Does anyone suffer from this? I never suffered it until a few years back and it's gotten a lot worse in that time. I don't know the best way to deal with it, I've been to see my doctor and she's given me these tabs, I've been on them for about 3/4 month now and noticed no difference. She upped my dosage last week, and I've yet to see a change. My moods have been really low, and I'm constantly very confrontational which isn't like me. I'm also constantly tired throughout the day and when it comes to night time I'm wide awake. Sick of feeling tired. I rarely want to go out anymore, I just want to lay in bed all day and do **** all. When I do end up going out, ie the town, I get hell of a nervous and start freaking out and shit. Thankfully my wife is with me all the time. I never go out on my own, I'm always with someone. When I go to the football, my brother comes with me and I had an panic attack at the game on Saturday. Ended up okay in the end, only lasted 10secs or so but it freaked me out. I've had to sell my Eminem tickets as well as I feel as if I would be a mess in the lead up to it as well. Not looking for sympathy as such, just looking for personal experiences on how to get rid of anxiety because it's taking over my life atm.
Sorry to hear that Andy. I'd like to offer help but can't say I've had the same experiences. Hope you take it steady and get back to enjoying the finer things in life ASAP.
If you don't mind my asking what meds are you on? I ask because I've been on two different meds and they have had different side-effects. Citalopram and Sertraline. Citalopram made me very tired even at standard 10mg and 20mg doses, it made me urinate a lot and eventually depressed my mood to the point that I had to switch. Sertraline is what I'm now on (100mg) and it has been much better for me personally. Few side-effects, stable mood and less anxiety. It does take 4 to 6 weeks to build up in your system and you are warned that in the early weeks the meds may actually make you feel worse. 3 to 4 months though seems a long time to me. You may want to speak to your GP about alternative medication. Also consider whatever counselling options exist in the NHS. For example in Liverpool it's called Talk Liverpool. Cognitive Behavourial Therapy (CBT) may benefit your anxiety as it did mine.
Yes got on the waiting list for counselling asap. It's better than any medication, and has long lasting effects after you finish, unlike meds. Also make as many people as possible aware about your condition as then they will not be caught unaware if you have a sudden panic attack. If you aren't sleeping that is probably feeding it more so do some research to help you sleep better (no caffeine etc).
Thanks for the reply mate, it was a low dosage of 10mg of citalopram I was on but they have increased that. I've tried councilling in the past on a few occasions, and it didn't seem to work. Either it was me or the just the associated person that was dealing with me. I think I've also developed a slight addiction to dehydrocodeine. If I don't take one of these before bed I start getting really agitated and angry. Only people that know are my wife, mother in law and my younger brother. They are the people i spend most of my time with. Thanks for the replies btw.
Sorry to hear that dude, must be a nightmare There are properties in cannabis that really help anxiety when it is vapourised at a certain temperature. It works very well so I've been told but not exactly legal unfortunately. As per Adams post as well, CBT can be beneficial in many cases. It just teaches you how to deal with the feeling. my daughter has severe anxiety due to a brain injury and she uses CBT
Thanks mate, you have my number anyway. I'm not the one for drugs mate, unfortunately. I've been told that in the past but I've never taken anything. I've actually never heard of CBT.
You tried talking to a professional Andy, really helped someone close to me who was suffering from depression and it was free help.
Sounds like your taking 'drugs' that don't work mate! It is illegal unfortunately but you'll find plenty of evidence that it works far better than what you are prescribed, and it is actually natural unlike manufactured drugs. Unfortunately there are people that have to risk criminalisation to have something that helps things like MS, Parkinson's, arthritis and anxiety, because the prescribed drugs don't seem to work very well yet still have side effects CBT are basically methods of coping with your anxiety. You would need to speak to a phycologist but by the sounds of it dude that would be really helpful. And there's no shame in getting the right help mate
It's possible that Citalopram is having the same effect it had on me. It sounds like it is anyway. The fatigue, persistent low mood, sleeping issues etc. I'd request an alternative medication. Every SSRI has a list of possible symptoms longer than your arm but Sertraline for me has been a great improvement on Citalopram. Lots of people have had negative reactions to it. I recommend CBT then. You say you've never heard of it so I'll offer some insight from my own experience. Basically I had half a dozen half-hour sessions, once a week with a counselor. You discuss what it is that makes you anxious, what specific situations (if any) you feel uncomfortable in, what goes through your mind etc. For me I was uncomfortable in social situations and in certain public areas. For example, I like many people did not like sitting at the front of the bus, particularly when facing everybody else. I would become self-conscious, agitated and overthink, assuming people were looking at me or judging me. The same at the cinema, I never liked being near the front where people could see me, but I couldn't see them, it made me very uncomfortable. These were common situations in your everyday life that I needed to deal with better as it can impact your self-esteem and confidence. So during my sessions, I discussed this with the counselor and we did mental exercises. I was encouraged to analyse my perceptions and thought processes, also to see things from the outside. Did it make any sense that people would all be staring at and judging me on the bus or in the cinema? Why would they do that? Do I have any evidence of anybody even doing that to me just once? Maybe I'm wrong? Asking yourself those questions, challenging your perceptions and talking about it with someone can help you overcome the problem. You are encouraged with CBT to face the situations that trouble you, not avoid them, it's an active therapy that is about action whereas talking therapy is more like talking for an hour with someone and reflecting. That's hopefully given you an idea of what CBT is all about. It may be a therapy that benefits your specific difficulties and is particularly useful when it comes to anxiety.
Thanks Adam, I will definitely speak to my GP when i go and and see in a few weeks. It sounds as if it will help me. I was okay until after my surgery, it's been since then that i never want to leave the house.
It could be a temporary problem that can be quickly resolved. No reason to believe that this is permanent. Especially if it can be traced back to a specific time and place. It's a bump in the road and CBT and perhaps different meds will maybe help you negotiate it.
Exposure therapy works best, but you can't do that alone because it takes time and frankly, support from people around you. If you do have that, count yourself lucky and slowly start putting yourself more and more into positions which give you anxiety and it will go down with the more practice you have.
Yeah i've getting support, but at the same time i don't want them to feel as if they need to help. I've agreed to go out for dinner and a drink with the wife tomorrow, sounded good at the time and now i cant be assed and dont wanna to it anymore.
To be honest Andy, it sounds more like depression you're suffering from? Or are you physically having panic attacks in certain situations thats making you "not assed"? not read the entire thread so forgive my ignorance. Anxiety is far more common than you think mate, been there myself.
It's a bit of both mate, I cba most of the time. I'm also worried when i go out incase my bag shows or leaks etc.
Andy even by just looking at the replies on this thread should give you an indication that people will be far more understanding about this than you probably realise.You give me the impression that you are ashamed of this and you should never be. Everyone, and I mean everyone, gets low at times. Even those that don't admit it. I think you would be surprised at how many people would offer you support. Also exercising can help. If you don't do much of that then maybe take yourself out for a walk or something. Even if the wife has to go with you. Best of luck to you though.
