Mental Health Thread • Page 395

Great first step, hope you're able to get the care you need and start getting better. I started taking lexpro and therapy in August of last year and just in that short time span my symptoms have reduced 10 fold and my ability to deal with my professional and personal life is so much better. The lexapro did make me too fatigued and lethargic and gain weight, so a few weeks ago I started Wellbutrin in addition to the lexapro and I finally feel at a really good balance mentally and energy-wise. It might take some time finding the right medication and seeing what side effects you can and can't deal with and go from there. best of luck!

 

oh hey I have those every day because of my carpal tunnel (similar symptoms to a heart attack). I echo the sentiment that knowing it's "just" an anxiety attack is very good in helping you calm down. try to find like a mantra or a thought that is strong enough to pull you back out but definitely very good that you're seeing a doctor about it :)

 

Taking Lexapro made my anxiety way worse and made me have bizarre/extreme thoughts

 

I’m so sorry this happened to you. Two years ago, I had my first panic attack and not to scare you but I feel like I haven’t been the same ever since. My anxiety has been bad since that day, I never really had one before, I was really scared. Thankfully my girlfriend brought me a Xanax and I was able to calm myself down. I’d suggest going to get blood work done, it could be related to a thyroid issue. That’s the first step. You could go on a medication or see a therapist. I have not gone on meds, but my gf has some emergency Xanax that I keep on me just in case. Even though my anxiety comes and goes a lot, I haven’t felt the need to take any in almost half a year. I do not recommend taking anything that is not prescribed, and benzos can be a dangerous thing to toy with. Lucky for me, I actually hate how Xanax makes me feel so I truly will only use it if I feel I’ve reached a breaking point. Mindfulness meditation helps me immensely, as does exercise. I searched for a reason as to why I had a string of panic attacks, they left me confused, disassociated, and I would often cry uncontrollably. I couldn’t sleep either. Eventually it got a little better but I feel like it’s a switch that was flipped in my brain that can’t be turned off. It truly has been an awful battle. If you ever wanna talk or vent just message me, because I know how truly awful and terrible it can be.

 

I just started Chantix like 5 days ago and I haven't had a craving for a ciggie in 3 days. why didn't I do this sooner?

 

I experience panic attacks not-so-infrequently and what helps me most is just letting it happen; kind of telling myself that yes, this is a panic attack and it’s super uncomfortable, but it’s just my body responding to a false alarm from my overprotective brain and it’ll pass. The grounding technique of describing a handful things around me (e.g. that house is blue, my sweater feels fuzzy) also helps.

 

@seimagery @Orla There's alot of helpful advice in both of your posts. Sucks we all have to deal with this but I'm really glad that I posted in here. You're all really incredible people and we'll all get through it. Thanks for taking the time to share!

 

I fucked up. Finally called my therapist to reschedule after not hearing from her when I had to emergency cancel our last appointment a few months back, and her office voicemail box is full. I found exactly one non-automated email in my inbox from two years ago that I used to reach out, but I don't even know if she uses it anymore. Going to be gutted if I have to find someone new

 

Sorry you're dealing with this, I know it can be really rough and scary. Some techniques I've learned to help me cope:

Rationalize the situation for yourself. Realize it's a panic attack and that you're not in any real danger even if your body is reacting that way. No one's ever died from a panic attack, you'll be fine. I used to have terrible anxiety regarding school and my therapist explained it that somewhere along the way some wires got crossed and my body is reacting like there's a tiger in the room when in reality I'm safe in a boring classroom. Realizing there's no actual danger helped.

Occupy yourself. A lot of times you can get into a negative feedback cycle where you get anxious about getting anxious, so just try to distract yourself and often you'll realize those feelings only come when you're thinking about them, and when you're distracted you feel fine. I like to go do dishes and listen to podcasts.

Figure out what your triggers are and avoid them. It might mean giving up caffeine too so keep that in mind.

Box breathing helps - Breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, exhale for 4 seconds. Slowly and deliberately.

As mentioned before, grounding techniques are great. Name 5 things you can see, 4 things you can hear, 3 things you can touch, 2 things you can smell, 1 thing you can taste.

Talking about it can help, but talking about it too much can also put you back into that cycle if you're dwelling on it and letting it consume all your thoughts.

Diet, physical activity, and sleep all play their part as well.

And it looks like you're already there, but obviously don't be afraid to look for professional help.

 

This is some amazing advice. I can relate to the part where you described your body reacting like there's a tiger in the room although you were in a safe place. Since my panic attack happened in the car while waiting to pick up my kid at school, I've noticed my body/mind has gotten worked up whenever I go to pick him up. I find myself trying my best to distract myself and hoping it doesn't happen again.

Went to the Dr yesterday and was put on Lexapro and given contact info for therapists, so those are my next steps for now. Thanks so much for the advice!

 

Yeah it sounds like you both 1. Had a panic attack and 2. Then started having anxiety about having another one.

I dealt/maybe still deal with some of those problems. I never did daily meds, I just did CBT with a xanax as needed here and there, and my therapist basically told me what everyone else is saying here--you have to get your mind wrapped around that it IS just a panic attack and they come and go and you're not going to die and yes you can breathe and etc. Just repeating that stuff to yourself over and over and over again for months so your brain starts to believe it haha.

It was a little hard for me because my anxiety was health related/because of a heart issue I was having, so having a racing heart as a symptom on anxiety and panic attacks made it a lot worse! So I had plenty of medical tests done to make sure everything is good and that has also helped my anxiety.

 

One thing I forgot to add. If you know it's a panic attack, but are feeling tightness in your chest, have your partner massage your shoulders. Or get a massage, massage gun or whatever. I hold all my tension there and when I first started dealing with panic attacks that would radiate to tightness in my chest and be really scary. Obviously if you really feel something is wrong go see a doctor. But really try to find where you hold your tension and work it out. Helps to give you a task to do as well to get your mind going in another direction.

 

@Daniel @David87 thanks guys, reaching out via message to chat more

 

I’m working toward getting a new job. There’s so much bs that makes me say “it’s this shit that makes me want to leave”. Also I know if I don’t leave I’ll continue to be underpaid. The work-life balance isn’t there anymore because they added days like two years ago. I just can’t. I have no time for self care or time for myself and I feel guilty if I need to take time off or leave early. And in some situations I can’t since I’m the only one that can do certain things! Which is not fair to me because it’s not my problem and I’ve asked many a time to train another person but it’s always “we don’t have enough staff to train someone else bc who would do xyz…”

 

I've been having bad dreams a lot this week and last nights was bad enough that my bf woke me up because he thought I was having a seizure but I was just like hyperventilating in my sleep. Idek why it's been happening.

 

For about three months now my toes have been really red and sensitive. I'm scared I have either Covid Toes, or something more serious from smoking...it's just destroying my anxiety the last few days and I can't get in to a doctor for a few weeks.

 

I have been very very depressed the last two days. I kind of don't even know what to do.

 

I feel like I have barely any time to myself because I'm almost always doing shit for my sister when I do have free time and it's starting to really get to me. And unfortunately it's not as easy as "just say no" because of her issues with addiction, and there's always some sort of catastrophe that will apparently happen if either me or my mom say no. And to this day it still absolutely fucking makes me seethe that my dad enabled my sister's addictions for so long instead of trying to get her help. Like, yeah, I'm glad he got put away in federal prison for his crimes and can no longer actively cause harm to anyone, but that doesn't make up for all the damage he did to the lives of his former patients and the damage he did to his own family.

 

My boyfriend has been acting fucking weird for like 2 weeks and i'm getting pretty fucking annoyed.

I don't have time to figure out his shit when I work 3 jobs and he doesn't even have one.

I'm just not here for it when I have goals and a schedule to keep.

 

Update. Boyfriend and I finally had a long convo. He confessed he’s been suppper depressed (I knew, he just wasn’t ready to admit it and that’s absolutely fine)…so it was a good much needed talk.

I calmly told him how I’ve been feeling the last few weeks but I didn’t want to poke and pry. He needed to figure it out for himself and I’m glad he did. He has an appointment with a psychiatrist next week and I’m so glad he did that even before we had our conversation today.

And I told him what I posted in here today because a small part of me was really fucking annoyed lol. Honesty is my relationship policy.

and without my therapist, I wouldn’t have been able to handle any of this the way I did today. I would have probably really fucking went off on him. 2019 me would have…she sucked. Glad he never met her lol.

 

This quarter of the year really wore me out and its going to be a year long process. Me and my live-in not-partner/partner/bestie broke up on Jan 1st. We're starting to separate starting in a couple weeks, and it sounds like I won't see them much for the rest of the year.

The following month, my cat goes in for an asthma check-up, and think they've found cancer in her lung. After an extremely expensive procedure to confirm it, they still weren't able to confirm anything. Now they want to do surgery to take it out, but its twice as much as the first test.

This month I found out my grandpa isn't going to make it to the end of the year. A couple weeks later, my Dad casually says my Grandma's dementia is so bad that he can't be around her for more than an hour. And I'm trying to study and job hunt at the same time.

It sucks I don't really have anyone to talk about this with aside from my partner-ish, so I apologize if I'm oversharing. I found a therapist but can't afford to start with them yet. And because my family and friends live scattered across the states, I really struggle to maintain a those relationships.

 

This is a safe space for stuff like this. I’m sorry you’re going through all of this. My DM’s, as I’m sure many here, are open if you want a conversation.

 

I think I found a decent medication routine that works for me. Def having more good days than bad now

 

Speaking for myself, finding the right med and dosage just changed everything. Glad it’s working!

 

I need to get on something but my company is being bought so I’ll have new insurance in a month, waiting until after that make sure my doctors are still in network. Gotta love it.