as bad as it was and I can calm myself down and be rational about things. I wasn't the only teacher to be like this. My (male) head of department was on medication for his anxiety and retired after a total stress-breakdown in his car.

Borogirl49. Hope you have seen your GP and are feeling a little better.

Sympathy to all you suffering, too many to mention by name. I find swimming and line dancing help me. Sometimes I wake up panicky in the night and sometimes just lie there but if I can get up and take a melatonin it sometimes helps me get to sleep again, that and a breaking exercise. I buy my melatonin, 3mg, from www.eurovital.com. I'm also trying to eat more foods rich in tryptophan which the body converts to melatonin.

I have suffered anxiety in the past and had to be hospitalised for Acute anxiety and depression with constant panic attacks, when I was 30. I was in hospital for 2 weeks and on medication for a long time.
Since then ( I am now 62) I have been free of any medication. I read lots of books on anxiety and did lots of self help exercises.
Nowadays I do suffer from Health anxiety. The slightest thing wrong has me in a panic about having something deadly.

My doctor told me to take an antidepressant when I came off my HRT recently, but I refused because I did not feel it necessary unless I had symptoms.
Anxiety is horrible and you feel so alone. I always felt guilty too because of the effect it had on my family.

I have had anxiety to a greater or lesser degree all my life, at one time I couldn't go on a motorway without having a panic attack and having to pull onto the hard shoulder; at the moment I am overtired, and, this sounds so ridiculous to me as I write in daylight (just) but when the central heating has been on and the house is cooling down at night, the floorboards upstairs creek and, sitting downstairs, it sounds just like someone walking about upstairs. At my worst, I am afraid to go to bed even if I have been up earlier (before it got dark) and looked in all the rooms, cupboards and under the beds!
And don't ask me what I'm like as a passenger in a car, I have to sit on my hands and make a huge effort so that I don't upset the driver!
Sometimes I take rescue remedy, I think having an active life as mentioned above - line dancing, swimming, working out, yoga, walking in a park or countryside, etc helps, or at keast walk around the block a fewvtimes. A dog or cat would probably help, (as would a kind, very patient partner ?). Mindfulness should help - living in the moment ie don't worry about what might happen until/unless it actually does!
For menopause symptoms there are some good herbal remedies if your doctor gives the ok. If you can concentrate well enough, read a light novel, or watch a good film, or play some catchy music and dance, or some soothing music and doze. Eat chocolate, almonds, berries, wholegrain and avoid coffee, alcohol and fatty foods.
You are not alone in what you feel.

One thing that helps me more than anything else is a visit from my 3 year old great grand daughter .She just lifts me out of myself, and makes me feel on top of the world

I completely sympathise. I suffered from anxiety and depression for years, despite changes of meds and various useless therapies. That's not to say though that they wouldn't work for someone else. I must have been an awkward customer (at least that's what Croydon ITPS had me believe)

However....with a lovely psychiatrist and another change of meds I finally began to feel better than I had in years. I was prescribed escitalopram (can't take citalopram because of interaction with migraine meds, but for some reason this one is OK, with caution). And like another poster, I take pregabalin - but for anxiety. This has worked so well that I don't even need the minimum therapeutic dose, leading me to wonder whether it's the meds or something else! However, I don't want to rock the boat and intend to stay on them for the forseeable future. It's wonderful to wake up with my stomach NOT churning or to enjoy little things in life. I never thought I would again.
I'm not under any illusions though: it might return, but in the meantime, I'm appreciating the respite. I do get worse days - today I'm feeling rather down, and I still bite my nails and worry about things, especially driving, which I recognise from inishowens post - but it doesn't ruin my life any more.

So please persevere - change meds, give them a chance, work on optimum doseage. Mindfulness meditation helps, though probably not as a 'cure' and it's not a magic bullet any more than any other strategy.
So pleased you've got plenty of support on here. Keep posting.

My son and his partner gave me the full CD set of Dads Army for my birthday. They never fail to to make me laugh, and act as a tonic for anxiety! A visit from my eight year old grandson has the same effect!!

I have always suffered from slight anxiety, I always just put it down to being a worrier in general but actually now anxiety is being talked about more and more I'm certain that's what it is. The worst is when I have to take medication, I can't swallow tablets. I become increasingly worried about this and knew that I had to find different options. Especially if I was to look into taking medication for my worries, it's simply just not an option at current. Does anyone else suffer from this? I get an extremely dry mouth and tense feeling in my chest. So far this is the only real in depth information I have come across: www.rosemontpharma.com/patients/swallowing-difficulties

I can't swallow tablets either, since one got stuck in my throat about 30 years ago. I'm fine with crunching them, but of course it can be dangerous to do this with certain medications.

My GP is as helpful as is possible, although sometimes reluctant to prescribe a liquid alternative as they tend to be more expensive. I've never found a problem in hospital though, they seem to be much more accepting of those who really can't swallow tablets, no matter how small.

I think I might have become too lazy to suffer from anxiety anymore. I just cba.

Mmm, Jings Its hard work worrying. Whateva.

I've always been mildly anxious. Do you think it runs in families? I remember my dad being extremely anxious. It got worse as he got older. I've mostly managed. The best piece of advice I was ever given was at the first signs stop what your doing, try to slow your breathing. Tell yourself over and over, "nothing terrible is going to happen this is just a feeling, not a fact, just a feeling nothing terrible is going to happen" It sounds silly but it really helped me. For me there is some truth in what jinglebellsfrocks is saying as I get older I too just cba. All this is very different if you actually do have somthing to be anxious about. If that's the case then I think anxiety is a normal reaction to an abnormal situation. Naturally anxious people are often 'good listeners' and have empathy with those in similar situations don't you find?

Thanks again for all your support..Iampersevering and following all advice but still very down and anxious at the moment .Ijust want to feel peaceful borogirl

Hi borogirl. Good to hear you are able to follow advice given, that in its self takes motivation.
Sorry to hear you are still feeling low.
I hope you will find some peace soon

Upthread, you said that you dont have anything to worry about. Can I ask what thoughts do go through your head? I presume practising ignoring them doesnt work?

I've always been a worrier as is my elder son - we have joked that sometimes we worry about not having anything to worry about! Neither of us have anything like the problems some of you are describing, and my heart goes out to you.

However, for those who are 'milder' worriers, I have noticed that my level of worrying goes up the more tired I am - and I've sometimes used an increase in worrying (often about really stupid things) as a sign that I'm getting overtired. I've also adopted some aspects of mindfulness (sorry to those who've just groaned - which I'm sure includes jingl). I now try to remember: don't worry about things which happened in the past - they are over and you can't do anything about them so try and forget; don't worry about things in the future - they often don't happen and if they do are usually never as bad as you fear; just enjoy the moment you're in. Just a more elegant way of saying CBA?

Anxiety...low mood etc are not things we bring on ourselves .....being a pessimist rather than an optimist is somehow inbred and very hard to change, either way. I have spent my whole life trying to overcome anxiety
And for me it has increased to a horrendous level now that I am older, with all the health problems that I have. Some people seem to cope so well...

They say that anxiety can be an effect of constantly being let down, not made to feel independant when a youth.

I too suffer with appalling anxiety .. have done for over 30 years...but I have managed never to let it conquer me . Mine is all health related ... suffering with chronic pain and heart troubles both of which create anxiety, and the anxiety in turn makes the pain worse....no win situation. I have learnt that I must pace myself and relax and tell myself no harm is going to come to me. I really thought that by now (mid 60s) I would have grown up...and out ... of these awful anxious feelings....but no. If anything I am worse. But, I do try to make the most of each and every day .. do as much as I am able to ... my husband is ever supportive thank heavens...I have 3 gorgeous dogs whom I love dearly.....and 5 wonderful grandkids who keep us on our toes. I have much to be thankful for........but always lurking in the background are those "what if" thoughts . I truly sympathise with each and every one who has written on here ... whatever our circumstances , anxiety and depression can be so debilitating.

Borogirl49, are you still suffering anxiety?

I am still suffering anxiety and sometimes the side effects of the tablets make it worse.I am under a specialest team . So I hope that finally I may find peace.I have suffered with anxiety for over 20 years.