Really Struggling With Daily Anxiety. How To Get Help?

[Donnadoos]

@franciemarnie

Hi franciemarnie, thank you for your reply. I must say, i did freak out a little upon reading it as although i do sort of understand the dangers, just not in as much depth as what you have put, I sort of ignorantly pretend not to in a way, if that makes sense, by dismissing and pushing them out of my mind to save me worrying even more. Your post has awakened me to the importance of how bad these pills are, and to be honest I'm now wary of taking any ever again.

With regards to my usage of the diazepam, i have cut it right down to only taking the smallest possible dose using 1 or 2, 2mg tablets. I don't go through loads, i do try and make one box last me as long as i can. Like for instance, the box I've just finished, taking the majority of this past week-2weeks, was a box i got back in April this year. So really thats 4 months which i thought was good going? My doctor has especially this past year, expressed that he doesn't like, nor want to give me them for much longer. Im due another box now, but scared now that I'm harming myself more and affecting my anxiety by using them.
I don't like to take any tablets in general, even when im in absolute agony or ill with anything, i choose to suffer rather than to medicate.
Its quite ironic really as there was a time in my past where i would pop any pill, mainly illegal, even getting up into triple figures of 10mg diazepam (at the very beginning just after the initial trauma), which i am really not proud of, but i think this is where my fear of pills in general has came from somehow, after having taken too many.

I love meditation when i get the chance, and it can prove very effective for a little while giving me a better rested night. I have never done , nor heard of meditation body scans, seen a few of you mention it here so will most definetly check these out.

Thanks again francie, Hope you have a lovely day!

 

[Donnadoos]

@Solara

Hi, and thank you Solara. Your so right, I totally get what your saying. If I never had my mum or partner to come out with me, then i would perhaps have moved differently with my anxiety because i would have had to.

Im planning on walking to the nursery to collect my daughter, but with my mum a few times, just to make me feel more at ease should i have to run, then i know my daughter can still get picked up. Obviously, I will keep pushing myself further rather than just run, but i think once my stomach starts it will be a case of which toilet can i reach first, school or home lol. Overall, i am hoping by exposing myself to the panic, and working through it as it happens, I will continue my journey, and become less afraid.

Im really glad to hear that you beat anxiety and it subsided, that must have felt fab. I dream of winning the battle so i can continue living again, as I've lost so many years to this, it frustrates me so much.

Does it, or can it, ever fully go away? Or is it still there lurking around, but easier to manage?

Ive had Cbt, away back at the beginning of initial diagnosis and treatment with my uninterested psychologist. I don't think I've ever had exposure therapy because my anxieties aren't narrowed down to one or certain things, its generalised, run by fear, so occurs anywhere, anytime, no matter what. Don't get me wrong, i do have obvious triggers, i think if we were able to narrow mines down, it may have been a little less complicated to tackle.

Thanks again Solara, your success has given me hope and determination. Wishing you a nice day!

 

[Donnadoos]

@DMerish

Hi Drew, Thank you. I do find it hard realising and acknowledging my successes most times, so hopefully I will learn to appreciate my small steps better in future. Im generally more tough on myself with the negative side of things, like not completing a journey, where i should maybe be looking at the positives more, and focusing on how well i perhaps tried.

Yes all posts, suggestions and tips have been great, its nice to hear that some have been helpful personally for you too, I do like hearing of success as it gives me a boost and most importantly of all, gives me hope that i will find things that hopefully work for me too. I am looking forward to checking out everything and implementing new things into practice.

Thank you so much for your advice re: walking. I will most definetly be trying this too with hopefully the same success as you.

Thanks again, I'm overwhelmed by the responses, didn't expect as many. Lots of great advice from you all, i really appreciate it and take all on board.
Hope you have a nice day!

 

[Donnadoos]

@Ayesha

Thank you Ayesha, I think its just my grammar I have to watch. Im not the most articulate person, and do use the checker on my phone prior to posting to help me along. Unfortunately it doesn't sort out my small "i"s so I will need to keep vigilant as I don't mean to break any forum policies etc on purpose.

Hope you have a lovely day!

 

[franciemarnie]

I'm so sorry I freaked you out a little. I speak from experience and mine was awful - I withdrew cold turkey which no one should do ever because you can get so sick. Those little pills messed up my mind so badly even though I didn't take them very long - a few months - but every day.

Years later, after an addiction to pain killers I joined a support group and quite a few people there quit drinking easy enuf but their docs gave them things like Ativan and Valium and they just didn't think it affected them. Until they quit and it was bad.

Please may I emphasize this may not be your experience at all. Just keep in mind that they have the potential with some people to mess with their heads. Not so much if taken every once in a while but every day for longer than two weeks will have some effect - if only to create a tolerance.

Anyway, thinking of you and hoping you feel better!

 

[Castalure]

You may want to go to YouTube and watch some breathing relaxation videos. To help with you PTSD, you tube also has some good EMDR videos.

I use these videos quite frequently whenever I experience high anxiety.

If you have a smart phone, you may also install some free aps. There are a few good aps for breathing exercise.

If you want to cut down or eliminate valiums, here is a trick. Always carrying a few with you will give you a peace of mind and will likely reduce the frequency of panic attacks.
Hope this help.

 

[Castalure]

PTSD is a medical condition that can destroy or greatly affect your quality of life.

The level of depression and anxiety that is present maybe minimal to totally unbearable.

I have been suffering from PTSD since 1986. In my case, my associated anxiety has been gradually worsening. My anxiety has caused me to develop psoriasis, memory problems and agoraphobia (fear of leaving my house).

Panic attacks are quite frequents and I have a really bad reaction of catastrophizing many new situations.

I am always assuming the worse will happen.

This high level of constant anxiety is extremely tiring. I am constantly exhausted and unable to function.

It is now to the point where it is affecting my adrenal glands production of cortisone.

Things that have helped me reduced my anxiety include eliminating alcohol consumption, reducing caffeine, doing breathing exercise ( using an ap that I downloaded for my smart phone), doing EMDR using a YouTube video and exercising on a stationary bicycle 40 minutes per day.

If you have any other suggestions or comments I would surely welcome them.