topic Baseline in Anxiety

Baseline

Missy72 — Sat, 14 Mar 2020 10:24:14 GMT

In 2010 I had a very traumatic experience & from that had severe constant anxiety for about 9’months. It gradually went away. I was had never experienced anxiety before that. I was 38. I’m now 47 and last November went through some further trauma... and the anxiety came back, thick and fast. It’s now been with me for 4 months. My psychiatrist has told me that I have a good baseline and should recover & go back to normal anxiety levels.

Has anyone had this happen? I’m afraid that this extreme anxiety is my new life. I’ve worked really hard in my career and life to get where I am. I currently can’t work & am on sick leave. I’m seeing a psychologist weekly and am taking an antidepressant. I was hospitalised for 6 weeks as it was so bad...I was hospitalised the last time for about 4 months. I just need to know that my brain will find its way back to normal.

Baseline

Betternow — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 00:20:04 GMT

Hello Missy72

I'm so sorry to hear your dealing with this mid life anxiety. It can be very scary and unsettling, can’t it. Your psychiatrist has obviously assessed you as a person with bright prospects for recovery. That’s very encouraging.

I was 55 years old when I experienced by first real bout of anxiety. Like you, I had enjoyed a successful and fulfilling career and enjoyed the respect of my peers and friends. Then I experienced a rapid succession of difficult and emotional events. Both my parents died suddenly (my dog too), work life became stressful, we moved interstate twice over a twelve month period, away from friends and family and a few other negative events all combined to knock me off the rails.

I experienced panic disorder, agoraphobia and generalised anxiety. I was in a dark place.

However under the guidance of skilled clinicians I slowly rebuilt my sense of self. It took several years and it will always be a work in progress but it can be done. My advice is too work hard at practicing the therapies (don’t get lazy), and adhere to the medicines.

I really hope if you post here again, you can enlighten us to your progress (don’t be afraid of relapses, they are temporary but they will happen).

Baseline

Missy72 — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 09:16:54 GMT

Did it go away for you? I’m feeling very scared that this is the way it’s now going to be