How do you deal with anxiety/depression setbacks?

Question

I have suffered with anxiety for 9 years now. There are times when i am doing great, and then i have a setback and get all the symptoms back, ie heart racing, cant breath, trembling, etc... Just wondering when you get flare ups how do you cope with them and symptoms?

Answer 1

i used to be on medication for anxiety, but when i got pregnant with my daughter (3 years ago) i stopped taking it. like you, i sometimes feel the anxiety coming back....racing heart, etc.....once i recognize that i'm spinning out of control i take steps to regain control over my body. for me, recognizing that i'm feeling that way is half the battle. i use deep breathing technique...from the diaphragm and make myself do yoga. yoga really helps me....makes me relax - and i feel refreshed and good afterwards. i know that this is something i am going to have to deal with for the rest of my life - but i dont want it controlling my life. if you need help - ask for it. if you need medications - take it. if you can find alternative ways to deal with your anxiety - good for you......good luck

Answer 2

The following was sent to me several years ago and still Things That Will Help Make You Feel Good! Think about them one at a time before going on to the next one. It does make you feel good, especially the thought at the end #45.
1. Falling in love.
2. Laughing so hard your face hurts.
3. A hot shower.
4. No lines at the supermarket.
5. A special glance.
6. Getting a card or letter in the mail
7. Taking a drive on a pretty road.
8. Hearing your favorite song on the radio.!
9. Lying in bed listening to the rain outside.
10. Hot towels fresh out of the dryer.
11. Chocolate milkshake (vanilla or strawberry).
12. A bubble bath.
13. Giggling
14. A good conversation.
15. The beach
16. Finding a 20 dollar bill in your coat from last winter.
17. Laughing at yourself.
18. Looking into someones eyes and knowing that they Love you
19. Midnight phone calls that last for hours.
20. Running through sprinklers.
21. Laughing for absolutely no reason at all.
22. Having someone tell you that you're beautiful.
23. Laughing at an inside joke
24. Friends.
25. Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you.
26. Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep.
27. Your first kiss (either the very first or with a new partner).
28. Making new friends or spending time with old ones.
29 Playing with a new puppy or kitten.
30. Having someone play with your hair.
31. Sweet dreams.
32. Hot chocolate.
33. Road trips with friends.
34. Swinging on swings.
35. Making eye contact with a cute stranger.
36. Making chocolate chip cookies.
37. Having your friends send you homemade cookies.
38. Holding hands with someone you care about.
39. Running into an old friend and realizing that some things (good or bad) never change.
40 Watching the expression on someone's face as they open a much desired present from you.
41. Watching the sunrise.
42. Getting out of bed every morning and being grateful for another beautiful day.
43. Knowing that somebody misses you.
44. Getting a hug from someone you care about deeply.
45. Knowing you've done the right thing, no matter what other people think.

Answer 3

It is hard to cope with setbacks, but they are not the end of the world. I am recovering from severe depression and I was told to expect setbacks. I may not be dealing with them in the best way, but I try and tell myself that, even with the setbacks, I am still better off than I was before. I was extremely depressed all of the time before and the setback is not as bad as the long term depression.

Were you experiencing more frequent panic attacks before? Are you setbacks just temporary (and less frequent than before)? If so, then that is all they are --- setbacks and you CAN deal with them knowing you are still getting better. If your setbacks put you into a state where you are just as affected as you were at your worst, then maybe you need to do something different. If you are on medication, it may not be working any longer. If you are dealing with the anxiety other ways than medication, then you may need to seek alternate treatments.

The most important thing is to never give up. Many of us have these problems, so please don't feel as if you are alone.

Answer 4

Have you tried meditation?

Look into it, it's fab! Not only will it help you with your breathing but while meditating you can create a "happy place" in your mind and revisit it when you feel an anxiety episode coming on.

Also, try aromatherapy. Have a massage with some relaxing essential oils and keep a hanky with the same oils with you - when you feel anxious, take out the hanky and breathe in the aroma - you might find this calms you down and you can train your mind to associate this smell with relaxation. Lavender essential oil is a good one (always check with a qualified Aromatherapist before using essential oils as there are some medical conditions where the use of certain oils might be dangerous)

Good luck and take a deep breath! xx

Answer 5

It must be the same world over. The bathroom isn't the issue really. If you use it you clean up after yourself, sis in law included. It would probably ease her bad mood. It is frustrating about the rent thing but it often does well to concentrate on the matter in hand, working toward a more fruitful life for you and Your wife. Fighting in families is something that happens all the time. Being an in law does make us part of a family but, they have known each other all their lives, can I suggest that the role of the husband is to back up his wife when she needs him, be there to work through the frustrations and help in a councilor sort of way. Siblings do fight and say and do lots of things, as they always have, and they make up eventually. If we have agreed and supported the anger and frustration and verbal accounts, when they make up then is is the outsider who is then left in cold.As for how you should feel, ask yourself, and then ask yourself why and how important is it in the bigger scale of what is going on

Answer 6

Recognise it when it is coming on and deal with the tools you used to get past it. Try deep breathing and calming techniques. Get some therapy, it doesn't mean you are crazy nor will it make you crazy. I know for me the deep breathing and realizing I am in control helps. I also re-enforce that with the knowledge that this will pass. Distracting myself helps too. I will sing a song to myself in my head or write. When I am home I play guitar, I took it up to deal with stress.

Answer 7

I find something that relaxes me to redirect all of my energy and to take my mind off what I'm currently dealing with. Sometimes it works, other times it doesn't. You have to find your own balance of what will help you out. I personally, don't like to be medicated, so I just deal with it when the time comes.

Answer 8

Pray

Answer 9

I have to take medication. Klonopin! Its the only way. I have it BAD!

Answer 10

yoga