Physical anxiety symptoms

[TheDuke]

Hi all

as I have posted elsewhere I am going through a bit of hell starting my meds with extra anxiety. 4 days in and told to go at least 2 weeks.

its really hard. At times it seems impossible. At least during the day I can walk etc.

but most nights I wake at 4 am. I immediately get that awful anxious feeling through my chest.

it cold dark and i don’t know what to do. I am so frustrated I just want to cry.

[TheDuke]

Further to my initial post.

Please give me your best technique for dealing when you are lying in bed and it too early to get up.

I look forward to trying some different ideas

[Just Sara]

Hi Duke and welcome to our caring forum community;

It takes guts to post about yourself so well done on reaching out. 🙂 Those feelings you've described are scary for sure. Adrenaline causes them at night due to worry and confronting dreams more than anything.

Anxiety can be a tricky one when it comes to med's. Some respond to an antidepressant, (AD) but some don't get any benefit from them alone; I was one of those people. An AD plus Anti-anxiety med's are far better at addressing symptoms in real time unlike AD's that take a while to kick in as you've said.

A low dose Benzodiazapine (I can't mention specific drugs as it's against posting guidelines) will address adrenaline rushes such as you've described and also provide a good night's sleep. This helps you cope far better than anything as sleep is our greatest ally in facing anxiety.

Only take them PRN as they can be very addictive. Moreso because they relieve symptoms and help you feel normal again. This is moreish, so be careful how you use them. They're a tool, not a crutch.

Learn about how your body works, get a qualified psychologist and work on where this anxiety comes from. Recovery can take a while; it's a step by step process addressing the cause and finding solutions that usually means changing the way you communicate, especially with yourself.

Keep writing on here too ok. It's so therapeutic to purge, rant or just write about your day if it works. We're caring people who've been thru it before and want what's best for you for the long term as well as the present.

Again; welcome. Lovely to meet you..

Warm thoughts;

Sez

[TheDuke]

Thank you for your reply.

im having my rant as you suggested 🙂

days are so hard at the moment. Just so wired!

i am indeed taking low Benzi doses as required. They have made the last 2 evenings relaxing at least.

I’m finding this all so hard. Just want to bawl my eyes out in frustration.

Trying to trust my docs that the process will help. But need constant reassurance as I start to have doubts.

I have suffered from depression in the past. And it sucks, it sucks bad. But anxiety for me is much worse

[Tess2]

Hi,

well done on posting and seeking help here. I too suffer terrible anxiety. If you wake at night with it, what can you do to comfort yourself? Trying to force yourself back to sleep probably isnt best. How long does it take you to get back to sleep, or do hou stay awake. Maybe a hot drink, read abit. Put some calming music on quietly. And lie in the dark and try to empty your mind. Easier said than done. You will get good suggestions here. Tess

[Tess2]

And if you are cold when you wake, try a hot water bottle. Magic

[GracieJ]

Hi,

I don't know if meditation is a method that works for you, however I find that playing an anxiety-reducing meditation track and just focusing on the person's voice can be very grounding.

[TheDuke]

Any good track suggestions.

im always willing to have a go

[Jdavid]

Hello I get the same problems with trying antidepressants wake up early feeling tied and wired at the same time I can’t last longer then 3 days on them with my anxiety sky rocketing. The things I find most useful is doing mindfulness for a good nights rest and don’t look at my phone when waking up early

[Just Sara]

Hey Duke;

I know it's scary and confusing. It feels like your mind doesn't belong to you anymore. I truly get it. Try to breathe thru the tough moments because sometimes that's all you can do ok. Keep talking on here and letting it out. It's therapeutic.

Please try to take your AD's with breakfast each morning. They can disrupt sleep taken at night or during the day due to chemical cycles. I learned this the hard way. (It's a tip for you too David)

Also, feeling 'safe' and comfortable at night can help. Anxiety's basically an adrenaline disorder. The brain's been put in survival mode thru long term stress or trauma, so getting it back to normal means working on psychological issues and learning how to 'trick' the brain into recovery.

David's suggestion about mindfulness is on the money. When we're scared we tend to disconnect from our bodies and go into our heads as a means of escaping. (Called dissociation) This becomes habitual so we don't actually know we're doing it.

Retraining the brain by staying grounded and mindful in the moment works really well to alleviate anxiety, but it takes practice and time. I have no doubt you can do it though. 🙂

Keep talking Jet and so will I. Trial a few different things until you find what works for you ok. And don't forget to find a good psychologist; they're well worth your time.

A small dose benzo's great prior to bedtime. It gives the brain a break which helps with coping better the following day; sleep is essential. I'm glad you're getting some relief from them.

Till next time;

Kind thoughts;

Sez