Extreme anxiety

[Nikki Sahagin]

Hello,

I have never been diagnosed but I am 100% certain that I have an anxiety disorder. I have suffered with extreme nervousness and panic attacks since I was five years old and it has only become more and more extreme as i've gotten older. I have never been able to get help because my anxiety is so extreme that I can't even bring myself to visit a doctor or therapist. Will anyone treat me if I can't even force myself to see them?

[TaraMaiden]

Of course not...

How can they treat something which hasn't been officially and clinically diagnosed?

it will in all probability, involve some kind of person-to-person therapy, and some precisely-dosed medication...

 

This is not something you can shift with guess-work.

I'm afraid the first, extremely courageous move MUST come from you.

but then, the worst will be over.

Then, you'll get the help you need.....

[EricaH329]

I've had an anxiety disorder for about 4 years now. At first, it was horrible, I wasn't even able to leave the house. Then, once I realized what I had, the mere thought of getting better made me so excited that I immediatly got on the phone and made an appointment to see a doctor.

 

It shouldn't be something that makes you anxious. Going to the doctors will only help you.

 

They gave me medicine and suggested a therapist. Unfortunatly, my insurance didn't cover therapy.

 

They gave me xanax (for the short term anxiety), and paxil (for the long term). The paxil really worked. I occasionally get panic attacks from time to time, but not nearly as often as it was before.

 

You need to see someone about this. You will not get any better on your own (sorry to say). This is something that needs to be treated by a professional.

 

First step - Get to the doctors.

 

Second step - Begin recovering.

 

It all starts and ends with you.

[Nikki Sahagin]

Thankyou girls

I've just found a year old prescription for diazapam (I went to the doctors once before for anxiety about the dentist and he prescribed me a short course of them) so I am going to try those in the short term and see how that helps all the while trying to keep going with the self-improvement on my own time as I don't want to become reliant on meds.

 

It also proves to me I COULD go before, so hopefully I can pluck up the courage to go again if needed. Thanks for the responses!

[whichwayisup]

There are some very helpful books - 1)Dr David Burns "The Feeling Good Book" it'll not only help you, but teach you how to control and understand your anxiety. Cognitive behaviour therapy is so important when treating anxiety disorders.. Why don't you want to do therapy? Is it fear of the unknown? Abit of agrophobia? Fear of facing things and fighting your anxiety? The one thing I have to tell ya, anxiety is scary but if you can work through the feelings of it all, you WILL feel in more control.

 

2)Sam Obitz "Been There, Done That, Try this!"

 

Not a good idea to just use diazapam, especially since it's a year old. It's a "bandaid" fix and once the meds wear off, or when you finish the bottle, what then?

 

This is not about meds, even more so since you said you don't want to rely on them. I'm telling ya, CBT saved my life!!! I really hope you reconsider therapy..

[whichwayisup]

The CBT will help you figure out what is causing the anxiety. Is it also hormonal? Depending where you are in your cycle? What you eat? How much or how little sleep you get? Stress? Past pains and hurts, or fears in general?

 

All this stuff and more is discussed during CBT sessions.

 

Feel free to ask me anything about anxiety, I'm pretty much an open book about that.

[Meaplus3]

Hello,

I have never been diagnosed but I am 100% certain that I have an anxiety disorder. I have suffered with extreme nervousness and panic attacks since I was five years old and it has only become more and more extreme as i've gotten older. I have never been able to get help because my anxiety is so extreme that I can't even bring myself to visit a doctor or therapist. Will anyone treat me if I can't even force myself to see them?

 

Hi Nikki, Know your not alone. I too have anxiety issues and mine all surfaced about 18 months ago...it's been a rough road for me. First thing I did was find a therapist. And this was no easy task since the first couple I sought out were not very helpful to me. I'm on my third one now.. and she's really helping. My issues are with Health anxeity.. and panic disorder. What's happened to me is when I feel odd sensations in my body.. it can easily send me into a full blown panic attack. Through Cognative behavioral therapy.. and that means changing the way you think and react to situations, a little xanax, some relaxation CD's, hot baths, excercise, a whole lot of inner strength and now some group therapy.. I'm coping. So, there is light at the end of the tunnel.. but you need to be willing to reach out for help in order to get any where. If you try to do this alone, I'm afriad you most likely won't get any where. Feel free to PM if you wish. May I ask, what type of anxiety are you dealing with? Panic? Phobias? OCD? As for the old meds you found, my advice to you would be NOT to take them, but to speak with your doctor about how your feeling and see what he has to offer with regards to meds. Not everyone needs.. them, but sometimes they are helpful when the case is extreme. Good luck to you. You will be ok.

 

Mea:)

[Nikki Sahagin]

Hi Nikki, Know your not alone. I too have anxiety issues and mine all surfaced about 18 months ago...it's been a rough road for me. First thing I did was find a therapist. And this was no easy task since the first couple I sought out were not very helpful to me. I'm on my third one now.. and she's really helping. My issues are with Health anxeity.. and panic disorder. What's happened to me is when I feel odd sensations in my body.. it can easily send me into a full blown panic attack. Through Cognative behavioral therapy.. and that means changing the way you think and react to situations, a little xanax, some relaxation CD's, hot baths, excercise, a whole lot of inner strength and now some group therapy.. I'm coping. So, there is light at the end of the tunnel.. but you need to be willing to reach out for help in order to get any where. If you try to do this alone, I'm afriad you most likely won't get any where. Feel free to PM if you wish. May I ask, what type of anxiety are you dealing with? Panic? Phobias? OCD? As for the old meds you found, my advice to you would be NOT to take them, but to speak with your doctor about how your feeling and see what he has to offer with regards to meds. Not everyone needs.. them, but sometimes they are helpful when the case is extreme. Good luck to you. You will be ok.

 

Mea:)

 

I'm dealing with panic disorder though I suppose there are elements of all of it intertwined.

 

From the age of five I had OCD tendancies; I was constantly washing my hands, constantly had to fidgit with something (as in I would become anxious if I did not) and would worry excessively for a child about the state of the world, death etc. I also bit my nails to the extent that they bled when I was at school, could not eat breakfast due to nerves and could not answer my name when the register was called.

 

I was an incredibly shy and worried child and I think this was never really dealt with at the time and as such it blossomed or should I say festered into what it is now.

 

For about 4-5 years in my teens I became agrophobic and could only go out to go to school or on holiday with my family. I could not see friends or do anything else - the anxiety was too extreme.

 

I got 'on top' of it somewhat for a short while but its still always present.

 

Mine is not just the intense mental and emotional strain but its VERY physical. I suffer with symptomes that make me feel like i'm choking; my throat actually tightens and I gag so its not something I can hide in all social situations especially situations which provoke extreme anxiety such as giving presentations or going to the dentist. Its actually so horrible; both the feeling of it and just the embarrassment that i'd almost rather shy away and whats worse is, because its a choking feeling, its not just mentally scary to speak to someone but actually almost impossible. I literally sometimes CAN'T speak.

[whichwayisup]

This is why CBT will help you!!! You will learn how to cope with the physical sypmtoms, learn how to control them so they won't affect you so much. Possibly even disappear too. I still gag (never throw up) as it seems to help relieve the anxiety build up inside my chest and throat. It IS embarressing, but so what?

 

I have dental phobia too. I bring a friend, or my H comes with me. 2 years ago I had to have major dental work done, so much that I chose to be knocked out. Was worth the money as there would have been NO WAY for me to be awake for 2 root canals, 3 cavities and a cleaning.

 

Please consider CBT. Even if by phone to start. I promise you, it will get better.

[Meaplus3]

Mine is not just the intense mental and emotional strain but its VERY physical. I suffer with symptomes that make me feel like i'm choking; my throat actually tightens and I gag so its not something I can hide in all social situations especially situations which provoke extreme anxiety such as giving presentations or going to the dentist. Its actually so horrible; both the feeling of it and just the embarrassment that i'd almost rather shy away and whats worse is, because its a choking feeling, its not just mentally scary to speak to someone but actually almost impossible. I literally sometimes CAN'T speak.

 

There is a huge physical part to anxeity and panic.. and so much of it has to do with the way you think. I also get the tight throat feeling from time to time it's called "Globus". While it's very scarey it will not harm you. And as with any symptom the more you focus on it the worse it gets. This is when I use the word "STOP". I say it aloud to myself and carry on to something else that takes my attention off of the thought and within a short time, it goes away. This is called CBT and it's very helpful for getting a grip on the physical symptoms of anxeity. A good therapist can help you practice this. You will be ok.

 

Mea:)

[Nikki Sahagin]

This is why CBT will help you!!! You will learn how to cope with the physical sypmtoms, learn how to control them so they won't affect you so much. Possibly even disappear too. I still gag (never throw up) as it seems to help relieve the anxiety build up inside my chest and throat. It IS embarressing, but so what?

 

I have dental phobia too. I bring a friend, or my H comes with me. 2 years ago I had to have major dental work done, so much that I chose to be knocked out. Was worth the money as there would have been NO WAY for me to be awake for 2 root canals, 3 cavities and a cleaning.

 

Please consider CBT. Even if by phone to start. I promise you, it will get better.

 

I suppose i'm very self-conscious and I know it shouldn't matter that its embarrassing; after all people do embarrassing things everyday but I do need to work on my self-consciousness and my sensitivity. I am an incredibly high-strung, perfectionist type of person. I am INCREDIBLY hard on myself. I always have been and I suppose those are things I need to work on. Unfortunately I can't overnight just not feel that worry of embarrassment so it does factor in my concerns over the disorder.

 

I rang Anxiety UK and he offered me some solutions as you kind people have also done. I've decided to go to CBT, perhaps starting over the phone but also to take some drugs as well simply because I know for me, that I will need the 2 in conjunction because its a little too intense/overpowering for me to cope with alone.

 

As I mentioned before I was previously diagnosed 6 diazepam tablets for the dentists and I have taken the first today. I felt a calming affect in the first half hour of taking it and my throat does not feel tight, so I am going to mention this to my doctor and try to do the two in conjunction and beat this.

 

Part of me is so frightened, and maybe its the diazepam but at the moment I feel calm and hopeful and that I will be able to do this.

[Nikki Sahagin]

There is a huge physical part to anxeity and panic.. and so much of it has to do with the way you think. I also get the tight throat feeling from time to time it's called "Globus". While it's very scarey it will not harm you. And as with any symptom the more you focus on it the worse it gets. This is when I use the word "STOP". I say it aloud to myself and carry on to something else that takes my attention off of the thought and within a short time, it goes away. This is called CBT and it's very helpful for getting a grip on the physical symptoms of anxeity. A good therapist can help you practice this. You will be ok.

 

Mea:)

 

Yes i've heard of globus. I absolutely HATE it! I've had that part since i've been a child and its gradually become worse and worse. It began as not being able to eat and hiccoughing (weird things like that) and then it became so severe I would need to throw up, I would choke constantly, that I actually would stop eating altogether (although the feeling would still be there) and lose a LOT of weight, so it is impacting me quite seriously. I always seem to get sore throats and coughts too and I think thats because of the globus (the excessive choking & throwing up making my throat dry etc).

 

Its great to hear from you knowing you've been through the same. I am going to book a doctors appointment this week (scared)

[Nikki Sahagin]

Thanks Henry.

I start CBG tomorrow and was given beta blockers by my doc. They have no effect though.