dont know how much more i can take

[shenlee]

Iam in such a bad wayvwith my anxiety . Ive tried all the coping skills ive learned but to no avail at the moment. I think im pretty sure actually what is causing it. Ive had very bad pulsations in my left temple for 3months with the occasional pain. I put it down to a nasty sinus infection i had. But now my doctor seems concerned enough to send me for a MRI of my brain. He thinks it might be something vascular. Iam at my wits end with worry! Maybe its this maybe its that......What ifs. I cant sleep even on sleeping tablets, benzos and anti phsycotic meds. Im on antidepressants and am supposed to be increasing the dose but last time i went up i had bad blurred vision as a side effect for 11days. Iam creating so much tension in my head and have lost all control.       Shenlee

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[white knight]

Hi Shenlee,

Worry is non productive. It produces very little towards progress and positivity. But it creates a train wreck to your life.

So until you get your MRI or any other procedure that you fear, you should in addition to your doctors guidance, undertake some self help daily routines. These routines are best taught in relaxation classes but I'll give you a run down.

Relaxing background music in your home, car etc.

Hobbies divert your mind. Sounds illy but in these times you are enduring you have to steer the mind towards other thoughts than worry. Without a rudder it goes where it wants to go.

Relaxation techniques. Start with deep breathing. Every hour where ever you are, driving, working etc deep breath slowly for 5 minutes. This relaxes you and lowers your heart rate.

Muscle tensioning exercises. I did this for 25 years every night lying down prior to sleeping. Start with tensioning up your toes for 15 seconds then releasing. Proceed upwards, calves, thighs, stomach, chest, fingers arm shoulders head and face. Then tension up all of the above muscles together. Then relax.

I can tell you that on a couple of occasions at the end of this proceedure I felt like I was floating but totally relaxed. I would fall off to sleep much easier.

Apart from these things there are others like taking a spa, swimming or a walk in the park. Leave your mobile phone at home!!!.  In the end it is up to you to embrace these basic living ideas to teach the mind to do what you want it to. I call it "feeding the brain" . It is in Recovery section. Scroll through those pages- there is heaps of information here.

Best of luck  Tony WK

[shenlee]

Thankyou so much Tony for your reply. You are so right about worry. Its something i have struggled with for many years. I have recently started CBT. I find it amazing although a little hard as i have been set in my ways for so long. I just had a meltdown. Now you took the time to reply so i did the relaxation tip you gave me and it helped get rid of my tension headache! Thankyou so much for helping me out at a time i felt alone and terrified. Warm regards. Shenlee