2 week anxiety

[Anxietyprone]

Over the past 10 years I've suffered on off with severe anxiety spells. They generally last 2 to 3 weeks. Weeks filled with the weirdest. Tightest chest, can't eat can't think straight for more then 2 mins and fear the absolute worst. I know it eventually settles but I want to start looking at underlying issues and other methods of getting on top of this? Has or.does anyone suffer similar

[Anxietyprone]

Also this is my first post 🙂

[White_Rose]

Dear Anxietyprone

Hello and welcome to the forum. This is a good place to talk about those things that bother you and you will find many others have similar difficulties to yours.

I don't want to sound like a mental health expert as I am not. My comments are based on my experiences and observations. The symptoms you describe sound similar to mine when I am having a panic attack. Panic attacks do not last for two weeks but the anxiety they engender can affect us for some time afterwards. I hate that feeling of of dread that seems to paralyse me both physically and emotionally or psychologically. Tight chest, unable to breathe, sometimes nausea, and utter dread.

The worst part is that I have no idea why I am afraid. Even at the time it's happening I cannot think of something that is so dreadful. Even less afterwards. Sadly for us and many others, this is a common occurrence. I hope this gives you some reassurance that you are not the only person in these situations. It did help me to know both what was happening and that it was not just me that was weird. Does that make sense?

It sounds like a great idea to discover the cause of these episodes. There are a number of threads on the forum which you may find helpful. Look at the threads in this (Anxiety) forum and see what others have said. You can join in these conversations, ask questions and offer support. There is also a thread on the Welcome and Orientation forum which has the same title as your thread, Panic attacks.

Also look under The Facts at the top of the page and navigate to anxiety. There is an anxiety checklist, K10, which is a general questionnaire about your anxiety. It's not a diagnostic tool but can give an indication of the severity of your anxiety. There is also other information about anxiety.

I suggest you see your GP and discuss what is happening with him/her. If you complete the K10 form take it with you. Your GP may suggest seeing a psychologist to get to the cause of your anxiety and will arrange for you to have a mental health plan. Medication may be an option but not necessarily so.

You asked for suggestions to manage this. There are ideas in the other posts. My way is to imagine myself in a boat floating down the stream. The stream is gentle and the boat floats on. On the bank I can see my anxiety which I imagine as a black prickly ball. It's jumping up and down in rage but cannot reach me in the boat. I float past.

Love to hear from you again.

Mary

[Anxietyprone]

Thanks for your reply mary. Its great to know we are not alone.

Your correct in that it does feel like a panic attack that never quiet eventuates.

The fear and weird thoughts and tight chest today are full on. I have been on and off medication and back on a week ago when this started again. I know it takes a while for the medication to kick in

[Betternow]

Hello Anxietyprone.

I too suffer from anxiety with mild panic and agoraphobia symptoms. It’s no fun but the good news is that it can be managed with a bit of effort but you’ll almost certainly need the guidance of a trained health professional.

White Rose’s advice about reading the threads and general facts provided by BB is a great place to start. When you realise how common Anxiety is but everyday thousands of Australians are successfully managing their condition it will give you confidence.

In my experience, it is rare to be able to pinpoint a life event that triggers the origin of your anxiety. In fact, when I have been treated, the professionals focus on teaching you the skills to manage (not defeat) your anxiety, rather than chasing something that may not be relevant.

Your GP is the gateway to receive psychological assistance, Medicare will cover some of the costs. Good luck Anxietyprone.

[Anxietyprone]

Thanks for reaching out betternow. Today I'm about day 8 of my normal 2 to 3 week long spell and back on medication so hopefully that kicks in soon

Can I ask, you mentioned you have seen a professional for help, was it a psychologist? Did you find it worth while. I went to one many years ago and all they really did was give me flyers on different methods.

[Betternow]

My GP referred me to a clinic in Adelaide. It is organised by ADELAIDE University and staffed by both Psychiatrists and Psychologists. My treatment involved both Psychiatrist and Psychologist (not at the same time of course).

I would be surprised if there was not similar public psychological services in other states. There is usually a wait list (4 to 10 weeks). Check online or hopefully other readers of these posts can advise.

And yes, I found it very helpful.

[Anxietyprone]

Thank you so much for the info. I might try and look them up as I to am SA.

Its great to hear you found it helpful and that gives me hope.

I don't think we are allowed to discuss the exact clinic but are there any suggestions on what I could google search to find it

[White_Rose]

Hello Anxietyprone

Try looking up Adelaide University + mental health or similar references. You could also phone and ask them what's available. You can also ask your GP to find a suitable clinic especially if the clinic can swop you between psychologists and psychiatrists. Trying to make a choice between one sort of practitioner or another is probably not helpful as you can 'click' with one person and find it easier to talk regardless of their profession. They do operate in different ways.

You can also ask your GP to refer you to a psychiatrist for management of medication etc and also see a psychologist under a mental health plan. Often the psychiatrist can refer you to a suitable psychologist and they work together managing different aspects of your anxiety. It's always good to have a clear understanding of what each person can offer. Costs are a consideration unless you go through the public hospital system. That's OK if you see the same person but it's not always the case. Ask your GP about Medicare benefits or go and see/phone the Medicare people.

There is always hope as I have found. It can be quite a journey but the outcome is oh so worth it. Let us know how you are going.

Mary