hello, this is a question for those who have or have had any kind of anxiety.?

Question

what type of resources would you like to have available for you? what kind of resources helped you the most? i.e. information, help groups... what were some barriers or problems with resources?

sorry if this is a bit of a boring question, i am a health student trying to get some ideas from real people rather than articles written by scientists for a change!

what type of resources would you like to have available for you? what kind of resources helped you the most? i.e. information, help groups... what were some barriers or problems with resources?

sorry if this is a bit of a boring question, i am a health student trying to get some ideas from real people rather than articles written by scientists for a change!

thanks to everyone who responded! your answers are very helpful to me and helpful to each other too, hopefully.

i feel a responsibility to say 2 things based on your answers:
1) if all your doctor does is hand out meds and you want more than that, ask for a referral to a psychologist (not psychiatrist) or see a counsellor! psychologists are trained in therapies to help you deal with your problems, like someone else mentioned try find one that knows cognitive behavioural therapy which has been shown to be quite effective.
2) you're definitely not alone!! anxiety disorders are one of the most common psychological disorders.

Answer 1

The barriers seem to be the mental health professionals lack of "teaching" how to deal with my mental health issues. The resources that I see that are lacking are our doctor's lack of teaching patients how to cope.

I explain the anxiety and racing thoughts, etc and the doctor's typical response is to prescribe a new med or increase my dosage. I want COPING SKILLS. What can I do when I can see the onset of a panic attack? What steps can I take to overcome my agoraphobia? I understand that medication is an important part of my treatment but throughout the course of my treatment I have seen 3 different doctors and every time it is always the same..."Let's try this new med..." etc. I personally WANT a doctor to help me with coping skills...so I ask...but what about the patients who do not think to ask? They may not even consider trying to FIND ways to deal with their illness. "Just pop a new pill...increase medication dosage...etc." I feel this mentality keeps those of us with mental illnesses from taking responsibility for ourselves and our problems. Taking personal responsibility is crucial. But there doesn't seem to be much teaching where this is concerned. I see it as a serious issue. And a common one as well.

Answer 2

First I would like to commend you on reaching out to those who would understand anxiety better then any article would. Now to the point, I myself have social anxiety and anxiety. I believe more support groups should be in a pamphlet other then medications. Support groups can give people many different ways to help deal with anxiety, sometimes support groups are not every where and cannot be reached. This is why I have started my own on Yahoo here so that people who don't have access to one where they live do have access to one online. I would like to extend a hand to those who have already answered and are looking for a resource like this so I have put the link to my support group in the sources box. I hope this helps you in your studies. There are also two postings there in case you're interested about anxiety. Good luck.

Answer 3

I saw a community psychiatric nurse for a long time, she was fantastic - informal and a good listener. I saw a therapist first who was very keen for me to have been molested by my Dad - not very helpful. Then another who was wholly unsympathetic - of the "just pull yourself together" school, which was an utterly useles avenue to pursue at that time.I hated him and couldn't talk to him. A kind doctor is the best start though.
If I had problems that bad again, I'd never go back as I'm teacher and don't trust that I could keep it confidential.

Answer 4

I'm assuming this is a relatively new dr. since said you have been taking the wrong medicine for 59 yrs.. I would get a second opinion. 59 years is a long time to think that you are having seizures then have someone tell you that it's not. Get a second opinion to clear up the confusion. Take the records with you. I wouldn't ask the doctor to recommend someone though. Good Luck I hope that you get to the bottom of this and get better soon.

Answer 5

Spiritual resources seem to work best for me.
The existence of a Creator actually helped me to connect the dots,so to speak.
I don't look at life through 'rose tinted glasses' anymore.
I now understand why so many can sit and watch millions of children starve to death and not care.
I don't use my spirituality to answer the questions of how and why the world is as it is.I use it to help me deal with the world as it is.
It's complicated but the result is simplicity and a certain amount of peace.

Answer 6

I would like a place to make some friends that understand anxiety. I suppose this is a support group? Although a symptom of my anxiety is not wanting to go out so it becomes a catch 22 situation.

Answer 7

i am on s.s.i for anxiety.im 34 and had it bad sence i was 27.the thing that helped me most was cognative therapy and to never be alone.groups of other people suffering from the same thing helped me.i dident want to leave my home for 4 months ,because of a overwhelming unknown fear,my heart would pound,thought i was dying,it was aweful! you have to leart to continue on your day when this happens and retrain you mind so you know it will go away.cognative therapy rocks!

Answer 8

Cure Social Anxiety Shyness : http://SocialAnxiety.uzaev.com/?cogu

Answer 9

i would like to meet other people that share my problem so i don't feel like such a freak, i guess. it helps knowing that there are people out there who understand you condition and are going through the same things.