My level of anxiety keeps rising with no relief. I keep upping the meds for only temporary results. They start to ware down and it's extreme symptoms again. Then coming off of it quadruples the symptoms that already nearly send me over the edge. The last thing I want to do is bring unbearable sadness upon others. Family, friends and others helping. It's not my nature. But it's as if my body is not gonna give me a choice. There is only so much torture a person can take. worst nightmare scenario. What is the answer?
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What If The Meds And Therapy Don't Work?
- Post starter cdg
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Justmehere
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Keep taking it one day and one step at a time. It does get better.
D
Deleted member 1860
New type of therapy.
franciemarnie
Diamond Member
I second the different therapy vote, and suggest a re-look at the meds.
Anti-anxiety meds become a slow nightmare if you take them every day for more than two weeks. Then you have to take more because your body builds a tolerance. Ultimately upping the doses indefinitely leads to their doing nothing and you only stay on them to avoid withdrawal. I speak from experience.
Sometimes meds are necessary because we can't function.
But if you can function without them - though it hurts a lot - you might consider a new therapy to release the trauma energy the meds might be tamping down. Then you may function so much better even tho no meds.
If the meds are just burying everything and not too well, change what you are doing.
You have to find the key that works for you.
I know it's a daunting prospect and such a royal pain - but you are worth it. Healing is possible.
Anti-anxiety meds become a slow nightmare if you take them every day for more than two weeks. Then you have to take more because your body builds a tolerance. Ultimately upping the doses indefinitely leads to their doing nothing and you only stay on them to avoid withdrawal. I speak from experience.
Sometimes meds are necessary because we can't function.
But if you can function without them - though it hurts a lot - you might consider a new therapy to release the trauma energy the meds might be tamping down. Then you may function so much better even tho no meds.
If the meds are just burying everything and not too well, change what you are doing.
You have to find the key that works for you.
I know it's a daunting prospect and such a royal pain - but you are worth it. Healing is possible.
- Post starter
- #5
What would you suggest. I have tried Somatic experiencing, talk therapy with a PhD psychologist, craniosacral therapy, jin shin jyutsu, EFT, acupuncture, holistic chiropractic, sports medicine chiropractic, 2 nurse practitioners, 2 neurologists, 2 ENT's and 3 GP's. They all have done everything they can. Most to the point that they have told me as much. I have severe tension added to the equation.
D
Deleted member 1860
Funny, it seems that none of our therapies overlap!
These are the ones I've done... CBT, DBT, neurotherapy, IFST (inter family systems therapy) as a part of ITT (intensive trauma therapy), ACT (Acceptance & Commitment therapy). These have all helped me in various capacities. I've also tried EMDR but it didn't do anything for me.
These are the ones I've done... CBT, DBT, neurotherapy, IFST (inter family systems therapy) as a part of ITT (intensive trauma therapy), ACT (Acceptance & Commitment therapy). These have all helped me in various capacities. I've also tried EMDR but it didn't do anything for me.
franciemarnie
Diamond Member
What else can you do but keep trying? Ignore anyone who says nothing can be done for you.
You could try an Energy Healer.
Some people swear by EMDR tho I haven't tried it.
Or different therapists tho talk therapy is a waste IMO.
I didn't get the right help until I was in my fifties, not that you will have to wait that long.
If you were on meds with Somatic Therapy, etc., it doesn't quite work so well. That's my understanding and experience anyway.
You could try an Energy Healer.
Some people swear by EMDR tho I haven't tried it.
Or different therapists tho talk therapy is a waste IMO.
I didn't get the right help until I was in my fifties, not that you will have to wait that long.
If you were on meds with Somatic Therapy, etc., it doesn't quite work so well. That's my understanding and experience anyway.
- Post starter
- #8
franciemarnie
Diamond Member
I think a lot of people believe Energy Healers are charlatans because you can't see literally what's happening. You can't see PTSD in a test tube either but it's real.
I will try anything that won't hurt me or someone else.
Plus I believe we are made of energy. Everything is.
I had to research finding one. You would have to do the same for your area.
There are scam artists out there. But also real healers. Look online and see what you pull up. Check credentials. It took a couple months to find one. I was willing to lose the money if she wasn't real. I think you have to have that attitude.
She did tremendous work on me.
Research the different kinds. See what resonates.
I will try anything that won't hurt me or someone else.
Plus I believe we are made of energy. Everything is.
I had to research finding one. You would have to do the same for your area.
There are scam artists out there. But also real healers. Look online and see what you pull up. Check credentials. It took a couple months to find one. I was willing to lose the money if she wasn't real. I think you have to have that attitude.
She did tremendous work on me.
Research the different kinds. See what resonates.
I did not medicate, so I can't speak to that, but maybe there is something in my experience for you. I tried so many things, threw away many, and kept many.
For me, the shift from acute PTSD was tiny and gradual--barely perceptible (in fact, because the sleeplessness over months and months made me so tired, I felt like I was getting worse even as my T saw me learning skills and changing my thinking) and then BOOM, I was much better and improved fast. It was a culmination of dozens of things that each helped a little, many of which I had to practice and learn over time. Most of the techniques I trained myself to during my acute suffering continue to help me perceptibly on this side of things, when things are calmer--staying out of severe periods, climbing more quickly out of those that happen, etc.
I will second internal family systems (IFS). It helped and continues to help me face and ultimately care for parts of myself that I want to push away, suppress, or reject.
Self-hypnosis also helped me. There are many CDs and youtube videos out there to try and see whose voice and manner you like. I like and use Dan Jones a lot for sleep help especially (he is on youtube).
Meditation has helped me over time. I use two kinds:
1) Mindfulness, to help train my mind to be in the present, whatever that present is (helps with tolerance of acute suffering and with grounding)
2) Mantra meditation. I like singing and chose this mantra (I don't know what it means):
I sang it while meditating every day for five minutes for many weeks engaging enjoyable chanting/singing. Now, if I see a stressor coming at me, I can sing this mantra to myself and it grounds me. I can get through the stress. (Only works before I am set off, not after).
Tai Chi, Qi Gong and gentle yoga asanas helped me know my body and come back into it.
Massage and chiropractor visits helped me manage the muscle and nerve pain as I moved myself through months and months of anxiety and tension. My chiropractor helped me discover where my nerves were getting pinched by chronically tense muscles, and my massage therapist worked on releasing those muscles as well as soothing all of my muscles.
The key, though, was not to be afraid of my symptoms. My therapist told me this first, but I had to test and observe. Everything else was managing the situation. For me, the suffering was quite severe and near-constant. I went to sleep scared with my heart pounding, woke up scared with my heart pounding, nightmares, constant hyper-vigilance with anxiety spikes at slammed doors or honked horns or anything moving suddenly--even my thoughts. Suicidal ideation dogged my spirit. I was exhausted. Near-constant fight-or-flight negated sustained concentration or long-term memory formation. Over two years, I came to believe, through observation, that my fear of my anxiety aggravated and increased my anxiety. I had to accept--intellectually, emotionally, and in my actions--that it was safe to remain present with the pain and suffering, despite the terrifying sense of danger/need to escape. Accept. Tolerate. Comfort. Again and again. Again and again. Yes, today too. Once I accepted the pain and agreed to be present with it, neither feeding nor resisting, opportunities to truly shift arose.
I was in constant severe anxiety for over two years (it took time for me to be wholly convinced and to shift enough mind and body aspects into being present and grounded while feeling so scared), and as I write today I have rare spikes.
This is a highly recommended program that I have not been able to go to, but is supposed to be excellent. Maybe someday. [DLMURL]https://www.umassmed.edu/cfm/stress/index.aspx[/DLMURL]
You wrote, "The last thing I want to do is bring unbearable sadness upon others. Family, friends and others helping. It's not my nature."
A couple things on this. Your pain is not a personal act of aggression toward your loved ones. You did not even chose to have it. It is not personal against them. Pain, suffering and trials are part of the deal on this earth for them as with you. Our lives present us with lessons. Most of these lessons, we do not chose. Your loved ones are presented with an opportunity to learn new skills around differentiation and handling sadness--which is absolutely bearable, by the way. You are presented with an opportunity to learn the new skill of accepting help. These skills--differentiation, tolerating difficult emotions, and accepting help--are skills for humans living in human communities.
Take heart. Keep trying stuff. Hang in there. (((hugs)))
Mary
For me, the shift from acute PTSD was tiny and gradual--barely perceptible (in fact, because the sleeplessness over months and months made me so tired, I felt like I was getting worse even as my T saw me learning skills and changing my thinking) and then BOOM, I was much better and improved fast. It was a culmination of dozens of things that each helped a little, many of which I had to practice and learn over time. Most of the techniques I trained myself to during my acute suffering continue to help me perceptibly on this side of things, when things are calmer--staying out of severe periods, climbing more quickly out of those that happen, etc.
I will second internal family systems (IFS). It helped and continues to help me face and ultimately care for parts of myself that I want to push away, suppress, or reject.
Self-hypnosis also helped me. There are many CDs and youtube videos out there to try and see whose voice and manner you like. I like and use Dan Jones a lot for sleep help especially (he is on youtube).
Meditation has helped me over time. I use two kinds:
1) Mindfulness, to help train my mind to be in the present, whatever that present is (helps with tolerance of acute suffering and with grounding)
2) Mantra meditation. I like singing and chose this mantra (I don't know what it means):
Tai Chi, Qi Gong and gentle yoga asanas helped me know my body and come back into it.
Massage and chiropractor visits helped me manage the muscle and nerve pain as I moved myself through months and months of anxiety and tension. My chiropractor helped me discover where my nerves were getting pinched by chronically tense muscles, and my massage therapist worked on releasing those muscles as well as soothing all of my muscles.
The key, though, was not to be afraid of my symptoms. My therapist told me this first, but I had to test and observe. Everything else was managing the situation. For me, the suffering was quite severe and near-constant. I went to sleep scared with my heart pounding, woke up scared with my heart pounding, nightmares, constant hyper-vigilance with anxiety spikes at slammed doors or honked horns or anything moving suddenly--even my thoughts. Suicidal ideation dogged my spirit. I was exhausted. Near-constant fight-or-flight negated sustained concentration or long-term memory formation. Over two years, I came to believe, through observation, that my fear of my anxiety aggravated and increased my anxiety. I had to accept--intellectually, emotionally, and in my actions--that it was safe to remain present with the pain and suffering, despite the terrifying sense of danger/need to escape. Accept. Tolerate. Comfort. Again and again. Again and again. Yes, today too. Once I accepted the pain and agreed to be present with it, neither feeding nor resisting, opportunities to truly shift arose.
I was in constant severe anxiety for over two years (it took time for me to be wholly convinced and to shift enough mind and body aspects into being present and grounded while feeling so scared), and as I write today I have rare spikes.
This is a highly recommended program that I have not been able to go to, but is supposed to be excellent. Maybe someday. [DLMURL]https://www.umassmed.edu/cfm/stress/index.aspx[/DLMURL]
You wrote, "The last thing I want to do is bring unbearable sadness upon others. Family, friends and others helping. It's not my nature."
A couple things on this. Your pain is not a personal act of aggression toward your loved ones. You did not even chose to have it. It is not personal against them. Pain, suffering and trials are part of the deal on this earth for them as with you. Our lives present us with lessons. Most of these lessons, we do not chose. Your loved ones are presented with an opportunity to learn new skills around differentiation and handling sadness--which is absolutely bearable, by the way. You are presented with an opportunity to learn the new skill of accepting help. These skills--differentiation, tolerating difficult emotions, and accepting help--are skills for humans living in human communities.
Take heart. Keep trying stuff. Hang in there. (((hugs)))
Mary
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