When the anxiety won’t settle after being triggered...

[Skywatcher]

I had a bad trigger a few days ago, and despite doing all 14 calm down things on my list, it continued to plague me in intense waves of anxiety and a need to hide. I contacted my therapist a “few” times ?. She replied that night via email, but it didn’t help. (We have spent quite a few months on me being more independent and it had been going okay). I thought after Xanax I would wake up in an improved state, but the physical symptoms started waving through again. I sent her a few emails asking if I could see her that day. She gave me her usual add in time, which meant I had to cancel work, but I wasn’t functioning anyways. I was pretty disassociated during the appointment, but she helped me contain the physical stuff and feel some control. Now it’s today and I’m still getting those waves, dizziness, a need to sleep, cold, hot, headache. I’m wondering if this is actually a physical issue causing the anxiety and that a trigger just set it into overdrive. Has anyone ever experienced this? Any ideas on physical health stuff I should look into?

 

[EveHarrington]

I think that jumping to thinking this is a physical thing is a bit premature given that you did experience a trigger. Being triggered a few days later is nothing unusual when you’ve had a bad triggering.

 

[MamaHopeful]

This is how it is for me, too.
I have PTSD and panic disorder all rolled up into one tangled ball.
I get triggered and then logic brain just shuts off and my Sympathetic nervous system goes into hyperdrive.
I don't have any answers. I just reached out to someone to help me with the panic disorder, hoping that will make the symptoms of my PTSD more manageable.
It's like a trigger comes ---> the anxiety comes ---> and then I am stuck focusing on the anxiety and panic attacks and worrying if I will ever be better...
You are not alone!! We will get through this!!

 

[Jellieg8]

I’ve been anxious for months and meds aren’t helping, I’d love to hear if anyone has suggestions because I sure don’t. Sorry :(

 

[EveHarrington]

I’ve been anxious for months and meds aren’t helping, I’d love to hear if anyone has suggestions because I sure don’t.

What meds have you tried so far?

 

[Recovery4Me]

I zipped into this board today, because sometimes when my hyper vigilance hits overdrive, I can find those others (such as yourself) that bear the cross of our symptoms disrupting our lives. I have Complex PTSD and hear you. Hugs if you accept as you are not alone.

Today is my ‘ride the crest of the emotional wave’ day. If I may, @Skywatcher I would like to offer a few thoughts for you.

You asked, “Has anyone ever experienced this? Any ideas on physical health stuff I should look into?”

I found that treating my disability from an holistic approach was necessary for my personal emotional self-regulation. Health, mind and spiritual needs required integration for optimal success -as the body remembers. So I think that you asked a solid question!

Since each of us have unique physical requirements, it is an important consideration to receive health care allowances within our possible insurance and/or country. Consider having a blood panel work out to check your vital levels according to your General practitioner‘s expertise.

For myself, I found many of my PTSD symptoms lowered various key components of my health, contributing to less effective synoptic firing, slower return to emotional regulation as well as dizziness (although I have sensory loss hearing and Ménière’s Ear disease). However lack of proper nutrients or nutrition can add to one’s dizziness per my Neurologist and Primary Care Provider as PTSD produces an chemical bevy that depletes our system. I have adjusted my diet according to my blood panel need set and keep it monitored to see where I need to tweak my health.

Although, this is not a quick fix solution, it is moving forward in pursuing to be the best we can be...because we are more than our PTSD. Hope this helps and this post finds you already better. Take care.

 

[Skywatcher]

I zipped into this board today, because sometimes when my hyper vigilance hits overdrive, I can find those others (such as yourself) that bear the cross of our symptoms disrupting our lives. I have Complex PTSD and hear you. Hugs if you accept as you are not alone.

Today is my ‘ride the crest of the emotional wave’ day. If I may, @Skywatcher I would like to offer a few thoughts for you.

You asked, “Has anyone ever experienced this? Any ideas on physical health stuff I should look into?”

I found that treating my disability from an holistic approach was necessary for my personal emotional self-regulation. Health, mind and spiritual needs required integration for optimal success -as the body remembers. So I think that you asked a solid question!

Since each of us have unique physical requirements, it is an important consideration to receive health care allowances within our possible insurance and/or country. Consider having a blood panel work out to check your vital levels according to your General practitioner‘s expertise.

For myself, I found many of my PTSD symptoms lowered various key components of my health, contributing to less effective synoptic firing, slower return to emotional regulation as well as dizziness (although I have sensory loss hearing and Ménière’s Ear disease). However lack of proper nutrients or nutrition can add to one’s dizziness per my Neurologist and Primary Care Provider as PTSD produces an chemical bevy that depletes our system. I have adjusted my diet according to my blood panel need set and keep it monitored to see where I need to tweak my health.

Although, this is not a quick fix solution, it is moving forward in pursuing to be the best we can be...because we are more than our PTSD. Hope this helps and this post finds you already better. Take care.

I am better than that week for sure. It was a really bad trigger that set a bunch in motion. I’m working on checking blood levels and vitamin deficiencies when I can afford them. I can’t afford health insurance and I live in the USA. Anyway. My metabolic panel was good and my CBC has me as low in iron. Next step is to either do the nutrients test (expensive) or just do vitamin B12/folate and vitamin d. All pricey. My therapist is big on these things that affect mood. And healthy and spiritual everything. ;-)

 

[Recovery4Me]

I am glad to hear you are better! Excellent self-care. Pleasure to talk with you.?