New to posting although have often found myself scrolling through these forums to try and gain some understanding of what's going on with me.
I'm a 28 year old male. I smoke. I don't drink.
For the best part of 18 months now, I have been suffering with the physical symptoms of anxiety. Exhaustion, nausea, muscle pain, fuzzy head etc - these feelings are constant and are destroying my life. I feel as though I don't 'live' anymore, I simply 'exist'
All my issues seem to be made worse by social commitments. At times when I do go out, the nausea becomes so promenant that I can't eat and struggle to join in with what's going on as all of my focus is put into just trying to get a hold of myself. As a result I've found myself cancelling family engagements and at this stage I don't really consider myself to have any social life at all.
I have been to the doctors over and over again, they have run several physical exams and blood tests and so far everything has come back as being normal. I have been perscribed two different anti-depressant but neither seem to have made any difference.
Anyway, I'm supposed to be getting married in October this year and im dreading it. My fiancee has been incredibly understanding throughout everything, but I can tell even her patience is wearing thin. I'm desperate to be able to focus on her and my big day, but at the moment, I can't see any way out of this black hole.
How do you cope with your anxiety? Are your symptoms constant? Have you been able to beat anxiety? Is there any hope for me at all?!
So sorry your struggling... I understand every symptom you described.. That was me from sept to dec last year.. and some residue anxiety left through January.
But i started CBT a 6 week set.. and wow ... I have always shrugged it off as another thing for docs to pass you off with.
It was hard going and very uncomfortable first session as i couldnt even sit still in the chair... but they have seen it all before and worse.
So i am into week 5 and its really working.
I also do 2x daily mindful meditation and 2x daily listening to positive affirmations.
I have to fit a Full working week around this so i do them in bed before i get up, and in bed last thing at night.
One thing that cured my muscle aches and fatigued arms etc is
Progressive muscle relaxation ... There are loads on the net.
My arms went from tired and heavy to light and free. same with legs.
You can but try.
I hope you find some improvement soon ... keep us upto date in how you do xx
Yes i have it 24/7, the dizziness and heavy head .. i am on antidepressent and i gope they will work. For anxiety we need little high dose and to be patiant as the drug needs 4 to 6 weeks from the targeted dose. Like if i start the med then increase the dose after few weeks, then another increase after couple of weeks, i need to wait 4 to 6 weeks from last increase, i hope you got me there.
Noe for your big day, i think better if you go to the psyc and tell him or her about your situation and they should help you with this by giving you benzo like xanax or so for short time as those drugs are addictive if you take them for long term.
The good thing is that your future wife is understanding which is really help.
I have actually read alot about CBT and similar to you, I had just kind of written it off. Glad to hear it's helped you.
If you don't mind me asking, how did you arrange the treatment? Was it a recommendation from your GP or something you arranged yourself?
Again, thank you for the kind words, it means a lot. Will certainly look into your other recommendations too. Open to literally anything at this point!
Thanks for taking the time out to get back to me, it's greatly appreciated.
I do understand what you're saying with the meds. I was reluctant to even start taking them as I'd heard mixed reviews. Initially I wad perscribed 20mg citalopram which I took for approx 2 months and saw no difference in my condition. Went back to the GP who switched me to another one (forget the name off the top of my head) and took that for a similar amount of time and again, didn't really notice any improvement.
Ideally, I want to try and beat this myself without meds. If my mind got me into this mess, then my mind can get me out of it... Although it doesn't seem to be so far!
Will certainly look into speaking with a therapist as I have often wondered if this has all stemmed from some deep dark part of my subconscious.
As we are all different, Anxiety can can differing problems to people around you.
If you are suffering an Anxiety it can be caused due to illness or getting married so you need to be honest with yourself and work out if you have any fears or concerns.
You have had various tests and all results are clear and you are still not happy with results that can be caused by Anxiety.
If you are concerned because of marriage that can be a cause as one life becomes two and has to move through marraige in unison. This concern may not be the cause, although if it or not you need to consider what is worrying you.
When are you marrying?, Have you set a date ?.
When I married it was a time of big changes, that over the last fourty years I have not regretted.
Are you concerned at work or anything else that is effecting your Life ?.
I understand , I been going through this for almost 9 months can't do nothing, been on medicine after medicine nothing helps I feel,like I'm in a panic attack 24/7 I'm afraid to be alone I wake up in fear, so yes I'm going through it too, I had this before and beat it years ago, after suffering for 10 months , even had electric shock treatment which I do not recommend it was horrible and scared out of my mind I wish there was a magic pill that could correct this, and make us all better, you would think by now there would be. I truly sympathize for you, God Bless you
