Anxiety returning over time stronger than ever- anyone else?

Mental health
1

Hi everyone,

I have been suffering from intense anxiety for the last two months or so after sustaining a head injury playing soccer. I went to the ER and they said I didnt have a concussion, so that should have made me feel better, but ever since then, every little thing about my body that seems off just kills me.

I have been anxiety free over the last two years (24 years old) after being controlled by anxiety during my first few years of college. I wasnt expecting to ever feel this way again, and it scares me. Recently, I've been worrying about this pain in my chest, which after going to the doctor, turned out to be some inflammed cartiledge near my ribs that will disappate in a few days or weeks. I had an EKG and a chest x-ray to boot and everything is 100% fine, but I'm still having a hard time winding down.

I have been perscribed lorazepam 0.5mg which I have been taking when the need arises (frequently at this point in time) to go with the ever-present zoloft (which I have taken for 3 years now). The scary new reality as of these last few days has been that I am actually afraid to go to sleep because I think that I will stop breathing (even though I just went to the doctor who told me that my heart and lungs are fine!). 

I guess the whole reason I'm posting this is just to ask and start a discussion: has this happened to anyone else here? By "this" I mean conquering anxiety for a long period of time, only to have it come back and bite you a second time? If so, how did you get through it? I have already made an appointment to go see a psychologist next week, and I just want to get to next week feeling in control again. I guess all the therapy from before was lost on me.

Thanks to any who read this,

J

2

This is my first bout with anxiety, but I can tell you for sure you will get through this again. I do have one very important question. Is this psychologist experienced in working with acute anxiety? If they aren't, they will not really get where you are coming from. They will believe you but not be able to help as much as if this is their field, OR they have experienced it themselves.

I just talked to someone new I am thinking of going to; my first question was about their experience with anxiety. It sounds promising and I will have one session with her before I decide whether she "gets" it. Check it out.

3

Thank you for the encouragement, it means a lot to me. I've been more positive over the last two days and I'm returning to a few of the coping mechanisms I had used a few years ago that I thought were gone. 

I will certainly ask the psychologist about their background in anxiety. 

4

John, to really help yourself understand what's going on in your mind and body, and why, Google this, ADRENALINE AND ANXIETY. Then open at least a few of the sites and read. This will help you understand, and begin the process of taking care of this for good. It will also help you talk to psychologist. I am really surprised when people ignore this suggestion, and just keep talking about the problem.

You are taking action and making choices....are moving on to taking back your life, body and mind. Let me know what you thought, and let's go on from there. I am very proud of you. Oh, by the way, understanding the what, why and how made a huge difference to me. For instance, calling adrenaline..."anxiety juice". ,, and we here are all dealing with raging, out of contros adrenaline. WHAT A CONCEPT