Got myself in a rut...advice on how to get out? (anxiety related)

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Drossla

Drossla

Drossla

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Hi chaps,

I'm NOT looking for medical advice. I don't want anyone to mention any medications in this thread.

Basically, since university I've been unable to get a graduate job, (completed 2 work exps and 2 internships) I spend most of my time in my room watching TV shows and working 1 day a week part time. Hardly any of my friends have a degree so they work 5 days a week.

Anyway, I've either developed an anxiety disorder or I've got a problem which the doctors can't diagnose. The main problem is that I have the burning sensation on my face which gets worse when I'm anxious. It means I can't focus on anything and find interacting with others very hard. I'm constantly hot and can never relax

Anyway, here is what I want to do. Before I go on an SSRI (Anti-depressant) I want to try and beat this thing. I want to try and raise my serotonin levels without pills! Any suggestions on how to do so?

- I'm thinking of working out every day (at least 30 mins exercise - I never exercise)
- Getting to bed before 11PM
- Reducing time spent in my bedroom
- Spend 25 mins a day reading a book. Ideally inspirational ones (would love to hear recommendations)
- Clean my car once a week
- Learn how to cook 1 new meal per week
- Listen to a relaxation CD every night before bed
- Learn how to play at least one new guitar riff every week
- Drink 6 pints of water a day
- Listen to a new album every week and write a review on it.
- Keep my bedroom clean


Any other suggestions on how I can try and get out of this rut I'm in?
 
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get out there and excercise, the rest will fall into place and you'll forget all about it. just don't set yourself a timescale, it'll happen when it happens but i would bet that it will.
 
Get the hell out of your room, man!

Since you do bugger all of a day, go for a walk [around your local job centre for instance], meet people etc etc.
 
SiriusB said:
Get the hell out of your room, man!

Since you do bugger all of a day, go for a walk [around your local job centre for instance], meet people etc etc.
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This is very hard when your face burns up every time you're introduced to new people :( Or when a touchy / embarrassing topic is brought up.
 
I think you've pretty much hit the nail on the head with the ideas to get out your room more, read books, listen to different music and exercise.

I always find a good 30 minute run helps me if I'm really stressed out about stuff. So, not quite anxiety. But it could help.

Try to avoid alcohol and drugs as you don't want to become reliant on something expensive.

Got a pet? If you got a dog, even just taking that for a walk, or a neighbour who has a pet but is out at work all day, they might appreciate you walking theres. It's a good opportunity to get out and clear your head a little.
 
Drossla said:
I'm thinking of working out every day (at least 30 mins exercise - I never exercise)
Getting to bed before 11PM
Reducing time spent in my bedroom
Reading Books
Listening to more music

Any other suggestions on how I can try and get out of this rut I'm in?
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Exercise is an excellent idea - 1 hour 3 times a week would do you the world of good.
Get to be before 10pm. Get up when you've had 7.5 hours sleep - yes this may mean getting up early when you don't "need" to.
Get out of your bedroom? No, get out of your house! Seriously.
Read when on the cycle machine at the gym.
Listen to music when on the running machine at the gym.

Good luck.
 
double post, but with the get fit thing, join a running club or something. Good way to meet people as well and you never know what might lead to a job!
 
Moley said:
Exercise is an excellent idea - 1 hour 3 times a week would do you the world of good.
Get to be before 10pm. Get up when you've had 7.5 hours sleep - yes this may mean getting up early when you don't "need" to.
Get out of your bedroom? No, get out of your house! Seriously.
Read when on the cycle machine at the gym.
Listen to music when on the running machine at the gym.

Good luck.
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Getting up at at 5.30AM every morning when I haven't got much to do aside from exercise? I also hate the thought of days lasting 15 + hours :( The worst thing is, I never used to have this burning face problem, what I would give to lead a 'normal' life again :(
 
Drossla said:
Getting up at at 5.30AM every morning when I haven't got much to do aside from exercise? I also hate the thought of days lasting 15 + hours :(
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I'm working on the assumption that you may take an hour or so to actually fall asleep (I do).

Why do you hate long days? More time in the day = more time to get things done.

I think it's VERY telling that you say you hate the idea of days lasting 15+ hours when 16.5 hours awake is the "normal" amount of time to be awake.

You did come asking for suggestions...... remember?

Anyway, cut down the sleep, cut down the time in the house, ramp up the exercise and try not to eat junky food. If you have plenty of time on your hands you could easily follow some recipe books and cook yourself some nice proper meals - that can be quite therapeutic.

Good luck!
 
Moley said:
I'm working on the assumption that you may take an hour or so to actually fall asleep (I do).

Why do you hate long days? More time in the day = more time to get things done.

I think it's VERY telling that you say you hate the idea of days lasting 15+ hours when 16.5 hours awake is the "normal" amount of time to be awake.

You did come asking for suggestions...... remember?

Anyway, cut down the sleep, cut down the time in the house, ramp up the exercise and try not to eat junky food. If you have plenty of time on your hands you could easily follow some recipe books and cook yourself some nice proper meals - that can be quite therapeutic.

Good luck!
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The cooking thing is a great suggestion, means I have to leave the house to buy the ingredients too. Think I'll add 'learn how to cook 1 new meal every week' to my my list.
 
Hi,

I have a specific interest in anxiety. Especially 'undiagnosed' conditions.

I would whole-heartedly recommend exercise. I would also recommend a sub-lingual b-vitamin complex (holland and barratt).

I have found with a lot of my younger 'clients' that anxiety has developed because of an over-analysis of life, prospects etc, which has happened because of boredom. Get yourself to the gym, go for a walk in the park, just go and 'live' in some way.

As for the blushing bit, it will probably subside once you have a handle on your anxiety (assuming that it has only occurred since your anxiety has developed).

:)
 
hello, I have genralized anxiety disorder and panic disorder and your self suggestions are pretty spot on. What you may also want to do is to write any important stuff down and work through any heavy loads that way. When your anxious, you worry without even knowing you are so keeping everything in order is important.
I would also strongly suggest talking to someone you trust about however your feeling, even if you start to feel good. Sounds really silly and maybe a bit girly but it is another release.
Some breathing and relaxation techniques are vry usefull too.

Docs can easily diagnose anxiety disorders so it may not even be one (im not saying it is or isnt) but my last piece of advice is probably the most important of all if it is:

NEVER AVOID ANY SITUATION or stop doing something because you worry it will make you feel anxious..its the worst thing you can do because it will feed it :) If you get a panic attack, as hard as it may be, try to 'let' it hurt or what not (anxiety cannot hurt you) as your body is just responding to fight or flight response and anything you may be feeling is in reality an over sensitive normal bodily reaction.
 
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Thanks fus, could you please elaborate on the sub-lingual b-vitamin complex? The heart/ flushing thing is on my mind 85% of the day and I'm generally a very anxious person, I REALLY care what others think of me.
 
alangelluk said:
hello, I have genralized anxiety disorder and panic disorder and your self suggestions are pretty spot on. What you may also want to do is to write any important stuff down and work through any heavy loads that way. When your anxious, you worry without even knowing you are so keeping everything in order is important.
I would also strongly suggest talking to someone you trust about however your feeling, even if you start to feel good. Sounds really silly and maybe a bit girly but it is another release.
Some breathing and relaxation techniques are vry usefull too.

Docs can easily diagnose anxiety disorders so it may not even be one (im not saying it is or isnt) but my last piece of advice is probably the most important of all if it is:

NEVER AVOID ANY SITUATION or stop doing something because you worry it will make you feel anxious..its the worst thing you can do because it will feed it :) If you get a panic attack, as hard as it may be, try to 'let' it hurt or what not (anxiety cannot hurt you) as your body is just responding to fight or flight response.
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Hi mate, thanks a lot for your post. I have been to the doctors about 9 times over the past 6 weeks. We do a lot of talking. I'm trying to cross everything off the list that could be causing this 'burning sensation' before looking at meds. Before that though, I want to try beating it naturally :) Another thing I notice is when I'm drunk it goes away, why? Most probably because I stop caring.

Could you recommend any relaxation cds?
 
Drossla said:
Hi mate, thanks a lot for your post. I have been to the doctors about 9 times over the past 6 weeks. We do a lot of talking. I'm trying to cross everything off the list that could be causing this 'burning sensation' before looking at meds. Before that though, I want to try beating it naturally :) Another thing I notice is when I'm drunk it goes away, why? Most probably because I stop caring.
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A lot of patients self-medicate with alcohol for anxiety. It's a bad road to start on. Though benzo's are not exactly much better.

www.crazymeds.us for a bit more detail on that one.
 
yeah, i work but am based from home, and on the weeks where i spend more than my usual one day a week in the house i start to get a sort of cabin fever, and it really isnt healthy or good for you. You need to interact with people more, so it becomes normal, and then you'll go red less...
 
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