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Q for those with anxiety issues
I'm kind of nervous about posting this in "public," and considered using my alias, but decided that would be cowardly, especially if I'm soliciting advice from others. Please be gentle.
I'm normally a pretty emotional person, but I had another weird freak out this weekend. For some reason, this episode made me start thinking that perhaps it's not normal to get so upset, start shrieking and feel like my brain is short-circuiting. It's not like I'm anxious to be diagnosed or get doped up, or even use a disorder as an excuse to behave like a total ass. I just had an epiphany after Freakout #53 that I'm not happy this way and I should do something about it. I've had years of hearing my H tell me to calm down and wanting to tear his head off every time. I feel like I physically can't calm down.
Is it time to see a professional? Money's tight and I don't want to spend money on co-pays just to hear someone tell me I need to breathe and then count to 10.
TIA. I value all suggestions.
Re: Q for those with anxiety issues
Sounds a lot like panic. I used to have panic issues as a teenager, and was treated very successfully with meds. I didn't need it forever, and after about a year and a half, my doses were tapered till I didn't need them anymore. I haven't had a panic attack in 9 years, though I do sometimes still have some generalized anxiety, especially in social situations.
Good luck. It's definitely treatable.
Yep! I would definetely takl to someone. I have been dealing with anxiety for awhile now, and I have found a few ways to deal without meds, but when I was on them they helped A LOT.
Getting off of hormonal BC helped me a lot too.
I was diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder, which may be exaserbated by the fact that I have PCOS and my horomones are all screwy too. So you may want to ask to have your thyroid and horomone levels checked as those can influence anxiety levels.
The general rule of thumb is if it is interfering with your normal day to day activities, it is not OK. If you feel like your quality of life is affected by anxiety, then by all means speak to someone about it. It's such a treatable problem that you should not suffer with it.
I agree with the pp who mentioned BCPs - I have a mom with major depressive/bipolar disorder, and when I started having depressive symptoms I was terrified. It turned out that a major culprit was my tricyclic birth control pills. I switched to monophasic and felt much better.
Elizabeth
I am a runner, knitter, scientist, DE-IVF veteran, and stage III colon cancer survivor.
I'm sorry you're having to deal with this.
Just to offer up a free suggestion, since money is tight: Meditation is great for helping with anxiety. Meditation triggers the parasympathetic nervous system, which slows down the body and counteracts the "fight or flight" response triggered in stressful situations by the sympathetic nervous system.
Might be worth a try -- even some deep breathing can help. Try to inhale on a count of four, and exhale on a count of five. Focus on making the exhale longer than the inhale.
Here's a few more words on it.
During meditation, the parasympathetic system ? the ?rest and digest? part of the autonomic nervous system responsible for relaxation, such as slowing down the heart rate and respiratory rate ? is activated. With relaxation comes a decreased level of cortisol ? a stress hormone that, if present over a long period of time, suppresses the immune system, increases blood pressure, and a myriad of other things that aren?t good for us in large quantities. This makes sense, since other studies have shown that meditation actually improves the immune system function.
I'm not the world's best meditator, but I'm working on it, and I've found it helps with both mental and physical stress symptoms. There are often free meditation classes around, which might be worth checking out, while you figure out if seeking professional help is within your budget.
Hope that helps!
Thanks everyone, for all your suggestions and well wishes. I'm going to print this out for myself.
Jumping in late but I wanted to say that I see people for anxiety all the time and there are various treatments (medications and non-medication) that can really help.
Anxiety can be SO painful. If you are really suffering, don't wait! I agree with a previous poster that your primary doctor may be a good place to start. But, in my experience, medication alone can be extremely helpful but is rarely the whole answer. So look in to therapy or try some of the other gal's helpful suggestions.
I tend to be "high strung" and I guess I tend to freak out too. My deal is that I hold things in when they bother me until I get to the point where I literally explode. Sometimes when H and I are arguing I literally feel like I might have a heart attack. My pulse races, my hands shake, and I physically cannot come back from feeling like I want to break something.
I mentioned this to two people in the last few months and they suggested I talk to someone too. I can't though. I started keeping a journal. I don't know if it is helping, but sometimes it makes me feel better. I got a massage book on self massage as well.
I don't know if what I am talking about is the same as what you go through, but I just wanted to share what I do when I freak out.
BTW....I never considered that a panic attack. Is that what they are, or is my deal more an anger mgt. issue?