wow

[cbrownn91]

This panic puzzle thing, okay first of all, if this guy TRULY knew what it felt like to suffer like we do then why do we have to pay for this? I had an amazing life about a year ago, great job, great girlfriend, and great family. I have now lost all of that thanks to anxiety, no job equals no money, no money equals no program, no progran equals anxiety. Its a vicious cycle, im so fed up with finding things and then having to pay for them, im starting to wonder if there even is a cure out there for anxiety or are all these people selfish money hungry a holes. I mean really, has anyone found anything yet?

[alankay]

Cbrown, the only thing that I've found is.... a group of things. (1)My docs helping me with the right meds, (2)learning all I possibly can about anxiety(all that causes it and how it's treated, etc, gradually), (3)research and reading self-help books(Reid Wilson's "Don't Panic, et al) ,(4)(if applicable)meeting with a therapist to make sure there's no underlying issue(s) you have all bottled up and bothering you underneath as well as (5)a good set of lifestyle practices like getting aerobic exercise, good diet, deep breathing/progressive relaxation to calm oneself and limiting caffeine and alcohol especially during acute(high) anxiety states(times).
I'm sorry to say(and I hate it) I've not found an answer in 30 years of fighting and now managing my anxiety. But I have found the above "pillars" and way to manage it and live pretty much AOK. The hardest part, like anything, is getting started and realizing you do, indeed have anxiety, need to get treatment and learn about it. IMHO. Message me anytime. Alankay.

[cbrownn91]

thankyou kev, i was about to say ive seen many people over come their anxiety. Not downing the fact you say youve had it for so many years, but if you hadve told me that a few months ago when this first started and i thought i was going crazy you probably wouldve just caused me to freak out pretty bad.

[alankay]

Kev, no, panic is rare now. Most of go through an acute anxiety state(s) that drives into us treatment(we try to figure it all ourselves first) and that was the worst part(too me). Before I got treatment it was hideous. I had no clue. But after treatment, reading/education, working with the professionals and learning how my anxiety acted and how I acted to counter it, I rarely have any panic(but sometimes do) but the attacks are limited as I know about all them/anxiety and have meds/calming techniques to counter them. The chronic/longer term state is low/no anxiety. SSRI's help reduce both the number and intensity of attacks as well. The side effects of the TCA's(imiprimine) was allot and I didn't want to take it but If I could do it over would as I know it was about as effective as SSRI's just with more sides upfront. The side effects would have diminished. Day and night. Day and night between where I was before treatment and after treatment/education and meds when needed. I take 10mg of lexapro daily and only valium once a month along with propranolol for interviews/presentations/air trips and not all that much of those when I do.
There are folks(not me) who have had abuse/trauma/conflicts who can expose/talk through and move past anxiety. Mine is more biological in nature as my pdoc said years ago. Anxious personality/high arousal(no one told me before I needed to know:).
Anyway pretty much normal now and just enjoy helping and it sure is nice to have this forum. I didn't have them but folks do now and it's great. Just some occasional "slip through" anxiety(slips through my strategy) but I an just fine with that. A tad never hurts that much. I say, a little anxiety happens.....so what. I can deal with that no problem. Hope that answers the question.
Alan.

[alankay]

Well anxiety itself can be toxic to me anyway.:( Anxiety often exasperates symptoms for other smaller illnesses like the intestinal tract issues(as you know I'm sure). See link.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enteric_nervous_system
This part(Enteric Nervous System) of the nervous system controls the digestive tract so it makes sense if the Central Nervous System is touchy/excited/over active, then this one can be affected by anxiety/stress too. I'm just saying the body and mind are all related.
Some folks will never develop anxiety(as we know it). Many others might get a bit anxious instead of full blown anxiety as the chief complaint may be headaches, upset stomach, insomnia, high muscle tension(and then body aches), irritability, etc, etc, you know what I mean. Thing is too an normal/routine illness(bad cold, flu, headache, upset stomach, an infection) can an increase anxiety in an anxious individual. A vicious cycle that is not funny.
So where did it start? Exogenous(external) anxiety or endogenous(internal) anxiety(look them up). Some folks have a bit of both. Now the therapists have to decide whether the anxiety you are experiencing at the time is mostly from within or without. They/you need to address it/each.
In my case it turned out to be from within so all the stuff was mine to do, learning about anxiety, meds, relaxation, deep breathing, best lifestyle, be more optimistic, positive self dialog, etc, etc. You know about all that.
But some as well as a disposition to anxiety they have a second evil force at work. Abuse/trauma/psychological conflict, etc. Good news about this is that often anxiety can be reduced by understanding all that happened to you was done by another bad and or sick person/circumstance/family situation and how they help you best process it all. Understand it all, come to better grips with it, express your pain, vent the feeling/thoughts. Results vary but they and the patient has to try. Often anxiety can be defused to a point but not always. It sucks.
Last if the patient that is all from without. A healthy person put under stress once removed, they move past it. Sometimes not as in some PTSD patients. They would have never gotten that otherwise but other troops in the same unit, having been throught the same stuff, never develop much if any anxiety. To some it was a thrill/rush. They have a different make up. Adrenaline doesn't raise as high as fast as long to initiate a disorder(my theory).
Kev, I'm just saying it a complex dynamic, each individual with their distinct source(s), timing, nature, symptoms of anxiety and their ability to cope. Their tolerance to anxiety and perception of their anxiety all varies as well. But at the core, when all is said and done, the disorder has fully manifested itself, and meds/treatment/calming skills and knowledge/acute stress removed are applied/learned we often still wrestle with a bit. I call it Residual Anxiety. Anxiety, nothing extra or more. Just anxiety. It was left after we did all we can and realize it just is there and will be. In my case I'm always looking to be less anxious/healthier but I fully now know my anxiety. I know how it effects me, I know it's limited with my current treatment strategy and my goal is to live the best live I possibly can like a diabetic or epileptic or something(yeah, I don't like it at all). I know where to get help. But always looking for good book, new research info. or a new med that really is worth a look, etc.
Anyway for you there might be benefit to working with therapists, docs, and self help book, etc more. Or you may be dealing your residual anxiety. But like me are always looking to get even better which is great.
Maybe you need to tweak your med(s) a bit. Maybe not. But for us that can not leave anxiety behind us, we often have some residual to learn to minimize and understand.
I'm am not a doc/therapist but have just given you my take and hope you can reduce further the anxiety symptoms you mentioned by looking at the source inside or out and starting there.
I bet we each have pointers for one another as you seem every bit as knowledgeable as me if not more.:)
Message me any time. Alan.