I posted this under the internal shaking in response to how the last few days have been and am copying it here, as it ended in a panic attack and needed to share. Thanks.
Well, my afternoon of worry sent me into a doosy of a panic attack. the worst one in a very long time. I was so worked up over these feelings that my 5:30 I was tingly all over, my arms were burning, jaw felt weird, left leg, so tight and the muscles in the thigh. I knew I had an event for my daughter tonight I had to go to, so I took a xanax at 5:45. Left the house at 6:45, and felt like I could run a marathon. I stayed outside before the event and walked around, took another xanax and finally calmed down to a reasonable level. Enough to stay put for the whole hour and a half and even sit still. Funny, no tingling, no buzzing, no pain no aches then. So, the moral of the story, I guess I dont' have a disease, just hormones and panic related "feelings". I was ready to run the to er, really, truly. Just get through what I went to and run to the er. I even wrote down the vitamins I take, etc. so they would have record of them. Now, I feel like me. Just like I should. Maybe a few days of the twice a day xanax, like my doctors have said, but I never do, it truly in order for now, just to settle everything down.
Thanks so much for listening to me ramble on and on, I just needed to "talk". Really, thanks' for being there as always.
Full Version: this hit me like a ton of bricks
Power Surge Forums > Board Discussions > Panic Attacks, Panic Disorder, Fears, Phobias, Apprehension
Dear Enough,
As one who has "been there", I would recommend taking the xanax twice a day. I, too, resisted following my doctor's instruction about taking my ativan
twice daily during my worst. However, once I gave in and did it, it was just enough to stop the cycle of anxiety. I was back to as needed dosing within two weeks. The way the doctor explained it was that my anxiety about the anxiety had to be stopped and that is what the ativan would do. It took close to two weeks of taking the ativan morning and night in order to restore a calm feeling. My body had to 'relearn' how to relax and not be anxious about being anxious and once I gave myself permission to use the ativan, it helped. Gosh, that was two years ago and I now just use the ativan as needed. I have gained the knowledge of knowing when I am triggered to constant anxiety, I need the ativan to stop the cycle.
Kind of early in the morning for me, so not sure if this makes sense. So for what it is worth ... try it for one day, then the next and reevaluate at the one week mark. If it is helping, go for the next week. By week two, I was feeling so much better that I would forget that I had anxiety. Had no problem stopping the med after two weeks. I felt so much better.
~with kind understanding~
janeann
As one who has "been there", I would recommend taking the xanax twice a day. I, too, resisted following my doctor's instruction about taking my ativan
twice daily during my worst. However, once I gave in and did it, it was just enough to stop the cycle of anxiety. I was back to as needed dosing within two weeks. The way the doctor explained it was that my anxiety about the anxiety had to be stopped and that is what the ativan would do. It took close to two weeks of taking the ativan morning and night in order to restore a calm feeling. My body had to 'relearn' how to relax and not be anxious about being anxious and once I gave myself permission to use the ativan, it helped. Gosh, that was two years ago and I now just use the ativan as needed. I have gained the knowledge of knowing when I am triggered to constant anxiety, I need the ativan to stop the cycle.
Kind of early in the morning for me, so not sure if this makes sense. So for what it is worth ... try it for one day, then the next and reevaluate at the one week mark. If it is helping, go for the next week. By week two, I was feeling so much better that I would forget that I had anxiety. Had no problem stopping the med after two weeks. I felt so much better.
~with kind understanding~
janeann
Janeanne
Did you have to wean off the ativan slowly? The reason I'm asking is because I was taking Klonopin everyday and stopped because I felt better and one day woke up and I started feeling like crap all over again. I started taking it again so I guess I have to wait and see.
Char
Did you have to wean off the ativan slowly? The reason I'm asking is because I was taking Klonopin everyday and stopped because I felt better and one day woke up and I started feeling like crap all over again. I started taking it again so I guess I have to wait and see.
Char
thanks Janeanne,
i will try this to see if if works. My doctor did tell me to do the same thing a while ago when things get out of control. I am so mad about it right now. I felt so good for three months and boom, it's hard to get a grip again. I am really furious. I better try and take a chill pill. I hope your day goes well.
i will try this to see if if works. My doctor did tell me to do the same thing a while ago when things get out of control. I am so mad about it right now. I felt so good for three months and boom, it's hard to get a grip again. I am really furious. I better try and take a chill pill. I hope your day goes well.
Hi Char and enough,
I can really only tell the story of what worked for me. I took ativan 0.5 mg twice daily for two weeks, then I took ativan 0.5 daily for one week, then stopped and I was good. I only use it as needed right now. If I hit a rough spot, I will reconsider. I did not have any withdrawal type symptoms at all.
My doctor (Internist) explained that my cycle of anxiety needed to be stopped and he thought for me that twice daily dosing of a small amount for a short period of time would do it. I don't always take his suggestions, but this one I finally did because I was so terribly miserable. And it worked.
I still kept up the healthy things ... walking, eating well, limiting caffeine and all that jazz. But it truly was the ativan that stopped the anxiety. Why I fought taking it is a mystery to me.
I wish you both the best. This really can be a challenging journey.
~traveling along with you on this journey called menopause~
janeann
I can really only tell the story of what worked for me. I took ativan 0.5 mg twice daily for two weeks, then I took ativan 0.5 daily for one week, then stopped and I was good. I only use it as needed right now. If I hit a rough spot, I will reconsider. I did not have any withdrawal type symptoms at all.
My doctor (Internist) explained that my cycle of anxiety needed to be stopped and he thought for me that twice daily dosing of a small amount for a short period of time would do it. I don't always take his suggestions, but this one I finally did because I was so terribly miserable. And it worked.
I still kept up the healthy things ... walking, eating well, limiting caffeine and all that jazz. But it truly was the ativan that stopped the anxiety. Why I fought taking it is a mystery to me.
I wish you both the best. This really can be a challenging journey.
~traveling along with you on this journey called menopause~
janeann
Hi,
It's funny you say you fought taking it, i did too. I look back and notice that I never took more than two a day at .25 mg and only for a few days. Then a week or so once a day. It did help so much and I never got addicted. I still dont' know why I resist doing it again when needed. I had my primary care, gyn and gastro all tell me, Take something!!!! NOW!!!!! My family and friends say it too. I recommend it to others that are going through this, why not me? I know it works. When my arthritis is really bad, I take ibuprofen to reduce the swelling, so why not this? If I was diabetic I would take insulin, so why is this different? Who knows, but I will really try to do this. Thanks again for your support.
It's funny you say you fought taking it, i did too. I look back and notice that I never took more than two a day at .25 mg and only for a few days. Then a week or so once a day. It did help so much and I never got addicted. I still dont' know why I resist doing it again when needed. I had my primary care, gyn and gastro all tell me, Take something!!!! NOW!!!!! My family and friends say it too. I recommend it to others that are going through this, why not me? I know it works. When my arthritis is really bad, I take ibuprofen to reduce the swelling, so why not this? If I was diabetic I would take insulin, so why is this different? Who knows, but I will really try to do this. Thanks again for your support.
I took my first xanax at 9:30 am and felt good all day. Another half at 5 ish. It's now 8:30 and I could feel a little stomach tightening, I am trying to fight it off, maybe I'll go for a glass of wine. Half of .25 mg three and half hours later should be ok.
I hope you all have a great feeling weekend.
I hope you all have a great feeling weekend.
Dear enough,
If you would like, I will check on you through this forum while you are trying to get the anxiety under control.
At least during the first week you are taking the anti anxiety med. So post each day and know that I am reading.
Okay? Don't fight taking the drugs if they help you. It sounds like you are going to try.
I think that is something that would have helped me in 2007, having someone monitoring my daily progress. I still can't believe that it
has almost been two years. Things do flare now and again, but the weirdest and worst symptoms seem to be over.
~hoping for a anxiety free evening~
janeann
If you would like, I will check on you through this forum while you are trying to get the anxiety under control.
At least during the first week you are taking the anti anxiety med. So post each day and know that I am reading.
Okay? Don't fight taking the drugs if they help you. It sounds like you are going to try.
I think that is something that would have helped me in 2007, having someone monitoring my daily progress. I still can't believe that it
has almost been two years. Things do flare now and again, but the weirdest and worst symptoms seem to be over.
~hoping for a anxiety free evening~
janeann
I appreciate you doing this. I am so worried again today. My muscles and joints are sore and were twitching as I fell asleep, so I "know" i have an awful disease. My stomach is tensing and spasming. I really hate this whole thing. I will take the xanax around 9. I just ate, so I want to give it a little time to digest. Thanks so much for your caring. I hope you have a good day today.
ann' date='Apr 4 2009, 01:00 AM' post='276552']
Dear enough,
If you would like, I will check on you through this forum while you are trying to get the anxiety under control.
At least during the first week you are taking the anti anxiety med. So post each day and know that I am reading.
Okay? Don't fight taking the drugs if they help you. It sounds like you are going to try.
I think that is something that would have helped me in 2007, having someone monitoring my daily progress. I still can't believe that it
has almost been two years. Things do flare now and again, but the weirdest and worst symptoms seem to be over.
~hoping for a anxiety free evening~
janeann
[/quote]
ann' date='Apr 4 2009, 01:00 AM' post='276552']
Dear enough,
If you would like, I will check on you through this forum while you are trying to get the anxiety under control.
At least during the first week you are taking the anti anxiety med. So post each day and know that I am reading.
Okay? Don't fight taking the drugs if they help you. It sounds like you are going to try.
I think that is something that would have helped me in 2007, having someone monitoring my daily progress. I still can't believe that it
has almost been two years. Things do flare now and again, but the weirdest and worst symptoms seem to be over.
~hoping for a anxiety free evening~
janeann
[/quote]
enough,
Do you wake up early even though you can sleep in? And does your anxiety hit the minute you open your eyes? Cause thats how I wake up. As soon as I wake up wee hour my stomach starts curling, mind racing thoughts out of control. It's hard for me to take my Klonopin so early because I'm so tired to begin with. Oh and thank you I had a good birthday thanks to my family being there for me.
Do you wake up early even though you can sleep in? And does your anxiety hit the minute you open your eyes? Cause thats how I wake up. As soon as I wake up wee hour my stomach starts curling, mind racing thoughts out of control. It's hard for me to take my Klonopin so early because I'm so tired to begin with. Oh and thank you I had a good birthday thanks to my family being there for me.
Dear enough,
I am curious about something. Do you do any deep breathing exercises?
Here is something I do to get my mind focused and to relax my muscles/joints.
Take a deep breath in through your nose and in your head say "calm",
then exhale slowly through your mouth and say "and relaxed". Start with doing this 10 times.
You can do this anywhere at anytime.
I know this is hard when you are anxious ... it is very difficult to make your mind
slow down. Don't worry about doing it wrong or anything like that. If you can only succeed with one
repetition, that is great. Then next time try to do two repetitions. You can not mess this up, you just need
practice. When I exhale, I shut my eyes and visualize a candle flickering about twelve inches in front of me.
I am trying to make the flame flicker, not blow it out, so my exhalation is nice and slow through pursed lips.
Chaotichar - maybe you could try this right away when you wake up.
Power surge sisters, this is just a suggestion and something that worked for me. I can now do this whenever I
feel the anxiety begin because I practiced it a LOT. Sometimes if life is getting too much for me, I do have to withdraw
to a quiet area ... but for the most part, I can do this anywhere (well, I can't shut my eyes if I'm driving!!!).
~remember .... calm .... and relaxed~
janeann
I am curious about something. Do you do any deep breathing exercises?
Here is something I do to get my mind focused and to relax my muscles/joints.
Take a deep breath in through your nose and in your head say "calm",
then exhale slowly through your mouth and say "and relaxed". Start with doing this 10 times.
You can do this anywhere at anytime.
I know this is hard when you are anxious ... it is very difficult to make your mind
slow down. Don't worry about doing it wrong or anything like that. If you can only succeed with one
repetition, that is great. Then next time try to do two repetitions. You can not mess this up, you just need
practice. When I exhale, I shut my eyes and visualize a candle flickering about twelve inches in front of me.
I am trying to make the flame flicker, not blow it out, so my exhalation is nice and slow through pursed lips.
Chaotichar - maybe you could try this right away when you wake up.
Power surge sisters, this is just a suggestion and something that worked for me. I can now do this whenever I
feel the anxiety begin because I practiced it a LOT. Sometimes if life is getting too much for me, I do have to withdraw
to a quiet area ... but for the most part, I can do this anywhere (well, I can't shut my eyes if I'm driving!!!).
~remember .... calm .... and relaxed~
janeann
Floater reminded me once to do the square breathing, which I believe is similar. I'll try anything. I just hate the sensations that anxiety bring along. I think mine have been worse from all the damp weather, my hands, fingers,ankles, knees, toes and jaw are so stiff that is sends me into a tizzy. Then I stiffen up and tense up and of course later, my muscles spasm, then I start getting all anxious all over again. It is a vicious cycle. I must say xanax helps alot if i catch it in time, which should signal my pea brain into knowing I am really fine. I need rewiring. Maybe my bcps arent up to the changing hormones. I am catching up from the placebo week 2 weeks ago and two days of missed pills last week when I ran out. I just need to remember I was fine for three months. It's just so hard when all things strike again.
Thank you all for listening to my _itching and moaning.
Thank you all for listening to my _itching and moaning.
QUOTE (enough @ Apr 3 2009, 05:22 PM) 
I took my first xanax at 9:30 am and felt good all day. Another half at 5 ish. It's now 8:30 and I could feel a little stomach tightening, I am trying to fight it off, maybe I'll go for a glass of wine. Half of .25 mg three and half hours later should be ok.
I hope you all have a great feeling weekend.
I hope you all have a great feeling weekend.
I know I'll no doubt get flak for this, but I used to work in a Pharmacy and want to advise you to be careful mixing alcholol and Xanax or any controlled drug.........even some UN controlled drugs you have to be careful if drinking *any* amount of alcholol.
Hope you feel better soon. I deal with anxiety, too and it ebbs and flows, but I take long walks and try to exhaust myself........not a good thing to do in my case, but I do it anyway. Seems to help the anxiety anyway.
Take care.
No flak here for that. You are right. 100% right. I knew I shouldnt' have done it, but I was so wound up, I did walk around outside in the rain for a little and nothing seemed to calm me. Next time, i will wait until it's out of my system completely. I thought since it was a half and three and a half hours later, it was ok.. Luckily I finally fell asleep.
Thanks for the reminder. I needed that.
Thanks for the reminder. I needed that.
Hi enough,
How is today? Did you get enough sleep and do you feel refreshed?
How is the anxiety and have you any ideas for dealing with it today?
Does it feel like your body is getting "rewired" again?
I am hoping that this is short lived for you and you will be back to feeling better soon.
I will echo guitarplayer about mixing drugs and alcohol. A bad mix is alcohol with acetaminophen (tylenol) ...
that combination is very hard on the liver. I'm not up to date on mixing over the counter herbal preparations with alcohol ...
anybody with information on that?
~have a peaceful day~
janeann
How is today? Did you get enough sleep and do you feel refreshed?
How is the anxiety and have you any ideas for dealing with it today?
Does it feel like your body is getting "rewired" again?
I am hoping that this is short lived for you and you will be back to feeling better soon.
I will echo guitarplayer about mixing drugs and alcohol. A bad mix is alcohol with acetaminophen (tylenol) ...
that combination is very hard on the liver. I'm not up to date on mixing over the counter herbal preparations with alcohol ...
anybody with information on that?
~have a peaceful day~
janeann
I went out to dinner last night and almost left. My stomach was soooo tense, but I made it. Today I was fine until an hour ago. Took a shower/bath, got out and my wrists started hurting, my left leg felt weird and then boom, my nose started tingling, my heart racing, muscles feel so tight and like they will start twitching. I took .25 mg of xanax and am sitting watching a movie trying to calm down. Maybe the xanax twice a day at 9 and 3 would be smarter. Just get up and do it rather than wait. I could just cry, I feel like I want to cry and cry and cry. I hate this so much, I was soooo good for sooo long and can't understand this. I feel like I have a disease that noone has caught. I can't calm my mind down.
Thanks for asking, I will be fine in an hour or so. I appreciate you checking in, I will keep you posted.
How are you today?
Thanks for asking, I will be fine in an hour or so. I appreciate you checking in, I will keep you posted.
How are you today?
Good evening enough,
I'm checking on you a little late tonight. I worked all day.
How did today go for you? Were you a tiny bit more relaxed or at least not so
anxious? When you feel like crying, are you able to or do you just feel like it (and no tears come)?
I think the being unable to cry is worse because you just can't get the feelings
out. Crying is okay.
Did you try the xanax at 9 am and 3 pm today to ward off the anxiety?
~wondering about you~
janeann
I'm checking on you a little late tonight. I worked all day.
How did today go for you? Were you a tiny bit more relaxed or at least not so
anxious? When you feel like crying, are you able to or do you just feel like it (and no tears come)?
I think the being unable to cry is worse because you just can't get the feelings
out. Crying is okay.
Did you try the xanax at 9 am and 3 pm today to ward off the anxiety?
~wondering about you~
janeann
Thanks Janeann,
Yes I did it at 9 and 3 and seemed to do well. I will do it again today. I just felt more like myself. My stomach was still a little tense in the afternoon, but not to the level it has been, so I think I am getting there. I worked too and that felt good. Will work today today, so that always helps.
Thanks for being so thoughtful. I hope your day goes well.
Here's to a great day!!!!
Yes I did it at 9 and 3 and seemed to do well. I will do it again today. I just felt more like myself. My stomach was still a little tense in the afternoon, but not to the level it has been, so I think I am getting there. I worked too and that felt good. Will work today today, so that always helps.
Thanks for being so thoughtful. I hope your day goes well.
Here's to a great day!!!!
Hi enough,
Okay, sounds like you are on a schedule for your xanax and it is helping you, well, to feel like you. Sounds like
the xanax is keeping the anxiety at bay. Good job.
Are you sleeping better? A good sleep schedule is beneficial in many ways. (BTW, I am a horrible sleeper.)
Work is a great distraction. Since I quit nursing at the nursing home and switched to being a pharmacy clerk, I am
happier and much less stressed. I don't make much money, but my mental/physical health is so much better.
~eager to hear how today goes for you~
janeann
Okay, sounds like you are on a schedule for your xanax and it is helping you, well, to feel like you. Sounds like
the xanax is keeping the anxiety at bay. Good job.
Are you sleeping better? A good sleep schedule is beneficial in many ways. (BTW, I am a horrible sleeper.)
Work is a great distraction. Since I quit nursing at the nursing home and switched to being a pharmacy clerk, I am
happier and much less stressed. I don't make much money, but my mental/physical health is so much better.
~eager to hear how today goes for you~
janeann
Did the two xanax's today and it helped. I am very very uncomfortable with wrist, finger, ankle, and foot pain though. They were hot and burning and lots of pain. all tests came out clear, but I hear you can still have arthritis with a negative blood test, soooo.
Today, I was doing really well. Until 1:00. No xanax until then instead of 9. Felt good, walked the dog, worked out for an hour, did lots of computer work for me and my hubby and then all at once, my wrists, fingers, and ankles felt weird, not numb, not tingly, just stiff, then oh my, the panic set in AGAIN. Big time. Almost cancelled a work appointment this afternoon to run to the er and see what i have. Well, I took the xanax and within minutes calmed down, vacuumed the house and yes, they still hurt, but I am coping fine, will work and want to. I guess the cold snap made my aches and pain really start again. Boy do I hate that and the way I get. I can handle if they really hurt, but that stiffness freaked me. Dumb I know.
Well, off to be a busy worker bee. Please wish me some good calm thoughts for tonight and tomorrow. Maybe I need to move to Florida!!!! GEt out of the northeast and the yucky weather.
Good day to all of you. Thanks
Today, I was doing really well. Until 1:00. No xanax until then instead of 9. Felt good, walked the dog, worked out for an hour, did lots of computer work for me and my hubby and then all at once, my wrists, fingers, and ankles felt weird, not numb, not tingly, just stiff, then oh my, the panic set in AGAIN. Big time. Almost cancelled a work appointment this afternoon to run to the er and see what i have. Well, I took the xanax and within minutes calmed down, vacuumed the house and yes, they still hurt, but I am coping fine, will work and want to. I guess the cold snap made my aches and pain really start again. Boy do I hate that and the way I get. I can handle if they really hurt, but that stiffness freaked me. Dumb I know.
Well, off to be a busy worker bee. Please wish me some good calm thoughts for tonight and tomorrow. Maybe I need to move to Florida!!!! GEt out of the northeast and the yucky weather.
Good day to all of you. Thanks
Hi enough,
Spring and warm weather has been slow to arrive in the midwest, too.
We all need a dose of sunshine and warmth!
Okay, you worked through the weird joint stuff today. Could very well
be weather related.
The xanax is helping with the panic. That is a good thing.
~calm thoughts coming your way~
janeann
Spring and warm weather has been slow to arrive in the midwest, too.
We all need a dose of sunshine and warmth!
Okay, you worked through the weird joint stuff today. Could very well
be weather related.
The xanax is helping with the panic. That is a good thing.
~calm thoughts coming your way~
janeann
Hello enough,
Just checking in with you. How are you doing?
Are you over the worst of the panic/anxiety?
Just wondering.
~Happy Easter~
janeann
Just checking in with you. How are you doing?
Are you over the worst of the panic/anxiety?
Just wondering.
~Happy Easter~
janeann
I seem to be leveling out. I hate to say that and jinx it, but the last few days anxiety wise have been pretty good. I was down to one xanax by Wed. and none Thurs. or Fri. and today, so far so good.
Thanks so much for all your support. I really appreciate it.
Have a Happy Easter too.
I hope you are well.
Thanks so much for all your support. I really appreciate it.
Have a Happy Easter too.
I hope you are well.
I am new to this board, today, and am trying to get a handle on my anxiety problems. It is more of an every day variety that sometimes ends in panic feelings and almost always results in hot flashes. Does anyone here have problems with procrastination and feeling overwhelmed? I have gotten to the point that even trying to "just do it", like all of the anxiety sites advise, brings on anxiety, panic feelings, hot sweats and a feeling of being paralyzed in inaction. =/ Any tips?
QUOTE (g.marie @ Apr 12 2009, 10:37 AM)
I am new to this board, today, and am trying to get a handle on my anxiety problems. It is more of an every day variety that sometimes ends in panic feelings and almost always results in hot flashes. Does anyone here have problems with procrastination and feeling overwhelmed? I have gotten to the point that even trying to "just do it", like all of the anxiety sites advise, brings on anxiety, panic feelings, hot sweats and a feeling of being paralyzed in inaction. =/ Any tips?
Dear g.marie
lA great big welcome to this Site.So glad you are joining us.There are many lovely ladies on board with lots of advice and most importantly the ability to listen and understand without judgement.
You do not mention your age but it sounds as if you are Menopausal so before you do anything,it might be wise to get your hormone levels checked out.Also have your Thyroid levels checked as they often go awry at this time in our lives.Only then can u decide how to proceed with taking control of your health.
Anxiety is a biggy for many of us but there are relaxation techniques,breathing exercises and medication to choose from.All of this should be discussed with your Gyno.
So there is a lot of help out there.
As regards Procrastination,have been guilty of that all my life so cannot blame this on my Hormones!
Hope you find all the answers you need
Please keep us posted.
Best Wishes
Elizabeth
Good morning g.marie and I am happy you joined us. Welcome.
For me the procrastination comes because if I dont' feel well, it's hard to concentrate on anything but how awful I feel. I know I should shake it off,and I used to be that way, but not anymore, those footloose and fancy free days are gone, I hope just on vacation and will be back.
I do try to redirect and move around, take a walk, clean, vacuum, try to refocus. Then I can at times get back to the task at hand, but it is difficult.
Please keep joining us for more conversations on how to cope. We all help each other here and learn so much from each other. Hang in there.
For me the procrastination comes because if I dont' feel well, it's hard to concentrate on anything but how awful I feel. I know I should shake it off,and I used to be that way, but not anymore, those footloose and fancy free days are gone, I hope just on vacation and will be back.
I do try to redirect and move around, take a walk, clean, vacuum, try to refocus. Then I can at times get back to the task at hand, but it is difficult.
Please keep joining us for more conversations on how to cope. We all help each other here and learn so much from each other. Hang in there.
Hello g.marie,
And welcome. I have a more restless type of anxiety. I start my tasks, but my mind can't keep me focused. So laundry never quite gets finished up, the dishwasher gets half emptied, a book partially read .... you get the picture. I started this about two years ago. I have had anxiety since 1989, so have dealt with the "racing mind" for a long time, but peri triggered it to an extreme. This is slowing, along with the hot flashes and general malaise, so there is hope.
My best advice to you is to be good to yourself. Whatever you have to do to feel better, do it. If hormones make you feel better, use them. If antianxiety meds make you feel better, use them. Relaxation techniques, breathing, yoga, walking, running, healthy food, sleep hygiene ..... most of these things I have incorporated into my life at some point in the last two years to promote feeling better. Not always easy when you all you want to do is hibernate and cry.
Peri is so free flowing ... you can feel great one minute, horrible the next. For me, I felt horrible most of the time ... I had to learn to grab those good minutes and celebrate that. Frustrating ... absolutely.
My doctor was helpful, he provided me with some reading material. He prescribed hormone therapy .... I declined to use that, it just didn't do it for me.
We worked together to find the balance of things I could do to "survive". It was a rough time.
Keep reading here. You will find lots of information. And the glory of it all is that you can custom tailor the ideas to you. Keep on trying different things, until you find what works. Unfortunately, what works one day, may not the next, so be open to trying again and again.
~hoping for a calm day~
janeann
And welcome. I have a more restless type of anxiety. I start my tasks, but my mind can't keep me focused. So laundry never quite gets finished up, the dishwasher gets half emptied, a book partially read .... you get the picture. I started this about two years ago. I have had anxiety since 1989, so have dealt with the "racing mind" for a long time, but peri triggered it to an extreme. This is slowing, along with the hot flashes and general malaise, so there is hope.
My best advice to you is to be good to yourself. Whatever you have to do to feel better, do it. If hormones make you feel better, use them. If antianxiety meds make you feel better, use them. Relaxation techniques, breathing, yoga, walking, running, healthy food, sleep hygiene ..... most of these things I have incorporated into my life at some point in the last two years to promote feeling better. Not always easy when you all you want to do is hibernate and cry.
Peri is so free flowing ... you can feel great one minute, horrible the next. For me, I felt horrible most of the time ... I had to learn to grab those good minutes and celebrate that. Frustrating ... absolutely.
My doctor was helpful, he provided me with some reading material. He prescribed hormone therapy .... I declined to use that, it just didn't do it for me.
We worked together to find the balance of things I could do to "survive". It was a rough time.
Keep reading here. You will find lots of information. And the glory of it all is that you can custom tailor the ideas to you. Keep on trying different things, until you find what works. Unfortunately, what works one day, may not the next, so be open to trying again and again.
~hoping for a calm day~
janeann
Janeann,
I just wanted to say, that was a beautiful post. It's what I wanted to say, but done with grace and compassion. Boy, you hit the nail on the head about everything and I am sure will help so many people here.
Thank you for being there for us.
I just wanted to say, that was a beautiful post. It's what I wanted to say, but done with grace and compassion. Boy, you hit the nail on the head about everything and I am sure will help so many people here.
Thank you for being there for us.
Janeann,
It was good to read about your type of anxiety. I was just wondering if anyone else suffered from this type of anxiety. I can't seem to make myself to much of anything when it comes to laundry, dishes, etc. There are things that I can do, like grocery shopping or doing things that I like to do which are out of the house. I don't mind working outside in the yard. But when it comes to anything else I feel so overwhelmed that I can't make myself do things. I had to have a friend come over the other day to make me do paperwork. She sat there and told me what to do. That is what I needed. I don't understand it but that is how it is. Thanks for you post.
It was good to read about your type of anxiety. I was just wondering if anyone else suffered from this type of anxiety. I can't seem to make myself to much of anything when it comes to laundry, dishes, etc. There are things that I can do, like grocery shopping or doing things that I like to do which are out of the house. I don't mind working outside in the yard. But when it comes to anything else I feel so overwhelmed that I can't make myself do things. I had to have a friend come over the other day to make me do paperwork. She sat there and told me what to do. That is what I needed. I don't understand it but that is how it is. Thanks for you post.
I now have ADD as a result of this peri nightmare I've been in for almost 10 years, so I definitely can relate to everything you have said. I think it's time to change our focus in life and begin to wind down, not completely, but just enough to eliminate much of the stress.
Hi PS sisters,
I am glad to be included in this particular dialogue because it is so near to my heart. No one prepared me for the disruption in my life that peri would cause. And it seemed like the other women I know were taking it all in stride, so I had nobody to share this with. PS saved my life in so many ways. When a woman already has an underlying anxiety disorder, peri really creates turmoil. My life is richer for the blessing of PS!
enough, You sound as if you are doing so much better. I won't stop thinking about you, but I think you've got the anxiety under a little better control. That is a good thing.
scbev, Well, look, you knew you needed to get the paperwork done and you found a friend to help you do it. Your friend helped you to focus ... sometimes I need that too. If no one is around, I use a timer (don't laugh) and set it for fifteen minutes and make myself focus on one task. I am then amazed I can get something done all the way. I have to break so many jobs down into small tasks and do my fifteen minutes, and some days I only get one thing done. So I keep trying (and setting the timer!).
TidalWaves, I often wondered if anxiety isn't somehow related to ADD. Maybe it is chemically similar in the brain. We do need to manage our stress. It can be devastating to us. How did you come to your ADD diagnosis? How do you manage?
~thank you all for sharing~
janeann
I am glad to be included in this particular dialogue because it is so near to my heart. No one prepared me for the disruption in my life that peri would cause. And it seemed like the other women I know were taking it all in stride, so I had nobody to share this with. PS saved my life in so many ways. When a woman already has an underlying anxiety disorder, peri really creates turmoil. My life is richer for the blessing of PS!
enough, You sound as if you are doing so much better. I won't stop thinking about you, but I think you've got the anxiety under a little better control. That is a good thing.
scbev, Well, look, you knew you needed to get the paperwork done and you found a friend to help you do it. Your friend helped you to focus ... sometimes I need that too. If no one is around, I use a timer (don't laugh) and set it for fifteen minutes and make myself focus on one task. I am then amazed I can get something done all the way. I have to break so many jobs down into small tasks and do my fifteen minutes, and some days I only get one thing done. So I keep trying (and setting the timer!).
TidalWaves, I often wondered if anxiety isn't somehow related to ADD. Maybe it is chemically similar in the brain. We do need to manage our stress. It can be devastating to us. How did you come to your ADD diagnosis? How do you manage?
~thank you all for sharing~
janeann
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