Anxiety

[Spenty]

Would never say I had social anxiety but at one point sitting gaming everyday turned me into a bit of a recluse and social situations didn't seem normal to me any more (as I thought sitting alone gaming was the norm). I started exercising regularly and making an effort to put myself in social situations more and it went away. Recently though after loosing my job I seem to be slowly sinking back into the old routine

 

[HungryHippos]

Would never say I had social anxiety but at one point sitting gaming everyday turned me into a bit of a recluse and social situations didn't seem normal to me any more (as I thought sitting alone gaming was the norm). I started exercising regularly and making an effort to put myself in social situations more and it went away. Recently though after loosing my job I seem to be slowly sinking back into the old routine

If you work in IT and you're unemployed might be worth putting your time into something productive as well. Too easy to sit there doing nothing all day!

I would recommend looking to take some exams in Microsoft MCTS/MCITP or Cisco etc, whatever field you want to work in. Will give you some sense of purpose at least.

Would also recommend spending a portion of your day looking for jobs and sending off applications.

 

[Vix]

Could be worth trying a homeopath, mine definitely helped. A lot of OCUK people knock them but I found it a better alternative than going on meds. Mine was a medically trained Homeopath though. not so easy to find.

I wouldn't advocate homeopathy over traditional medicine for anything serious, or tried and tested, but for things like allergies, anxiety etc, you don't really have anything to lose, can hardly make you worse!

Could refer you but he's based in Havant so unless you feel like a long drive you would probably only be able to do phone consultation.

Check back a page or so for my story if you're interested typed it all up in this thread.

Never thought about it. Thanks I'm in a bit of a hole at the moment but will bear it in mind.

 

[HungryHippos]

Never thought about it. Thanks I'm in a bit of a hole at the moment but will bear it in mind.

No problem, email in trust if you have any questions etc.

 

[Spenty]

If you work in IT and you're unemployed might be worth putting your time into something productive as well. Too easy to sit there doing nothing all day!

I would recommend looking to take some exams in Microsoft MCTS/MCITP or Cisco etc, whatever field you want to work in. Will give you some sense of purpose at least.

Would also recommend spending a portion of your day looking for jobs and sending off applications.

I already do spend time on looking for work. I've already got a Cisco qualification and my A+, was about to get my MCTS at the company as well but it all went pear shaped.

I'd like to be able to use my time on the computer to do something productive. I've tried coding but it doesn't seem to be my cup of tea.

 

[cm1179]

quite an eye opener.

i never get anxious, didn't even really know what it was about. reading some of the stories on here and the quite obvious life changing effects it has on people is interesting and you have my sympathies, especially the cinema example.

what triggers this though, is it a certain thing in your past that you can pin-point?

 

[Vix]

quite an eye opener.

i never get anxious, didn't even really know what it was about. reading some of the stories on here and the quite obvious life changing effects it has on people is interesting and you have my sympathies, especially the cinema example.

what triggers this though, is it a certain thing in your past that you can pin-point?

Apparently, but I can't find mine!! My teenage years were eventful, and then had a few stressful years when I bought my first house, but seemed to cope ok, then things started going strange and I realised I couldn't go out on my own... Then was diagnosed with a disability, which makes the docs not look much further now, but I was like this before the disability. My brain is like soup!!!

I know fellow sufferers who blame the drugs they took in their teenage years, but I didn't do that, and one guy who was in the army and suffers.

 

[Spenty]

quite an eye opener.

i never get anxious, didn't even really know what it was about. reading some of the stories on here and the quite obvious life changing effects it has on people is interesting and you have my sympathies, especially the cinema example.

what triggers this though, is it a certain thing in your past that you can pin-point?

I don't know what triggered it for me but it's usually stuff like:

Previous experiences - Being bullied for example

Environmental stress - Work, social events, even things like your diet

Genetic factors - Inherit these disorders

Social learning - Growing up in an environment where you are withdrawn

Neurological - Basically you were born with an over-sensitive amygdala, which is a part of the brain that processes fear and emotions

 

[Lysander]

If you work in IT and you're unemployed might be worth putting your time into something productive as well. Too easy to sit there doing nothing all day!

I would recommend looking to take some exams in Microsoft MCTS/MCITP or Cisco etc, whatever field you want to work in. Will give you some sense of purpose at least.

Would also recommend spending a portion of your day looking for jobs and sending off applications.

You've just reminded me, aromatherapy.

Orange oil is very positive when heated on a burner and can make you feel great.

 

[valkia]

Does anyone else get the falling sudden jolting?

 

[Vix]

Does anyone else get the falling sudden jolting?

Yes, but my disability is Menieres Disease so I put it down to that. It's a balance disorder. My anxiety has been heightened since this has developed though as I'm now scared if falling over as well as being scared of nothing.

 

[caz32]

quite an eye opener.

i never get anxious, didn't even really know what it was about. reading some of the stories on here and the quite obvious life changing effects it has on people is interesting and you have my sympathies, especially the cinema example.

what triggers this though, is it a certain thing in your past that you can pin-point?

Like I said earlier I think was mine was when I was drunk and puked from the hang over. So I have a fear being sick which doesn't help which can make me have anxiety. I know for sure that's what triggered it and I just have times were I'm normal for ages then have my off days, quite annoying really . It makes me feel better reading some of the stuff in this thread too, cause you know your not alone.

Does anyone else get the falling sudden jolting?

I don't get this, but when my anxiety gets quite 'high' or intense I feel kinda drunk or like I'm not with it..

 

[Gackt]

I can relate to how you feel. I suffer from anxiety every single moment of every single day. Even simple things bring on varying levels of anxiety, from mild frustration, to full on panic attacks. I've avoided any kind of medical help, I haven't spoken to a doctor as the thought of it makes me feel pathetic - not to mention the thought of it brings it on anyway. Sometimes it comes on with nothing. It's a constant, draining battle. The only thing that has ever helped has been drugs. Which is not a good thing. It's a complete lack of control.

That said, I went to Australia on my own and was fine. I went to Canada on my own, too. It's quite strange.

I've been considering going a doctor about it, but I'm not sure how I would approach telling them.

 

[Vix]

I can relate to how you feel. I suffer from anxiety every single moment of every single day. Even simple things bring on varying levels of anxiety, from mild frustration, to full on panic attacks. I've avoided any kind of medical help, I haven't spoken to a doctor as the thought of it makes me feel pathetic - not to mention the thought of it brings it on anyway.

I've been considering going a doctor about it, but I'm not sure how I would approach telling them.

I just sat there and went 'I can't go out on my own...' and kind of spilled from there.

 

[caz32]

I can relate to how you feel. I suffer from anxiety every single moment of every single day. Even simple things bring on varying levels of anxiety, from mild frustration, to full on panic attacks. I've avoided any kind of medical help, I haven't spoken to a doctor as the thought of it makes me feel pathetic - not to mention the thought of it brings it on anyway.

I've been considering going a doctor about it, but I'm not sure how I would approach telling them.

Yeah, I felt quite awkward when I went to see my doctor, but as mentioned earlier she just taught me breathing exercises then to phone again if I wanted to see a therapist.. maybe I will one day but for now I can control the nerves quiet easy

 

[Gackt]

My concern is that they'll just try and get me to start taking medication. I've seen how people become dependent on drugs to be 'normal', and I don't really want to be like that. Although I suppose if I press the issue that I want to avoid medication if possible, then they might be a little more helpful. :/

Certainly, recognising there's a problem is the first step to getting help I guess.

I just sat there and went 'I can't go out on my own...' and kind of spilled from there.

Honesty is the best policy I suppose!

Yeah, I felt quite awkward when I went to see my doctor, but as mentioned earlier she just taught me breathing exercises then to phone again if I wanted to see a therapist.. maybe I will one day but for now I can control the nerves quiet easy

That's quite reassuring...I've never had much help from doctors, but it can't hurt to try can it?

 

[caz32]

Just go for it, like I said they will probably just teach breathing exercises like mine did, then say if you can't manage it later down the line they will look into therapy or medication depending how severe you have it.. But there is no way I'm going on meds cause as mentioned its all just in your head so you just try to block out the negativity along with controlled breathing

 

[piggeh]

Yes, can't go anywhere except work on my own, and supermarkets/ pubs are the worst even if I'm with someone. Basically my husband has to come everywhere with me although I have recently found a friend who suffered and understands. But work nights out etc are a no.

Prescribed Citalopram, been on it for 2 years and,it does nothing. Currently coming off it which makes things worse. Don't know what I'm going to do after that. I found CBT was just looking for reasons, but I couldn't find any. When I couldn't find any, the response was 'well you are ok then, get on with it.' woo.

Citalopram is really only a crutch, like a lot of anxiety drugs. You should try and overcome sources of your anxiety whilst you're on it (or make them bearable). Like you say, coming off it can be challenging! I was on it several years ago, I needed it at the time, but it's not good to be on long term.

I've found that CBT is useful, but I've found experience is the best way to conquer my anxieties.

I had toilet phobia ie whenever I was somewhere I could not get to a toilet easily, I would panic. It made me quit university twice (could not sit through a lecture for more than 5 minutes) and at one point meant it was difficult to spend more than 5 minutes outside the house. The only way I overcame it was by spending longer and longer and putting myself in those situations, to prove to myself I can get through them. It's taken me over a decade to get back to a degree of normality, and it's still difficult in some situations (and I still avoid some). It ties in with CBT, because you are evidencing to yourself how illogical your thought process is, and build your confidence in 'surviving' those situations in the future.

There's still a lot of stigma around any mental illness though (depression, anxieties etc), so I don't talk to my mates about it, and work don't know, so it makes things quite depressing sometimes having to deal with it by myself without people fully understanding the situation.

 

[Vix]

They can't make you go on meds if I could go back and tell myself something I'd say don't bother but then again who knows if I'd be worse without them....

Piggeh, that was the an but as I can't find the source of my anxiety, I don't want to mess up my brain totally!! I'm the same, work don't know, a lot of friends don't know, except the ones I've had panic attacks in front of.

I couldn't get on with CBT because it did seem like:

Me: 'I can't go tot he supermarket on my own'
Them: 'why not?'
Me: 'I'm scared. I get all panicy and I can't go in'
Them: 'what are you scared of?'
Me: 'I don't know'
Them: 'well then there's nothing to be scared of, it's all in your head.... Off you go...'

Second therapist: 'what's the problem?'
Me: 'I can't go out on my own'
Them: 'oh that's really strange isn't it?'
Me: 'err not helpful' *gives up*

 

[piggeh]

The thing I found with CBT - I didn't improve much whilst I was doing it, but something stuck and I do think the techniques that I went through at the time I employed form time to time later on.

Also - insist to your doctor that you need therapy or counselling (and get counsellor to refer you to therapy if it goes that way..), and refuse any drugs (if you feel that you don't want drugs, of course). You might find there's a bit of a waiting list but you should be able to access it eventually.