[Help] Anxiety

[Eric Youngs Contact Lense]

Yes.
Recently been told I’ve got GAD.
After many blood tests to discount anything else.
I often get hand shakes and inner body vibrations.
Also really bad depression
I have a lot on my plate and need to get rid of some of these.
He’s tried me on meds but I felt so ill, I stopped them

Sounds like a lot to deal with. You have made a start, so please keep it going. If you have stopped meds, make sure you have checked with your GP 1st and explained how they are making you feel.. stopping starting can be tricky to handle and there will probably be other alternatives that maybe don't have the same side-effects, and are available to you having tried the first ones.

 

[Kosh]

Sorry to read the op message, great to see the usual supportive nsc response.

Ultimately anxiety nearly cost me my job, my marriage... I sought out counselling, which was the best thing I ever did.

It got me through all of the above, got me back playing football and believing in myself... one of the most important messages I heard was this:

When you imagine these worse case scenarios, how many times does it actually end up being that bad? Hardly ever... I found it useful to write down my worries and later the actual outcome... there it was in front of me, the reality that my brain could see and thus my journey to a revelation was started.

I see people who seemingly have zero anxiety, I watch them with envy but I find being slightly humble is no bad thing either...

Good luck with it all.

 

[BBassic]

Counselling really helped me. I didn't seek out counselling for anxiety specifically but it was something we ended up working on.

Beyond that I can only echo what others have said:

Exercise
Eat well
Sleep (if you struggle sleeping something that helped me was setting a "switch off" time for anything with a screen - no screens after 9pm for example)
Practice mindfulness

My other half is a psychologist and she sometimes says to me, usually in jest when I'm doing something I don't want to do, to "tolerate the distress". On the face of it it sounds like a flippant "oh just get on with it" thing to say but I've found as a bit of a mantra it has helped me with things.

Hope you feel better, NSC is always here.

 

[Solid at the back]

Another vote for propranolol, I couldn't leave the house in at start of Feb because of the Coronavirus, doctor wanted to put me on anti depressants, but I said I wanted to try these, I can't tell you how much these have helped me

 

[zefarelly]

Music . . . . I can go to rehearsals/practice and the second we start playing I don't think of anything else. likewise listening to good music can be the perfect escape.

I agree with BBasic . . .screens and what they throw at you are not good way to end the day.

The LAdybird mindfulness book is very good ;-)

 

[brightn'ove]

I have struggled with anxiety and panic disorder for the past few years. Good on you for looking for help.

The things that really helped me were: Propranolol (this is a good starting point, but I believe all it really does is delay your anxiety until a time when it wears off.), Talking Therapy & Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (this actually got down to the root causes of the anxiety I was suffering, why it caused certain symptoms, and helped me to overcome them whenever they come on), and Sertaline (An anti depressant, but low dose can treat anxiety and panic disorder - this had the biggest impact for me and has all but wiped out my anxiety and panic attacks.)

As others have said, speak to your GP and self refer to talking therapy services.

These are hard times, I wish you all the best.

 

[marlowe]

Related trivia: Sir James Whyte Black was me mum's cousin. She just casually dropped it into the conversation a few years back. I guess what with there being so many Nobel Prize winners in the family it probably slipped her mind

More related trivia: Did it also slip her mind that there's a portrait of her cousin in the National Portrait Gallery, what with there being so many portraits of your relatives hanging in there...
https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw09429/Sir-James-Whyte-Black

 

[Eric the meek]

Well done for being so open about it. I would also echo many of the things people have already said - breathing, exercise, (gardening is brilliant to take your mind off things), watch the booze (it's not the answer), consult your GP, who may refer you to a specialist or point you where to go. Perhaps as a first step, you could google 'Mind.org.uk anxiety' if you haven't already done so. Have you considered Vitamin B, timed release? Google 'does vitamin b help with anxiety'. It does. Good luck. If you feel up to it, let us know how you get on.

 

[mrjon1976]

Hi.
Not sure if this will help, but I'm 44 and was diagnosed with depression and anxiety a few years ago having had 2 nervous breakdowns. You have my every sympathy as it is a hidden illness - am a very insular and socially awkward person at the best of times, but anxiety makes it all 10 times worse.
I was prescribed medication but am no longer taking it as I felt it made little difference. I don't drink or take drugs, but found that I effectively self-medicated with cigarettes, which I know isnt ideal. All of the responses are excellent on here, but what works for one may not work for someone else. The issue I had with my GP was that I felt he wasn't taking me seriously - had a breakdown in front of him and just got prescribed tablets. I know they are only doing their job, but was made to feel silly for reaching out. I have contacted the Samaritans before when I have found my anxiety to be overwhelming (which is quite often). Rather than bombard you with advice, if you feel like you are drowning in your thoughts, just reach out to someone, whether that is by phone or face to face. I have found out that there are more people than you think who suffer with anxiety in one form or another. And my PMs are open if you wanted to chat further.

 

[bhanutz]

Great shout for being open about it and asking. NSC is often great for giving advice on these types of things - I will try and explain my thoughts but others will do it far far better.

In short - I am exactly the same. I have found that it has been far worse over the last 6 months or so while I have been at home. I especially agree about after a big weekend; I am the sort that will start to panic that I have gone all the way from upsetting someone to being involved in a riot. If I hear a police siren on the Monday I will assume it is coming to arrest me. Now, the weirdest thing about this - I have never been in a fight in my life and I am not aggressive. It is difficult to explain but I then end up going totally introverted and avoiding the people I went out with for the fear they will laugh at me or say I did something stupid. As a result of the anxiety I will forget pretty much the whole evening/night. This then impacts all walks of life for a week or so. In terms of dealing with it - I keep a little diary on my phone when having a night out, where I am, what we have been doing, funny events that we will discuss later. It helps so much and also helps me regulate what I drink when it starts to get a little difficult to type. It also helps to find the other person/people in the group that feel similar and will join you in a tactical water every now and then.

I will also find it about nearly anything in life, I will over think and get to the worst possible scenario, this often happens when I am trying to go to sleep. I recently cut out any caffeine after 1pm. It has made a massive difference in getting to sleep quickly, that has then helps me to think straight the next day.

Another great thing has been exercise. I will try and go for an hour or so walk at least 5 times a week. I will chuck an audio book on and it helps to escape for a bit and stop thinking about bits I may be anxious about. Once I am back and have taken that time out I find it a lot easier to think straight.

Other things I have found are just being honest with people, like you have here. I will tell me mates when I am anxious about something and we will look at ways to make it a little easier. I never thought my mates would be like that but turns out they pretty much all feel the same and it has helped to just discuss it.

OMG - We must be twins.. I suffer exactly this... Convince myself I have done something horrendous even though I know I would never do it... Beer Fear is the worst but I can't stop my nights out!

Propanolol also helps me!

 

[DJ NOBO]

Good Morning all,

I just wanted to come on here and ask if anyone on here suffers from Anxiety and how you get your way through it?

I’ve been finding myself lately making up scenarios in my head and playing them over so much it almost seems real. I’ve not left the house since Tuesday because of it. Usually it doesn’t last this long but now I’m wondering if it’s going to stop.

Sometimes after a heavy night/weekends drinking can cause it to be worse as well.

All the best!

You’ve taken the first step, just to recognise it.
You now need to ask yourself how much you want to help yourself.
That means looking at Your lifestyle.
Are you willing to exercise, stop the boozy nights, change diet, less screen time?
That would ease your anxiety.
Although , to be fair, I don’t drink, cut out caffeine, and exercise and still get anxiety!

 

[Doc Lynam]

https://books.google.co.uk/books/ab...=frontcover&source=kp_read_button&redir_esc=y

 

[Palacefinder General]

You’ve taken the first step, just to recognise it.
You now need to ask yourself how much you want to help yourself.
That means looking at Your lifestyle.
Are you willing to exercise, stop the boozy nights, change diet, less screen time?
That would ease your anxiety.
Although , to be fair, I don’t drink, cut out caffeine, and exercise and still get anxiety!

Agreed, I suffer with social anxiety/anxiety and cutting out caffeine, getting great sleep and taking regular exercise, of which I do a lot, all make bugger all difference either way. Good luck OSR, just find what works for you, tweak it, adapt it and you’ll get there.

 

[Paul Reids Sock]

OMG - We must be twins.. I suffer exactly this... Convince myself I have done something horrendous even though I know I would never do it... Beer Fear is the worst but I can't stop my nights out!

Propanolol also helps me!

So glad that I am not the only one! I felt like an idiot doing a little diary at first but it is so simple. On the hour just add an extra note on my mobile. Amazing how easy it is to then remember the night.

 

[The Optimist]

I’ve been finding myself lately making up scenarios in my head and playing them over so much it almost seems real.

Are the scenarios things you fear might happen or things you start to convince yourself have happened, even although you know they haven’t? It’s just if it’s the later then it might be OCD.

 

[bhanutz]

So glad that I am not the only one! I felt like an idiot doing a little diary at first but it is so simple. On the hour just add an extra note on my mobile. Amazing how easy it is to then remember the night.

Started doing exactly the same thing... things like...left this pub and went to that pub.. all ok and having a good laugh! lol...amazing how it helps!

 

[OSRGull]

Are the scenarios things you fear might happen or things you start to convince yourself have happened, even although you know they haven’t? It’s just if it’s the later then it might be OCD.

Exactly although I don’t know if I did say anything. I think it’s cos I’m worried about blurting something out to someone.

 

[OSRGull]

I really appreciate everyone’s comments and feedback, thank you everyone.

I went to my local gym this morning to sign up, I did so well over lockdown losing 2 stone by exercising and not drinking.

 

[Berty23]

Some really good stuff in here.

This is slightly different to the anxiety mentioned and fortunately for me mine wasn’t as bad, but A few years ago I read a book that helped me think about things differently. It was supposed to be slightly tongue in cheek I think but it has helped. I think it was called “how to give less of f u c k” or something like that. Essentially it says we only have so many effs to give so save them up. If anything it led to me saying “no” to more things than I ever would have done before.

I used to get anxious about a night out with people I didn’t know. I didn’t want to go, I didn’t want to spend my money on going, I was worried about the social aspect etc but I would always say yes and then worry and worry before the night came. So I am now much better at saying “no”

Obviously I don’t go about saying no to everything but it has really helped me out. Generally it is social things but I was also leant on to take on a team at work but said no. I felt so much better. Recently pulled out of buying a house because I was worried about the extra debt etc.

We only have so many D(f)ucks to give so use them wisely.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Propranolol might help. Its a prescription drug but unlike anti depressants you can take it as and when you need it, you don't have to take it every day. I've had the same packet for over a year. I last took one a couple of weeks ago. They do seem to help.

Trivia: Just discovered: the scientist who developed it James W Black won the Nobel Prize for Medicine.

I was given a propranolol when I gave a presentation when I did my PhD. My supervisor was interested to see if it stopped me waving my arms about and lurching around on the stage. It did, But I gave the most dull presentation of my life, and got no questions at the end. An experiment I have not repeated.

Dart players used to take propranolol. Steadies the arm. Banned now as performance enhancing. Weirdly this is a blanket ban in sport. A footballer taking propranolol for cardiovascular disease would certainly not be performance enhanced as the drug reduces exercise capacity (by blocking the increase in cardiac output that is triggered by and an essential response to exercise).

Propranolol blocks the beta1 adrenoceptor meaning the flight fright fight reflexes don't work. The heart rate does not race when you feel anxious. Oddly this results in not feeling anxious (as the initial trigger ordinarily builds a response as the body feels the reaction, via a positive feedback, and this is blocked).

I was at a pharmacology meeting in 86 and was chatting with an old pal (bloke 20 years my senior) and another bloke (who my pal seemed to know) joined in. Red faced jovial jock. We had a great ranting session for 20 minutes, bemoaning the stupidity of people who don't understand the dose response relationship or some such. Eventially my pal said, 'oh, let me introduce you: this is Jimmy Black'. I had one of those '**** me' moments as Black was a hero of mine. Then, after a qhick handshake, we carried on where we left off . Black didn't just invent propranolol, he also invented cimedidine. And his middle name is.....Whyte. Leeds, through and through?

Back to the OP, I am not medically qualified so I wish you all the best. Do go to your GP and seek a referral. I would avoid taking anxiolytics. If you see the doc and are prescribed drugs do please PM me. Not all GPs know enough about drugs to make the best choices, and the 'medical model' can be the lazy way forward (and I say that as a drug research specialist).