How I recovered from anxiety

[spades9]

Hi, I started to suffer with anxiety at university about 7 years ago and although with something like this you'd be asking for trouble to say I'm fully recovered I'm at a point where it doesn't affect my life at all and I feel more confident than before the anxiety attacks started. Although there seems to be a lot more information around now about anxiety I thought I'd share my experience in the hope that it may help one person get through what was the hardest time in my life.
At its worst my anxiety was so bad I couldn't leave the house most of the time because I felt like everyone was looking at me and judging me and for fear of having an anxiety attack I got really depressed and considered suicide a couple of times.
I did lots of things that probably all contributed to my recovery so I'll list them all:
-Talked to people close (it makes such a difference to have support and at least feel comfortable with your family and friends)
- Stop smoking weed & cut down on alcohol (I strongly believe that it was weed that triggered the anxiety and stopping definately made it better & although alcohol can relieve the symptoms when you drink it its definately worse the next day, the only time anxiety really affects me now is if I have a few too many to drink the night before)
- Read as much about anxiety as possible because the fear of whats happening to you makes it a lot worse if you know whats going on its less scary.
- Meditation - Theres nothing religious or hippy about it, it can just be a way to train the mind not to think too much so it can be really helpful for anxiety as its all the negative thoughts that cause the problem. Its very difficult to control though when you're having an attack so best to meditate 20-30 mins a day whn you;re calm if you keep it up that will train your mind and reduce your anxiety levels so it doesnt get to the attck stage.
- Do things you're scared of doing, once I had the anxiety under control a bit I started doig the things I was scared of like going to the supermarket as I continued the anxiety reduced because the percieved threat never materialised now I only don't like going to the supermarket cos i'm lazy!
- Hypnotherapy - not sure if this helped or not probably did a bit
- Counceling - I think this helped in the early stages as did the hypnotherapy but as I got better it started to seem less useful I think thats where the mediatation and self help came in once I had the strength to take control of my own recovery.
- Went travelling, I definately still had anxiety when I went travelling because I discussed it with my councillor but it was a lot better and I think travelling probably finished it off because It gave me a sense of acheivement and control over my own life and I was constantly meeting new people and finding it wasn't that scary.

I'm now a teacher standing in front of a load of hostile 11-18 year olds for a living everyday which would have been my worst nightmare 7 years ago (I was given valium to do a 5 minute presentation at uni!)
Obviously everyones route out of this thing will be different but I hope some of my tips are useful let me know if they are or if you have any questions

[Jen3535]

Hi I read your post, I have just been given diazepan by my doctor... I have a problem where i constantly feel the need to take a deep breath, where these your symptoms

Jen

[motif]

spades9, I glad you got over it, but I don't think so weed caused it...

[Jay12345]

Good to here you fine now buddy!

I recovered through my anxiety by exposing myself (GOING out as much as i could, not letting my brain drift......the more i cried, the more i went out!) and also i had CBT, which changed my thoughts.....


BIG no to medication...

[Robbed]

- Went travelling, I definately still had anxiety when I went travelling because I discussed it with my councillor but it was a lot better and I think travelling probably finished it off because It gave me a sense of acheivement and control over my own life and I was constantly meeting new people and finding it wasn't that scary.

Travelling need not be something as expensive or involved as international travel, either. I find that even a simple camping trip can be a GREAT thing - even if you do it alone. Also, you can meet a decent number of people hiking on popular trails. I find this to be a GOOD place for social interaction, as it generally puts people in a very positive mood.

[Paul_H]

Hi all,

Weed was my very first trigger for a panic attack. Happened when I was 15. So yes, weed CAN cause it. I read a book called "The anxiety Disease" and it specifically stated that weed is not only a trigger, but is a well known trigger. So is a chemical compound called sodium lactate when injected. Both of those were listed in the book. Books can be wrong but I myself experienced this, as did the original poster and about 10 other people on various panic boards on the net that I can think of just off the top of my head and that would be without doing an exhaustive search.

If you have an affinity for marijuana use and it doesn't cause a problem for you, then that's just fine with me. Go ahead and smoke away. However, making blanket statements about it not being a problem and then having someone prone to panic smoke some based on what you said and then suffering hours of attacks afterward (like what happened to me) is not something I'd wish to be responsible for.

Paul.

[Ness17]

Hi all,

Weed was my very first trigger for a panic attack. Happened when I was 15. So yes, weed CAN cause it. I read a book called "The anxiety Disease" and it specifically stated that weed is not only a trigger, but is a well known trigger. So is a chemical compound called sodium lactate when injected. Both of those were listed in the book. Books can be wrong but I myself experienced this, as did the original poster and about 10 other people on various panic boards on the net that I can think of just off the top of my head and that would be without doing an exhaustive search.

If you have an affinity for marijuana use and it doesn't cause a problem for you, then that's just fine with me. Go ahead and smoke away. However, making blanket statements about it not being a problem and then having someone prone to panic smoke some based on what you said and then suffering hours of attacks afterward (like what happened to me) is not something I'd wish to be responsible for.

Paul.

Hmm... You are both right..
Weed can be a trigger to some people and others it may do just the opposite.

I had my first attack when I was about 16. I never did any drugs, rarely drank any alcohol.

So my trigger was definitely not weed.

Although a couple years later I tried it and it actually helped me some.
Maybe its because I have a social anxiety disorder, and when I smoke I feel more laid back and comfortable with myself..???

Hmm..well everyone is different..
But thanks for all the advice;)