Anxious All The Time

[Healing Survivor]

Does anyone else feel anxious all the time? I am so sick of it and I don't know what to do about it. It's paralyzing. What's a good anti anxiety med??

 

[rjtransient]

Hi Healing Survivor,

I don't know your story or situation, so right now I can only provide general ideas based on my experience and the experiences of others. Has your family doctor tried you on anything? Have you tried any herbal remedies like valerian?

I'm a believer in using only enough medication to take the edge off. Until recently, though, I was constantly paralyzed by anxiety, despite making all the "correct" lifestyle choices. My newest prescription finally ended that nightmare.

I'm not an MD. I'm wary of promoting medications to anyone over the Internet. I will note that, for me, the SSRIs (the first line of response for anxiety conditions here in Canada) didn't help my anxiety; they turned me manic. But not everyone will react the same way, so it's hard to say what will work for you.

NB: even on good meds, I still feel a generalized sense of dread, but I suspect that's something I'll have to tackle by other means.

 

[Grainne]

I wish I could answer this for you...and me! I have been on every SSRI my family doc could think of and, like RJ, they do very little for my anxiety.

I do have a scrip for Ativan that I take when having a panic attack, but the dose is so small I think the effects are partially psychosomatic. Just knowing they are in my purse if I need them seems to help me stay calmer.

The only thing that works when my anxiety is very high is to keep moving, keep busy. I dont' think it's particularly helpful in dealing with the anxiety, but I haven't yet discovered how to make it go away on my own.

I hope today is a bit easier for you.
Grainne

 

[midi]

It's a long haul, but if you work at it, it will gradually lesson. I use meditation, yoga + breathing exercises, diet, and yeah, meds.

 

[kaddy1]

Hi Healing Survivor,

I totally agree with midi. Breathing excercises and refocusing are what work best for me and meds if you need them but try to start at the minimal doseage if your Doctor will go for it. Another thought with meds if give it the recommended time to kick in and start working. Some folks tend to not want to wait for medications to kick in and end up on higher doses than what they actually need.

 

[Healing Survivor]

Thanks for all the responses! I have been on Zoloft for seven years and on the max doseage for about three. I feel like it might be making a bit apathetic and I'm not liking that so much. Anyway, good suggestions, so thanks tons!

 

[onebravegirl]

Hi HealingSurvivor,
I started to bead. Tiny little beads on a thin fishing line. Slow and steady, one bead at a time. It helped SO much and made me slow down my thinking cuz those things will not go on unless you concentrate. It also gave me a little thrill seeing my progress. I have ropes and ropes of them and they are cherished pieces of history making artwork for me. Pretty too.
And supper cheap.
O

 

[anni]

Hi H.S.,

There's really not a lot to add from what evryone has replied. I would like to say that being on a high dose of Zoloft would possibly make you feel a little unemotional but still allow that dam anxiety to get through. It's possible that if you could ask your T to lower the does a tad you might have the mental or emotional energy to be able to address the anxiety with more concentration. It sounds like everyone here has the same reaction as me which is that the SSRI's aren't really helpful with that out of control anxiety.

I do hate meds, but when my anxiety was just completely unbearable and unstoppable, I did resort to having a lorazapam prescription. It can be a bear though, if you allow yourself to use it too much. I was able to fool around with the lowest possible dose needed in the end to deal with the anxiety of the moment, then finally did not renew the script.I'll probably go get some to have in the house because sometimes this stupid PTSD does just take over and despite your best efforts it's time to have a tiny bit of help. Having said that, of course if someone had said that to me I would probably have gotten anxious about possible addicition problems! It is a tool, and effective when you just cannot for the life of you make it STOP. Then your healing can make more consistant headway, then maybe you put it away for good.

I started running around that time again. I call it running, my 18 year old daughter calls it shuffling because it's pretty slow. It seems to be more than the exercise, it's the aloneness and the connection with your body. Someone here no doubt knows why this helps, along with other ways of being just BUSY, but it does, a LOT!

Oh my. I saw your thread and just remembered exactly what that is like. Once in a awhile it hits me in the head again, but now I can generally beat it to death before too many days. Please do know it can be helped, and WILL get better.

Take care,

Anni

 

[Manic11]

I started to bead. Tiny little beads on a thin fishing line. Slow and steady, one bead at a time. It helped SO much and made me slow down my thinking cuz those things will not go on unless you concentrate. It also gave me a little thrill seeing my progress. I have ropes and ropes of them and they are cherished pieces of history making artwork for me.

That sounds like a really good grounding technique! I might try that... Thanks!

Manic

 

[anthony]

If you're constantly anxious, then I would advise you to get medicated to atleast relieve some of the anxiety enough so that you can work on the cause. The cause is what you need to focus upon, not the symptom. The problem when you are too anxious is that its difficult to focus on the cause, hence why medication may be a good option for you to allow you to work on the trauma.

 

[UConnclar]

I would whole-heartedly second that!! Getting on the right dose of meds really helped me get my body quieted down to where I could start looking at all the causes. It was like someone finally found the radio station without all the static.

Good Luck!

 

[Healing Survivor]

Thanks so much for all the responses! I will take them into consideration. I'm also working with my therapist on the issue. Thanks!