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Anxiety and OCD A support forum for all anxiety disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). |
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02-25-2016, 12:17 AM | #1 | ||
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Junior Member
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In retrospect I think I have suffered from anxiety my whole life but I've never wanted to admit it. Chronic depression was my biggest worry. My mother was a very timid woman with social anxiety. I suffered mental and physical trauma living with an alcoholic as a teenager but had a successful healthcare career. I'm now 59 and retired due to work-related illness. I find that many things cause me stress and now that I'm not working I can't channel it into productivity. I feel my heart pounding and feel stressed about many things, including social interactions.
I'm excited about a number of things in my life but that excitement mixed with stress means I don't get to sleep until 3 a.m. I take 1 or 2mg of ativan/lorazapam in the evenings but need to supplement with other meds like benadryl, sublinox, or imovane in order to get to sleep. An on-line test result = G.A.D. I don't have a regular doctor anymore and the walk-in clinic doc wants to put my on Paxil as I do not have tolerance for Cexlexa. I've always been a problem solver and hate this sense of spinning out of control, but Paxil has a bad reputation, and I recall having trouble getting off it in the past. sorry for the rant. any thoughts? |
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"Thanks for this!" says: | eva5667faliure (02-29-2016), RSD ME (03-13-2016) |
02-25-2016, 01:37 AM | #2 | ||
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Legendary
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Hi akimbo,
I'm really sorry that your anxiety is affecting you so much right now. I understand your reluctance to use the Paxil from the Doctor at the walk in clinic. Is there any way that you can see a Psychologist either privately or at a hospital? That really would be better for you to be seeing someone who can diagnose you correctly and also you could perhaps try some cognitive behaviour therapy. Some people do well just with the CBT. It usually is done over a number of sessions and there can be homework involved. Some people do better with a combination of CBT and a medication, but finding the right medication can be trial and error as you've perhaps already found. There are other options besides the meds like Celexa and Paxil. Some people seem to respond to Propranolol which is a Beta Blocker. The problem with the Beta Blockers I found is that although they can treat the actual physical symptoms that appear when in a state of heightened anxiety, they are more of a 'band-aid' approach and don't work on the cause of the anxiety. The lack of sleep would not be helping you at all. Have you tried any non-drug methods to help you sleep. Everyone is different but I find that taking Tryptophan can help me stay asleep. (You can't take that if you're taking SSRIs though!) Other times I take magnesium. I also try to have a wind down time prior to sleep. Whole body relaxation exercizes can help with that. You can try lying down on the bed and start at the feet and tense your toes, then hold that tension briefly and then relax. Continue that all the way up your body. You'd be surprised how relaxed it feels after doing that regularly. Learn to breathe. Most of us who deal with anxiety tend to not breathe very well when under pressure. Please see if you can get a regular Doctor or a Psychologist who can diagnose you correctly and go from there. Well, keep talking. Let us know how you're doing. |
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"Thanks for this!" says: |
02-25-2016, 03:10 AM | #3 | |||
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Grand Magnate
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Hi akimbo
I agree with what Lara has written. I live with anxiety though I have not been formally diagnosed with GAD. I don't know if this is an option for you but finding a psychologist who has experience of using CBT methods with his/her clients could well help. My psychologist taught me CBT - she calls that my "toolkit". By that she means that if I am experiencing anxiety or if I notice that things are not right with my clinical depression I can choose the right CBT tool and put it into action - almost always this works. I also agree with Lara about breathing. I am not meaning to diminish your feelings of anxiety but often they can have a physiological basis - breathing shallowly can lead to an accumulation of CO2 in the blood. Deep breathing exercises can help here. Finally, whole body relaxation exercises are a great idea. I do them every night in preparation for sleep - they work for me. All the best.
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Knowledge is power. |
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"Thanks for this!" says: |
02-29-2016, 09:48 AM | #4 | |||
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Grand Magnate
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The recommendations are one the money
I just fired my shrink after seven years I am a ssd recipient due to a botched POST CERVICAL DISTECOMEY FUSION @ 5/6-6/7 And then the domino effect took over I am fifty five suffers with OCD all my life I was a high functioning independent woman Mother of four Suffered many issues Such as a suicide my father A mother who I BELEIVE did her best But her true colors came to fruition after his death Astranged we are I have been put on Xanax by my cardiologist Way back in the area of 1994ish Do not have him anymore Problems with the help and scheduling And he took the word of the office manager It mattered because I was at the beginning my menopausal changes With the decision to wean off of Xanax I pray that now knowing of my mutation (MTHFR DNA MUTATION) explain away so many things But now awaiting my DEPLIN and the broad symptoms as a result of my mutation By the way 50% or more have this mutation Will be a huge deal to MY BODY IT MAY HELP WITH MANY OF MY SYMPTOMS that include depression and anxiety This morning I feel the affects of the decrease in my morning dose of meds I wish there were more talk about being ones own advocate Breathing helps this body and mind Just the act of paying attention to my breathing means a lot Hope you get some resolve It isn't easy when one suffers OCD TAKE GOOD CARE me
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someone who cares eva |
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"Thanks for this!" says: |
03-17-2016, 07:38 AM | #5 | |||
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Grand Magnate
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Xanax withdrawal is a "B***H
I want it out of my system And know of the residuals affect And this part is my struggle And it will take some time before I feel better Hope is what I have My OCD keeps me going a bit when I can As my hands determine what I can and can't do But "it" keeps me going So it help a bit in my case I lost my municipal job To my illness Bummer I miss working Me
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someone who cares eva |
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"Thanks for this!" says: | PurpleFoot721 (03-17-2016), RSD ME (04-07-2016) |
03-22-2016, 01:28 PM | #6 | |||
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Grand Magnate
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My blood pressure taken before two o'clock dose was
142/89 pulse 94 This at resting state My heart and the sweats until it gets into my system is a B***H A tough ride it is Something I must do I cannot see this to be the rest of my life I want it out of my body Much calmer now Lying down As my body experiences spasms This is what my pain specialist told me Thursday It is scary I am frightened I do not want to be the reason I induce a heart attack I have my daughter home with me I am hydrated and had a awesome breakfast Will keep sharing My experience strength and hope Me
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someone who cares eva |
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"Thanks for this!" says: |
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