Anyone Here Suffer from Anxiety?

I could write a book about my experience with that a long time ago. had the same feeling of anxiety constantly, but had panic attacks now and then. It turned out for me to be change of life, and it passed, BUT- XANAX SAVED MY LIFE. yes, you have to get off it gradually, but it's well worth it.

I'm sure you will be advised to seek therapy and/or other treatments but if you want relief over those obsessive thoughts, sleepless nights, and the constant feeling of dread - xanax.

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There's nothing more frightening than panic and anxiety. Those who never experienced it can't imagine. And there's really no way to describe it.

I used to listen to those relaxation tapes to get to sleep. Anyway, therapy may have its benefits, but I believe in medications for immediate relief in the time being.

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I have GAD and OCD (double whammy) and I feel you. I'm screwed no matter what I do. Did you know that the major prescription allergy medications can straight up cause anxiety or the physical symptoms of anxiety? I just had to be walked off of Allegra because common side effects after a year include chest pain, nervousness, chills, and increased heart rate. The physical symptoms of a panic attack were causing me to have daily panic attacks.

I find walking helps a bit. I physically need to get myself doing something else to get my mind off of the anxiety.

It's not always possible. I write a lot about film. I'm in theaters multiple times a week. I started having anxiety attacks during the trailers where the theater is just dark enough that my eyes (vision is mucked up, as well) can't pick up the detail in the audience or onscreen. That's been going on for over a year now. I physically have to leave the theater and wait outside until the final pre-show announcement starts. Even then, I'm on edge for the first 10-15 minutes of the film and have to force myself to concentrate.

Thank you all! Wow, I am really sorry all of you have been going through this, although I have to admit It does help to know I'm not alone.

Jane, I am definitely keeping the medication option open. I will see if anything else helps first, and then seek a psychiatrist if I feel like I still am overwhelmed. That is what happened when I had depression in college. I put off taking an antidepressant until I knew I had exhausted all other options. I eventually went on generic Prozac, and it helped get the ball rolling out of the depths.

SNAFU, I am right there with you. I think part of what's exacerbating my anxiety is the obnoxiously cold weather, combined with some external factors (job insecurity, family issues) that just make everything feel very fragile and tentative. I hope you feel better soon!

Carlos, I have been meaning to learn how to meditate for a while. What kind of meditation are you practicing? There is an Insight Meditation group that meets near me that I'm looking into.

trentsketch, wow that sounds really scary. I have actually had to stop going to the movies when I'm feeling really anxious. I get hypersensitive to them and feel sort of assaulted emotionally, especially with heavier films. I will see if walking helps. I fell out of going to the gym before the holidays, and never managed to get back into it. Hopefully, it will help.

I currently suffer from it too. I do go to a therapist and take medication. Though the mes are also supposed to help with my depression and ADHD symptoms too. So, I'm not sure if I could or should recommend what I'm on. But, maybe you could ask a doctor about something less addicting and hard to get off of? I'm not sure if there is anything.

But, I've been going to a group in my area and we have discussed simple ways of trying to beat anxiety a little bit. One idea that we discussed was having a safe gesture or something similar when we're getting overwhelmed with something. It doesn't have to be noticeable or a big thing. It could be something small like counting to yourself or taking some deep breaths. It's up to you with what you feel comfortable doing and if it helps.

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I have been suffering from moderate to severe my anxiety for about fifteen years now (since I was about seven or eight). The panic attacks used to be associated with specific things. However, as I got older and entered high school, I realized that I was anxious about everything. So, I started seeing a therapist and taking medication for (what turned out to be) generalized anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders. I still deal with it every day, unfortunately. Nevertheless, I've been worlds better, since I decided to talk to somebody about it.

Mike, you're right. No one understands the feeling, unless they go through it. You definitely are not alone.

Updated On: 1/28/14 at 12:03 AM

I have battled with anxiety and depression my entire my life. The two are interlinked for me. Recently I have not been in a good place in life which turns into a downhill journey into depression and ultimately panic attacks. I was on Zoloft for years, but my body became immune to it. My doctor switched me to Lexapro, but the switch (going down on one drug while upping the other) made for a few of the most difficult weeks of my life. I would have full-fledged panic attacks. Mostly at night after a long day. Uncontrollable crying, gasping for breath, shaking, body as rigid as a board. There is no way to describe it. It is like being outside of your body while something else just takes over you. My parents almost took me to the hospital a couple times.

My doctor prescribed Hydroxyzine to be taken on an as needed basis. It is a non-addictive medication that is supposed to treat anxiety. I personally do not think it is strong enough for me, but the doctor is hesitant to put me on Xanax. I have also been seeing a therapist regularly.

Anxiety is a nasty thing to suffer from, and it is not something you can describe. It is just like your whole world is crashing in around you and you feel completely doomed. As far as tips go, just try to get yourself to a calm and safe place, ideally where a loved one can be with you, when you feel an attack coming on. Granted you can't always feel it coming on, but if you can get yourself away from people and try to breathe sometimes it can diffuse the intensity of the impending and inevitable attack.

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I suffer from general anxiety and occasional panic attacks. They used to be more frequent, on roughly a 3-4-month cycle, but it’s been over a year since my last one, which was maybe the mildest of them all. (And it passed more quickly than usual.) I was never able to discern a common trigger for them. They happened variously while I was at the movies or in a bar or sitting on my couch at home or going to sleep. They are horrible and debilitating, and if I never have another one, I’ll die happy.

To borrow a line from AiA – “I am generally known where I am known as one cool, collected queen.” But that’s mostly a front. I’m a nervous wreck.

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@ MikeIntheDistrict:

I practice 4 different types of Meditation:


Mindfulness Meditation, Spiritual Meditation, Focused Meditation and Mantra Meditation.

I interchange them quite often. In the morning I may do a Spiritual Meditation and then do a Mantra Meditation in the evening.

If you're interested and live in the city you can visit the Shambhala Meditation Center. They are one of the best.



Shambhala Meditation Center of New York City

I think it's really important that we talk about these things, so there's less stigma.

I completely agree JerseyGirl2.

It definitely is important to talk about this stuff. Like actually can't talk to a lot of people about this stuff because I think they'll all think I'm crazy. Like how do you explain to someone that you body feels like it won't stop and you are constantly on a trampoline when it gets bad? I've even had people say to me "You don't act depressed or anxious. How do you have it?"

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Visibility is important. Too many people are afraid of talking about mental health care. It helps to know you're not alone.