Severe Anxiety. Can anyone reccommend anything?

[Na_tash_a]

I am 27 now and have been suffering with severe anxiety since I was 17. At the time I didn't know what anxiety was, I thought it was because my diet only consisted of maccas and unhealthy food. I was always very outgoing and talkative who had plenty of friends. At first I would just feel anxious before school and would go to the toilet constantly prior to leaving the house. It then moved on to me seeking out public toilets around me so I wouldn't be stuck panicking about going to the bathroom before I reached my destination. As the years went on it started to make me anxious just going to the shop or doing something like meeting up with friends. I would find myself having to wake up 5-6am vomiting and constantly going to the bathroom to calm my nerves so I could be ok to meet them. I couldn't eat prior to meeting them and had to wait to get home or to a safe place where I knew there was a bathroom. It got worse where I pretty much shut everyone out and made up so many excuses just to not go to their bday parties, I've even missed weddings because I wanted to avoid being sick. I now suffer with arm and head jerks when I start to become nervous. I shake uncontrollably until I can calm myself down. I feel I'm always feeling on edge, there's no calm place for me. I have been to multiple GP's and Psychologists and they cannot pinpoint what's causing this. Medications only work for a period of time then they end up making me sick or panicking more. I feel like i'm out of options. I recently went on a fodmap diet which has helped a lot but now making me lose weight. I am now taking private yoga sessions and taking time out of my day to try and relax but nothing is working. Ten years of hell I just want to live a normal life like everyone else and not have to worry about dumb things 😞

[jan123]

hi Tasha

what a tragic life for you to lead, iam an anxiety sufferer myself, but not as bad as yourself, I would like to suggest some things for you.. hope it works, anxiety is only a condition of the mind, you really need to control you thoughts, you should study CBT therapy. I try to think of beachers or England , beautiful places to visit when I feel anxious. u need to be strong, as it can control your life, and if u think about it look back at all that suffering it was really unneccesary as nothing was wrong with you.. I attend anxiety classes for support of others, it kinda works, iam scared of medicine , my dr prescribed medication, I read it makes conditions worse, so iam hesitant, I hope your are able to to recover, I do so feel for you and please u need to take control of your mind as it is apowerful tool and its is causing you to suffer so much.. take care......

[blondguy]

Hello Na.tash.a

Welcome to the forums and good on you for posting too!

Im very sorry that your symptoms have been having such an effect on your quality of life

I understand as I have had acute anxiety through my 20's and its an awful place to be.

Can I ask what your GP's have diagnosed you with?

The digestive system is the most sympathetic to anxiety/severe stress. Even now if my depression has a slump my urge to go to the toilet increases as the bowels tighten up and leaves me looking for a toilet quickly too.

The shaking can be the adrenal gland working overtime as you are in a state of fear and your body will produce more adrenaline in a state of fear.

Anxiety does need ongoing management and counseling and the more regular the better. I had weekly visits with a psychiatric nurse as he insisted on the frequency....It worked really well. Fortnightly at the least to help you really start on the bumpy road to recovery.

The more frequent the therapy the better the quality of your recovery even though it takes commitment and practice to use the various coping techniques

I think you have been pro-active with your yoga and good on you 🙂

One GP (if you can decide on one) and one counselor.....with the understanding that it may be a long process.

My severe anxiety lasted from 1983 until 1996 and the symptoms do reduce over time with super regular therapy

You are a strong person and well done for reaching out. There are many kind people on the forums that suffer from similar symptoms as yourself that can be here for you 🙂

I hope you can stick around the forums

my kind thoughts for you

Paul

[Slipstream_SS]

Hi Natasha

Im sorry to read about your predicament it must be tuff.

Ive been to see many Dr in my time, and all i seem to get was talking that helped but i feel we could have spoken forever and id still be the same. I have a Social Phobia so unless i get in certain situations im usually ok, but i sometimes get depressed because i dont feel normal. I knida know what your going through, part of my situation is my hands shake uncontrollably in certain situations as do you. Ive found over the years, well recently that Beta Blockers stop my hands shake, and slow my heart rate down, which in turn calms me down. Ive taken all the meds , i just felt worse, to where ill never go back on them. Im lucky ive found my happy medium.

Next time you get scared just say to yourself, that this panic is not going to kill me, ive been here many times and im still alive and kicking. Sounds stupid, but that kinda helps me in a weird way. All the best Natasha

CK