What to do about anxiety?

Question

Well I think it's anxiety I got, I'm afraid my heart is going to stop for no reason even though it is perfectly fine. Then I start getting crazy thoughts and thinking about what happens after you die. Should I see a conselor? I've already been to a doctor.

Thank you all so much, so it is very highly unlikely that my heart would just stop without any reason?
I guess I'm going to go to the doctor's again tommorow.

Answer 1

please please please if you think these things get some psychological/psychiatric help. i was a shut-in in my home for 13 years of my life because of panic attacks. i missed out on 13 years of my life, no one should have to do that. life is meant to be lived and now i'm learning to live again. you can get more help at www.onestepatatime.com . sign up for their newsletter, its usually insightful reading. you might also want to check out the tapes and books by lucinda bassett. you can buy them on line at her website, or cheaper on ebay, or free if you look for her name on one of the p2p sites. there are 16 tapes in all. tape 16 is a meditation cd that i love. i fall asleep listening to it every night. as for every day tips, understand, a panic attack/anxiety attack can NOT hurt you!!!! once you feel one coming on do something that causes your system to use adreniline. dance to loud music, go for a fast walk with a friend, work out with weights or a punching bag (thats what i do) or just anything that gets the heart pumping harder. it will cut the time down on the attack and it will help you deal with them better, not to mention its just good for your body to move anyway. dont do anything that gives you time to think. thats the worst thing you can do during an attack. jogging is great to get your body moving and working hard, but it gives you a lot of time to think which is not a good thing. see the difference? here is another trick, pretend you are sitting at a dining table on the long side. without moving your head, move your eyes as if you would be looking from one end of the table to the other pausing at each end. back and forth. the action causes some reaction in your brain that calms you. learn to meditate, hypnosis cd's, pray, anything that will cause you to relax when you are not having an attack will cause you to have less attacks. have a good support system around you of people who care! i cant stress enough how important that is. i will talk to anyone about it. [e-mail]

Answer 2

I agree with rockstarprincess, it's the mind that creates and can control anxiety.

A few years ago I had problems with dealing with social situation, too many people around me, I would get anxious and feel really ill especially when I was forced through work to meet and speak to new people.

Other times I've been convinced I was having a heart attack, but I had it checked and I was fine, it was the anxiety causing it. I went to hospital once convinced my heart was struggling, but it was just anxiety making my heart beat fast, it was a vicuous cycle, heart beats faster, I must be ill, heart beats even faster.

The amazing thing is how quickly it goes if you can get your mind on something else - sounds easier than it is of course, but for me that really was the key. That and knowing I wasnt actually ill at all.

As for thinking about what happens after you die, thats natural, I worry about those people who dont think about these things ;-)

Maybe relaxation techniques and meditation would help you. With relaxation techniques you can concentrate your mind as soon as you feel anxiety starting, no matter where you are, train your mind to concentrate on something else for a minute and the anxiety will lessen. I found a couple of resources about relaxation techniques and anxiety:

Answer 3

Social anxiety can cause these feelings, which can also lead to severe depression,
http://www.socialanxietyinstitute.org/ds...

if not you could be suffering from Generalized Anxiety
Disorder..http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/general_anx...

There is hope; I've been there, and still am there, it is a long, hard struggle. I recommend
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/cognitive_b... worked best for me, with mild anti-anxiety meds. I suffered from social anxiety for over 15 years. I've tried individual therapy, and group therapy and studied psychology for 10 years, as a profession, but also with the hope to cure myself.

Depending on your comfort level, you could go to a psychologist that practices CBT and specializes in anxiety disorders, seek a group therapy, or create one. Usually those that do attend the group therapy are a bit more high functioning because as you know, it can be difficult to speak in a group.

Another idea is to see if there are any local research studies being conducted that you could participate in.

The program that finally worked the best for me is this one: http://www.socialanxiety.us/findinghelp.... and I was lucky enough to have a structured behavioral group to go along with it. Sometimes the people that actually attend this program come back home and form groups.

I recommend a mild anti-anxiety med in addition to CBT therapy.

Any questions, let me know ... I can't tell you how much this has improved my life!

Answer 4

Hi Paul,
I think you might want to seek some professional help. I have anxiety as well and went through all the stages you described.
Your heart is not going to stop!! and the "crazy" thoughts will pass.
I'm so much better now ( it was bad years ago)..but you really should talk to someone about it. Maybe they could put you on something to help you.I hope this helps.

Answer 5

i do no longer advise medicine via fact it won't resolve your issue, basically suppress it so it may come out in yet another type, maybe in a technique happening interior your physique which you will no longer word till that's in simple terms too previous due. As for stress assaults, I had an acquaintance who replaced into interior a similar issue. i did no longer help her via fact she refused help, yet I easily have some unusual the type to handle this. it appears that evidently there are not any large issues on your existence, yet i'm basically assuming from the "be afflicted by assaults of stress for no obvious reason" quote. it may be useful so you might hunt for an risk the place you could concentration on individuals in third international countries, maybe volunteering to distribute malaria alleviation or food, even. once you're coping with a actual disaster, now and returned those issues take the backdrop and bypass away you on my own. on the different hand, rigidity can mount larger and you will finally end up worse off, yet I doubt this.

Answer 6

it does sound like anxiety, first you need to relax, your mind is whats controlling your body, your heart isnt going to stop..depending on how bad this is for you and your age,i would reccomend going to the doctor again and telling him you want a medication for this, paxil/zoloft a very low mg will help you alot..yes if you can see a counselor definitely do so.

Answer 7

Well sometimes i get like that too but try not to think about it while it is happening.

When you feel nervous try and go do do something you like to do and try to clear your head of bad thoughts

When you are doing something you like to do you will get your mind off of whatever scary you are thinking about just breathe and say to your self everything is going to be fine.. if the doctors said you were OK then believe them you are gonna be OK :-)

Answer 8

i had this same problem and they put me on klonopin and lexapro because as you know that is very scary. and yes you should see a therapist and i even checked myself into the hospital for it for a week until the meds kicked in and i am not having any of those feelings so it does work and there is hope. good luck

Answer 9

i always think about death and grave life etc. yet i dont suffer from anxiety. maybe if you see your doctor he will help u