Anxiety

[Hilary B]

I had a few anxiety attacks, took the form of asthma. I still keep a Ventolin handy, but it's about 8 years since I used it.
The fairly subtle depression never got treated (never really realised what it was until it turned to PND, which lasted about 5 years) I suspect it would have been better to have seen the doc about it, but I was so used to it I didn't realise what was going on at the time.
Still occasionally get some signs, meditation helps a lot (being a Christian believer, meditation for me takes the form of prayer, but I know others may prefer not to see it that way).

[buzzingtalk]

Thanks Hilary I too have asthma and quite often the first sign of me being in a state of anxiety is a 'tight chest' akin to asthma, but I can thankfully tell the difference between the two (else I'd be going through inhalers every day!!)

5 years is a long time! Were you treated at all? What did you find worked? I'm interested to hear, as the more I speak to people the more you can experiment and learn.

And meditation takes whatever form you want it to - it doesn't mean a connection to a god in particular, more a connection to yourself, and if that is who you are, let no one judge you

[lizzylemon]

I didn't think the butterfly thing would work, it seems so simple but it really did and I will always be grateful for that lesson. For me the nice thing was it didn't matter where I was or what I was doing, that 5 mins day dreaming of some thing positive can be done any where and any time (also I'm pretty good at day dreaming). I suffered from panic attacks driving (stopped for 7 years) so when ever I felt the butterflies I would start my CBT process.

Di, I agree - if you have diabetes you take medicine, if your brain isn't functioning properly, you take medicine.

Buzz -the last time I took meds for anxiety / depression I was advised by the doctor to carry on taking the meds for 6 months AFTER I felt better and he explained that the 1st X months is to get you feeling better and all the different chemical balances normal. The NEXT 6 months is to train the brain how to keep the chemical at normal levels. The brain is amazing but so delicately balanced, once those chemicals get a bit wonky it has a really hard time rebalancing it's self. So you take the meds, get balanced and then stop suddenly, it makes those chemical wonk out again - defeating the object. If the stop is gradual, say over 6 months, the reduction is so little, the brain can make up the missing amount without throwing its self out again and should continue to run at fairly constant levels (we all have ups and downs).

My explanantion is a bit simplistic but it pretty much works that way.

[Glutton4...]

Just a thought; could your work with mentally ill people be affecting you? The reason I ask, is that last year I had a customer who was mentally ill with depression. I have passed her on to another gardener, as I found that I could not cope with her using me as her therapist. That may sound uncaring, but I'm not trained for it, and I found that I always came away from her, feeling like I was bearing the weight of the world on my shoulders, and I dreaded going to do her garden. I feel very guilty for this, but at that time, I needed all my energy to heal myself. Like I say, just a thought...

[selfraising]

I have suffered from anxiety for years, worries about health (which are totally illogical), claustrophobia and sometimes just worrying about worrying. I have been on medication for a few years now. Have tried to cut it down but started to get anxious again. I have now come to the conclusion of 'why put myself through it', if the medication works then why fight it. I have been given some distraction techniques which sometimes work. Buzzingtalk, if you feel you want to chat about it all you are more than welcome to pm me.

[piskieinboots]

...., and I dreaded going to do her garden. I feel very guilty for this, but at that time, I needed all my energy to heal myself. Like I say, just a thought...

and you don't need me to tell you that you shouldn't feel guilty - not at all...you weren't trained (your words) and negative engergy is very draining.

Well done you for passing her off to someone who could help!

[buzzingtalk]

Glutton - definatley not. This has been going on for years before I got my job, plus the people I work with are heavily autistic, not depressed/negative etc. I do sometimes get more of a feeling of empathy when they are feeling down, and can relate to it a bit more than other staff members but it doesn't affect my mood. In fact, work keeps me going sometimes.

Selfraising - that sounds like the sort of rubbish that goes through my head too. The smallest thing and I'll be off the rails with negative thoughts, even though its fine. Sometimes I'm OK though, which makes me hope I can get medicated for a while then be alright...thanks for the offer of a chat, and I extend the offer to you too

Lizzy - nice one for explanation. Through my work I now know that is how antid's work, but was not told this when I was on them about 4 years previously. I tried loads of stuff but settled on st.johns wort which worked very quickly. I stopped taking it and didn't know about the 6 month thing, I wish I had now and the doctor said the same thing. Can't go back on it as it messes with contraceptives though

[Glutton4...]

and you don't need me to tell you that you shouldn't feel guilty - not at all...you weren't trained (your words) and negative engergy is very draining.

Well done you for passing her off to someone who could help!

I didn't - I passed her on to someone who will take no notice!

Glutton - definatley not. This has been going on for years before I got my job, plus the people I work with are heavily autistic, not depressed/negative etc. I do sometimes get more of a feeling of empathy when they are feeling down, and can relate to it a bit more than other staff members but it doesn't affect my mood. In fact, work keeps me going sometimes.

That's great. Like I said, it was just a thought. It sounds like you are a very positive person, which, will no doubt help you a great deal. Good luck with getting it 'sorted.'

[buzzingtalk]

Cheers Glutton, I am sure I will be back to normal soon(ish)

I know some b*****y sunshine will up my mood!!

[FionaH]

I would echo what others have said and suggest you go back to your GP. As Di said a seratonin (sp) imbalance is a chemical thing, sometimes our bodies and minds need a little chemical help. If you had an insulin imbalance you would be unlikely to tell yourself to pull yourself together
I have survived anxiety, depression and being frankly barking mad. (doesn't survived sound better than suffered?) A combination of talking therapy and medication helped. Good luck with finding counselling via your GP! Mental health budget has been slashed, but they should be able to help with meds. There are some good self help groups around though.
Best of luck.

[Two_Sheds]

The worst thing is my sleep, once that goes, all hell breaks loose.

Long-time depressive here (but never suffered anxiety, just black, black moods).
Sleep is so important.

I have chronic pain in my back/neck from cancer surgery. The cancer didn't depress me, the pain does: it's never-ending, it's always there, dragging me down.

Really, really, concentrate on getting quality sleep. Things that help me:

- don't drink alcohol (it wakes you up in the early hours)
- don't watch TV/computer before bed, read instead
- take a sleeping pill if it helps, perhaps hayfever tabs (the drowsy ones)
- if you wake up with thoughts racing through your head, write them down. Getting them onto paper takes them out of your head
- get enough physical exercise, even if you're tired from work, it will energise you

[lizzylemon]

Well I didn't know the 1st 3 times I used antids either ! It was only because I moaned about feeling like a merry-go-round with being off them and then back on them I was told about staying on them for 6 months after feeling better - previously I had stopped as soon as I was feeling well enough to deal with my head. I also eased off them instead of 'cold turkey' quitting and I know everyone is different, so far despite life being really rough a few times (family death, separation, moving etc etc) in the last 7 years I've not needed to go back (yet but never say never).

Valerian is another well known homoeopathic remedy for anxiety - maybe that could help.

[buzzingtalk]

Very good advice T_S, and sorry to hear about the pain (and glad to hear you survived the C) I am impressed you manage to do everything you do with such pain (cycling ,weeding, looking after Mr.T_S)

I think I can divide my sleep into two slots:

Winter/SAD sleep. I have SAD quite bad, and find when the clocks change for winter, its sends me crazy like a cat on bonfire night. I usually get insomnia at this point, for a good few months, I can fight it/survive it for a while but I eventually turn to strong sleeping tablets (3 nights on, 3 nights off as to not get addicted, which I have been before). This usually 'reboots' me for a while but it often creeps back in, triggered by the weather/light/anxiety/work patterns/stress etc. In between this, I'll be doing what I'm doing now - hibernating. I could happily sleep, unaided, for 10 hours and have fairly good sleep but not feel totally satisfied, but at least its sleep.

Summer Sleep - more like 'normal' sleep - 6-8 hours a night, fairly regular, feel refreshed afterwards. A few bits of restlessness but nothing drowsy antih's won't solve.

So right now, my sleep is slowly getting better now the light is improving. I used to do the physical excercise thing, and it did work to an extent but when I'm anxious it makes me tired but I still can't sleep - but this will all be sorted so I guess that will work again. I will try the writing thing, not heard that before!

Worst tip I heard was from a doctor, who told me to 'listen to the radio really quietly' this just annoyed me as I wanted to know what was playing and what they were talking about! (nosy bugger!)

[buzzingtalk]

Lizzy - thanks again for your input. Yes I've seen valerian, and always been curious but for some reason it rings a bell that I can't have it as it interferes with some of my asthma meds? I will have to check again though

[Two_Sheds]

...hibernating. I could happily sleep, unaided, for 10 hours ...my sleep is slowly getting better now the light is improving.

I sleep for 9-10 hrs a night if I can, always have. The pain wakes me at 4am though, so at the moment I'm taking amitriptyline & co-codamol to get me through till 7am

I know they're expensive, but is there any way you can try a SAD lamp? That's meant to re-set your circadian rhythm and get you into a good sleep habit (I can't recommend one because the one I ordered didn't work)