Paralysed By Anxiety

[Ice_Fire]

Sometimes, when something is making me anxious, it is like I just shut down. It's like I can't do anything. I can't break the stressor down, I can't go and do something distracting or grounding. I just sit there, worrying, knowing that the worrying isn't helping me to problem solve.

I feel like I know what needs to be done, namely anything but it's like my brain has been submerged in freezing fog and I can't think, I can't do. And it is so frustrating because I waste so much time that a little problem turns into a big one.

 

[Deleted member 28740]

Ditto.

But for my dog, she has a lot a of doganlity. She is not just a being I feed and pick up after. She is very expressive in facial and verbal input. She can and does pull me out of the morass. What is so interesting she is sniffing and wanting to pee on. Her dreams I hear, the legs moving and the chase of something, the snorting and snuffling and almost songs …

She grounds me literally.

 

[sun seeker]

I can relate, unfortunately. Are you on any medication for anxiety? Sometimes when it is that bad, so you can't use your grounding strategies to get out of the downward spiral, that's what it takes.

 

[JEKBreatheandBelieve]

I can relate, too. I have just been stuck sitting on a bed for the last 2 hours worrying about so many different things and knowing that if I just got up and started doing something- folding laundry, sewing, anything, I would start to feel better. @sun seeker , anxiety medication is sometimes the answer to helping get to a better spot, but one I almost always forget about.

 

[Ice_Fire]

Thanks all. No I'm not currently on anti anxiety medication. I sometimes wonder if I ought to be. I was on anti-depressants for two years but I should have been on something to combat anxiety rather than depression. It was the anxiety that caused the crippling self-doubt and inability to see the good in life. So yes, that is something I need to look into.

I wish I had a dog.

 

[Fadeaway]

Another person who gets it here. I have the problem that I hate taking anti-anxiety medications during the day because I think it will make me to sluggish to get anything accomplished, but I don't accomplish much with anxiety anyways so...:banghead:

 

[Ice_Fire]

Yeah I think that is the problem. I have thought about it and I don't know which is better; not feeling the anxiety but being sluggish and unproductive, but having so much anxiety that I'm unproductive anyway. But possibly slightly more productive in the latter situation. *sigh* no answer really

 

[Ocean5]

freezing fog

Can relate... my mind and body go into high-anxiety mode. Can't get anything done. I try to distract myself. Try to work. Even if I can distract myself my body is still in high-anxiety mode. I have 2 anxiety medicines, but if I take either one there is no chance of getting anything done.

Plus I've already been through major benzo withdrawals trying to get off one. I just take at night only to avoid withdrawals. Until I'm in better position to start reducing.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

I have to take anti anxiety meds because I am trying to get stable and the panic attacks get so bad. i too have been through what you are currently experiencing and all I can do is slow down, try to let go of what is worrying me and do a lot of self care. That is what the lady on the hot line told me to do and for now it is working.

You are under so much pressure right now and your plate seems to be overloaded so it is very understandable about the way are frozen right now. Sending out an SOS for you.

I am so glad you posted this. This happens to me at times and I just have to take a time out and i realize because of the pressures you are under you cannot do this at this time. I hope that you can sqeeze in some naps and just try to relax in spite of being frozen. You need first aid.

I hope that you do look into a anti anxiety med to help stabalize you and get you unstuck. I notice when I freeze the inner voices are all shouting at me about everything and the whole mountain crushes me and then I become utterly useless.

This leads to a downward spiral which is dangerous for me. I do not sleep nor eat nor do anything to take care of myself and I get so lost and mired down.

I hope you are able to make the call to get you on meds to help you. Many hugs.

 

[JEKBreatheandBelieve]

@Ice_Fire , I just wanted to say about meds, that my experience has been that at first I felt a bit more tired on them, but now I find they can really help me. I don't take them regularly like I used to. I now take them when I know that something will be anxiety provoking (like going to a place with a lot of people) or when I am having a panic attack or feeling frozen by anxiety (though those are also times when I forget meds are an option). I am not big on meds, but I decided to give them a try. It took a while to figure out what worked best for me and what I could tolerate, but when the meds work it is really helpful.

 

[Ice_Fire]

So, with anxiety meds, are they taken as and when needed? That seems a better option.

 

[Ocean5]

To clarify what I posted above about anxiety medicine. Everyone responds differently to medicine. At first they helped me a lot.

@Ice_Firewhen I am having a panic attack

I still keep Xanax pill on me in case I fill a panic attack developing. One of those small keychain cases. Now, no matter how small a dose it wipes me out. When I was first given it I thought it was a "wonder" medicine. But I didn't take every day. It did help me to break the cycle of panic attacks. Now an insurance policy of sorts.

Later I was given Klonopin daily for anxiety. I regret listening to that psychiatrist. But I was in bad shape, and new to medicine in general. I had even asked p-doc if it was addicting. Told not to worry. Uh.... Looking back I wish I had done research.