Does anyone here have diagnosed anxiety disorders? Do you know any support groups? Have you recovered/improved and how? I have generalized anxiety, panic, and OCD. I’m doing cognitive therapy, but I know having someone understanding would help a great deal. Thanks for any advice.
By the way, I’m in my late twenties and have had anxiety since I can remember (around age 4 or 5).

Chosen Answer:

I do… I am battling it every day. It is so hard… and I feel like I can’t talk to anyone about it! I have a great doctor, so she helps some. I hear going to a conslr. can help, but i feel uncomfortable with that, just isn’t for me. There are lots of online support groups. I think ivillage can be a great resource. Even things like drinking herbal tea, getting sunshine, getting “pampered” at a spa could help. Yoga and meditation have helped me. Also, email me I’d love to chat!
by: missy
on: 15th June 08

I think I may have depression, but sometimes I really am happy. I have all the signs of depression.
Does a person with depression sometimes have happy moments or are they ALWAYS unhappy?

Chosen Answer:

Depression can take many forms, so from what you say it is hard to say for sure.

However, being depressed does not mean you go around sad all the time, it affects different people different ways and it is completely possible to have the ability to be happy at times too.

Regarding the suggestion by another user that you could be bipolar, even though it may sound like it, I don’t think you are bipolar, generally people with this condition go from massive highs (mania) to deep lows and by the sounds of it thats not how you’re affected.

It probably would be a good idea for you to seek help of some sort, whether it be a professional, such as a psychologist or even just a close friend. Anyone you can talk to pretty much. Talkings not for everyone but a lot of people find it helps.

Sometimes just letting things out can be a massive burden off your shoulders. You could even try talking to someone on here, the advice of an outsider can sometimes be as beneficial, if not more so, than a friend.

Good luck and I hope you get whatever is getting to you sorted out.
by: Dead Zone
on: 13th April 08

my b/f has anxiety, i try to deal with the days were he just doesnt feel like going anywhere or doing anything…the days he doesn’t “feel good” and is grumpy i try not to argue with him..but i really want to know what its like for people with it. Please describe how some of you feel, so maybe i can understand better what he is going through on these days???

Chosen Answer:

I know it must be hard for you as my husband has a hard time dealing with me sometimes. It’s one of those things that’s hard to understand even when you have the disorder yourself. I have had anxiety attacks and such since I was a very young girl. I’m going to try to explain this the best way I know how from personal experiences.

Basically, at least from my experience, my anxiety comes from thoughts and fears. I can be in a car and all the sudden I will have this overwelming fear that I am going to get in a car wreck, that a drunk driver could be out and hit me, that I could run over somebody if they run out in the street or something like that… something a normal person might not worry about or if they did, it would just be a passing thought. But for me, it stays on my mind and brings on this great fear that weighs on my mind.

I have irrational fears, like when I go in a gas station, I fear that somebody might come in and rob the store and shoot us all, or if I am out by myself, that somebody might kidnap and/or rape me. When I was little, I used to have to pack a suitcase every night and put it by the door in case the house burned down. I have to check the stove several times because I’m afraid that I’ve left it on. It causes my mind to go so fast around these thoughts I can’t think of anything else. My stomach hurts, my blood pressure rises, and I often can’t breath and start crying, especially when I have bad ones.

I have a fear of being around a lot of people as well, because I don’t like being around a lot of people when this occurs and also because I fear people judge me. This is actually really hard for me to write out, but I feel like people need to be educated to understand what really goes on in the mind of somebody who has anxiety.

I have to have constant reassurance… if my husband gets quiet or gives me a certain look I’ll wonder if he’s mad at me. I don’t go out with my friends much anymore cause I just don’t like being out of the house.

Anxiety also has many physically effects on you. Like I said, I get where I can’t breath, I cry, my blood pressure rises… but aside from that I stay tired all the time. I never really want to do anything because I’m tired and because I don’t want to be out with people.

I don’t really know if this helped you at all, because I don’t know how your b/f’s anxiety is like, but this is how I feel. I would suggest you talk to him and ask him how he feels. I’m sure he would be willing to share these feelings with you so that you can understand what life is like for him.
by: cherrycoladreamer
on: 14th September 06

I have a problem with nervousness especially when visiting a doctor, my heart starts pounding very hard and my palms start sweating heavily and I usually have the urge of running out on my appointment. It gets worse when they monitor my blood pressure it usually reads dangerously high due to my nervous attacks. I have similar symptoms when I have to public speak or be interviewed for a job. Are these signs of anxiety? Does anybody have similar symptoms I have?

Chosen Answer:

you should see a counselor. they are available at church, through some jobs, schools, etc…this anxiety came from somewhere. when you sit down and talk with a counselor, they will help you get to the root of how this anxiety began and if you are willing to help yourself, the anxiety will be eliminated or totally diminished…it depends on how often you go and the amount of confidence you have in yourself. this can change, don’t fret. you have already made the first step by admitting that this is a problem for you. good luck!
by: vivekananda20
on: 17th January 08

I know I am depressed. I am pissed off about everything, don’t eat, don’t sleep, and I hate my life. But I refuse to go to take medicine because I like doing things as natural as possible. Is there anything else to help me out of my depression?

Chosen Answer:

I talk to my friends. It’s good when you have someone that you can trust to talk to so you don’t keep everything bottled inside. I used to do that then discovered the hard way that when I try to keep things bottled they have a way of exploding.

Music also helps…find positive music…music that you love some that you can scream along to when you’re just pissed and feel like no one really gives a f’. I like Linkin Park, Incubus, Metallica & Eminem for this. Sometimes it helps to just scream along with who ever is singing and get it out of your system.

I also keep a journal. I write and vent it feels like talking to someone and it helps.

Hope you find the help that you need.

~ Blessings
by: Lucky
on: 2nd January 07

According to the Yahoo! Philippines News article http://bit.ly/d1wR2R, about 50% of adults have occasional insomnia while 10% have chronic insomnia. There are different causes which means there are different ways to deal with it as well. Have you experienced insomnia? If so, how did you deal with it? What did you do to beat insomnia?

Chosen Answer:

Yes I have had insomnia for some 30 years and counting. This is how I deal with it.

Between 10pm – midnight sleep 2 hours. Then do business preparation for 1 hour over a glass of wine. As my thinking slows down I go back to sleep for another couple of hours. Then get on the phone to Europe (they are 8 hours ahead) conducting my business. Around 7am I go to sleep for 2-3 hours again. In the afternoon a siesta.

Now that is because I have had years to handle my insomnia symptoms; think through insomnia remedies. I believe that most insomnia treatment comes from a thinking self. It is too easy to go from pill to pill. From time to time I take melatonin – that works for a couple of months and then…..
Everyone is stuck on traditional sleep times. So us insomnia sufferers need to think out of the box.

Different age groups suffer differently. Teens are short on experience, and struggling to handle what they think is teenage insomnia, as apart from temporary sleep disorders.
Step one – organize your time. Get routine in your life. Let mind and body sync.That cuts down the confusion. Refuse to get stressed from 2 hours before bedtime: read if you like, pretend to study by reading up on classwork if you can.
Try to get from under the headlights. By any insomnia definition you do not have insomnia: just teenage stress.
Try reading the below web site which gives you a basic understanding about insomnia. The blogs will help.
by: JT1998
on: 5th March 10

I have anxiety and depression and its ruining my life. A lot of things trigger it. I dont have many friends, Im afraid to go to college and to get a job. Its hard for me to talk to people. What can I do to stop anxiety and depression? I cant afford therapy or medicine at the moment.

Chosen Answer:

Avoid your triggers if possible.
Exercise, balanced diet, low sugar and caffeine intake. Try to set aside time to do something you like during your day. When u you feel it coming on, stop, go to a quiet place, close your eyes and breath. Remind yourself this will pass. Start writing down what your feeling. Just get it out.
I do recommend therapy or talk to your doctor, clinics or some therapists do a sliding pay scale. When you think you can’t afford it remember this…depression can become a life or death situation. It’s also about the quality of your life. Do whatever it takes to make it better.
by: Special K
on: 12th June 11

I just started taking effexor on Thursday for depression, anxiety, muscle pain, and migraines. Before I started taking it I would always wake up early in the morning (6 to 7 am) and not be able to fall asleep but now I also am waking up about 4 times throughout the night and having a hard time falling back asleep. My question is will this go away after the 1st couple weeks of taking this drug or will I continue having insomnia the whole time?
I have always avoided taking pills but my depression/anxiety got so bad I just lay on the couch and watch tv day from the physical pain it causes me.

Chosen Answer:

I had that too when I first started taking Effexor. After about 10 days my sleeping patterns were back to normal, and after a month the benefits of taking it far outweighed the first couple of weeks of insomnia. If you’re still sleeping badly in a couple of weeks you should see your doctor, as with any other side effects that haven’t gone away by then. God luck!
by: Rain Dogs
on: 20th February 09

I notice that I have insomnia which is something that I have never dealt with before and it is making it hard for me to go to sleep. I have heard that Sleeping pills are bad because they make the body dependent on them later on but I feel like I have a hard time going to sleep.

Chosen Answer:

benadryl (diphenhydramine) is a great drug to help you sleep. It is sold over the counter (OTC) in most pharmacies. The best part is that it is non-habit forming, so your body will not get dependent on it.

Another drug to try is melatonin. Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone in the body. Taking it medicinally can help with insomnia. Do not take melatonin if you have high blood pressure (can raise BP), diabetes (can raise blood sugar), depression (can make symptoms worse), or a seizure disorder (can potentiate seizures)

One more option could be Valerian root extract. This has been shown to help treat insomnia. Do not drink alcohol with this drug, or other CNS depressants because they could increase each others effect in the body
by:
on: 24th October 11

I’m one of those people that have a really hard time dealing with stress and anxiety. How do you deal with stress and anxiety?

Chosen Answer:

Negative emotions (like sadness, stress, anger, etc.) causes your Serotonin production to be low; when your Serotonin level is low, you are more prone to getting Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Depression, etc.

Medication like Antidepressants (SSRI – Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) helps to boost Serotonin level.
But there are natural ways to do it without medication. There’s this strange herb called “St John’s Wort” – it is said to be more effective than Prozac. No, it is not for mild depression only and ignore those sayings. In fact, it does help anxiety and panic-attacks as St John’s Wort works like prozac. Other natural ways will be exercise, diet, more exposure to light, etc.

The problem is that, even if your Serotonin is balanced… you have that “learned behavior” in your mind. You need to break that initial cycle to destroy that learned behavior – Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) does this. A technique that you can use without CBT will be Distraction… There are several other techniques to help cope them!
Ok, to use Distraction: Firstly, try to….

Extracted from Source.
by: Piper G
on: 5th October 08