I suffer from anxiety and nver did till about 3 years ago. Help?

Question

I beleive its linked to my dad leaving us after cheating when i was 5 etc but i strangely never think of him much. I worry about lots of small things and have so many great things going on for me right now what with getting married and great flexible new job.
I have been off work all week and am not sleeping much. doctor is trying me on Ciprelex / Lexapro and tamazapam to sleep. I am so worried about not being at work as new job and no sick pay. I also worry my wife to be will get fed up of it even though she has suffered with it and understands. I dont seem to get much help by doing breathing excercises or the like. I want CBT or counselling but is expensive privately and long waiting list on NHS. I just always feel on edge and nervous and adrenline pumping and is a viscious circle of worrying about being worried. I am up now at 12am and was hoping to go back to work in morning, Looks unlikely. What can i do?

Answer 1

According to the reading I have done regarding hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), the brain, when it senses that blood sugar is low, will do sometimes strange things to get the blood sugar (glucose) out of storage and into the blood stream. Adrenaline is one sure way to do this. If your worries cause you to get an adrenaline rush (and you say it does), then low blood sugar is probably the cause.

Suggestion? Now, and I mean right now, go to the kitchen and get some protein, meat, a can of tuna (salmon is better) or whatever, and eat it. Also have some carbohydrate, like an apple, or some carrots/celery, and also some nuts or peanut butter. Eat at least 2 ounces of the protein. Then drink a glass of water and then try to relax for 30 minutes. You may find you are able to relax. Repeat this snack in between regular meals, and find yourself a diet (possibly like diabetics eat) that lowers your intake of foods high in natural sugar (high glycemic foods).

Chronic low blood sugar can also cause self-esteem problems, anger management problems and a whole bunch of other physical and mental nasties. You may want to check out the symptoms link on www.hufa.org, and see how you check out.

Answer 2

Believe it or not, even wonderful events in our lives can bring on anxiety. So don't dismiss your new job and marriage as being factors in your anxiety.

As for your dad... Just because you don't think about him doesn't mean that your psyche doesn't carry some sort of negative trauma from his abandonment. Maybe getting married is stirring this pot? Who knows...

No matter what, you CAN find affordable psychiatric services. Do NOT be afraid to call any and all psychiatrists/therapists in your area and ask if they offer free or sliding scale services. If not, they can almost always refer you to a therapist or psychiatrist that does. They key is asking.

With a psychiatrist can get you the appropriate meds, while the therapist can help you learn to cope with any unresolved issues you may have. Seeking treatment from both is the best way to pack a 1-2 punch against the symptoms you are experiencing.

As for your wife... If she's been through this before, then she's the best resource you have at your disposal. Look to her for support and advice. Marriage doesn't mean "perfect," and many of the best marriages are those forged on mutual support during difficult times.

Now go start making some phone calls.

Answer 3

Well if it 12:00 AM--where you are, then you need to rest. If you are that worked up, then I would suggest taking a power walk--for real--or reading to help you fall asleep. I am not sure what those medicines are--except for the Lexapro. You need a nerve pill. Those work wonders for me. I am not in your situation but I have been in a similar one--which was one of the most dangerous and scariest thing in my life!! I was getting married and my dad had died and was starting a new job soon, and I about lost it. I went to see a psychiatrist right away--not a family doctor. You need to get the right doctor who can prescibe the right meds. You may find that after a couple of months, that the current medicines that you are on now, need to be changed in some way. It sounds like you need a mood inhibitor like Lamictal or Lithium or Depakote and then one for nerves and one for depression. You really need to focus on getting better b/f getting a job. If you have to work--try to go in and see how you feel. You may feel better for just getting there and being there--even if you do not do your best. At least you will have tried and if your boss does not realize your effort or take your problem seriously then that is not your fault. You need to worry about you and taking care of you and not to let any thoughts of your boss's or girlfriend's opinion stand in your way.

Answer 4

I am taking lexapro and trazadol for my anxiety and depression. It can take 6-8 weeks for these meds to kick in and really start helping. If you've been on them for longer than this then talk to your doctor about upping the dosage or changing meds all together.
I have a LOT of trouble sleeping myself due to worry and anxiety. I've found that leaving the radio on or a cd playing really helps. I just lay there with my eyes closed and concetrate on the songs. This takes my mind off my worries and I will eventually fall asleep.
Sounds like you have a lot of stuff going on right now. New job, new wife, etc. Just try to relax and believe that everything is going to work out. Talk to your wife about everything, don't shut her out! She can help more than you think she can. I made that mistake with my hubby at first.
Good luck to you!

Answer 5

It sounds like your insomnia is caused by your body building up a tolerance to the Tamazapam. I believe that is a Benzodiazepine and I would get off of it as soon as possible.
Benzodiazepines work great for short term use but I would never take them everyday. Always take BZs as a PRN because they're very addictive and after awhile they'll do more harm than good.

Answer 6

anybody can get anxiety at any time, it can be caused by many things, mine was caused by a viral infection which then caused sinusitis which then caused tonsilitis, subsequently i was ill for about 8 months, while i had tonsilitis i feared my throat would swell too much and stop me breathing, this caused panic attacks, symptoms like, jumping out of my sleep, poor breathing, tight chest, tight throat (very common in panic) poor digestion, visiting toilet alot, pain in hands, i usec and still do to a certain extent worry about many things, im not exactly sure how i got over it, but i researched it over and over until i iknew 100% that the symptoms i was having were in fact anxiety/panic, i also had trouble sleeping/or staying asleep, but as soon as i knew i was only suffering anxiety i told myself to relax, nothing is so bad, you must just learn to relax and recognise the symptoms and send them on their way....i really hope this helps, i know what you are going thru and its awful, but you can get over it and you will if you keep at it, if i can help you anymore, contact me [e-mail] good luck

Answer 7

My own uneasiness seldom approaches full blown anxiety, but here in the United States, here in South Portland, Maine, we have Ingraham Volunteers, which is an organization that monitors a twenty-four help line for anyone who has more than he can handle. No one likes those three a.m. "ambushes" when you wake up feeling worried, but with no clear target for the worry. Over the years, Ingraham has encouraged me never to keep this stuff inside. The important thing is to speak about it, find support, and lately, something new is emerging in the clinical approach to controlling anxiety such as you have: the most important element in controlling your anxiety is in establishing a sense of safety. Isn't that amazing? Something as simple as that. So when you feel "off," the first thing to do is to visually check your immediate environment and make sure you are safe. Safety First has never applied more than in this format. I also found little things, as you will in time, that will help to put a lid on how wild it gets when it is going on inside you. For example, I have cut my coffee drinking in half. Apparently, for me, this was enough to reduce the caffeine quotient back to manageable once again. I am just less "jumpy." I do not take drugs of any kind for my own uneasiness. My doctor (general practitioner) once told me (when I asked about my own anxious feelings) "Chris, sometimes our brains offer up ideas that we have not asked for. We need to look and make sure we are safe, and then gently tell our brains to stop sending those ideas or messages to us, unasked for. With practice, you can tame your mind enough to quiet it down when it is in that excited state which is so unnerving to you." Inclosing, Thank You for letting me speak with you about this issue, which is obviously very important to us. Stick with your doctor's regime, and between the two of you, with time, a solution will slowly emerge. Have the courage to stay with it, no matter what. Sent with lots of good energies from Chris, in South Portland, Maine, U.S.A. (I am 63 years old.)

Answer 8

what ever has caused this will not be solved with antidepresants etc. councelling may work but it wont tell you anything thing you dont already know.there may have been somthing happen three years ago that triggered this anxiety.you need to focus on trying somthing positive like meditation breathing exercises that will help aleviate the stress.good luck

Answer 9

hot bath read before bed hot chocolate relax stop worrying you wont get to sleep i have weeks like this and know its hard but stressing over i wont get to sleep will only make you not sleep its a circle also try getting up early too the later you stay in bed the worse you feel and you wont be able to get to sleep

Answer 10

hi what you have is panic attacks i suffered them for over 10 years i still have them but not as bad as i used to, my doctor said it was because my mum died when i was 10 also my 1st child died at 10 months old of cot death, i couldnt go into work at all because of these i was always a very out going girl these panic attacks took over my life the doctor put me on nerve tablets im still on them, i used to think i was having a heart attack and kept going to the hospital ( nearly every night ) it was the only place i felt safe, at nights when i went to bed i used to jump out of my sleep i even thought i was chocking on my tounge, i dont really know what helped me but i suffered for years, look up panic attacks on google and see what you can find...good luck and all the very best