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Anyone here totally overcome severe Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?
Posted on 6/24/19 at 8:34 am
Posted on 6/24/19 at 8:34 am
Been fighting it for over a year. Always been a worrier but this last year has been hellish. It never goes away fully. Only short stints of relief, even while taking some steps to overcome it. I’d love to hear some success stories.
12
Posted on 6/24/19 at 9:02 am to Nature Boy
Never dealt with much anxiety my entire life, overall a really laid back, nonchalant, too stupid to know better kinda guy. Had some issues that happened at work (not windshields) and started having horrible anxiety that only my wife and doctor (wife made me go see one) knew about. Chest pains, couldn’t breath well, dizziness, that would come and go. It started to get real bad when in crowds of people but even sitting on the couch watching tv would happen.
Doctor put me on Paxil and I got off with the quickness. I know you are supposed to let it build up but naw, I hated it. Lasted 2 days. Wife went into overdrive because I started going downhill fast. We sat down and had many discussions, I’m usually the one who figures out how to fix bad problems and the one who NEVER has issues but this time it was my turn.
You’re gonna roll your eyes as I did but breathing in your nose slowly and out your mouth helps. Wife suggested if it happens when I’m alone or can step away to pull phone out and watch my favorite music videos or listen on radio and that really helped. The period of anxiety that was bad lasted about 4-5 months. I’ve cut about 75% of the bad anxiety out of my life but still have issues in crowds of people that I use to not really have.
Doctor put me on Paxil and I got off with the quickness. I know you are supposed to let it build up but naw, I hated it. Lasted 2 days. Wife went into overdrive because I started going downhill fast. We sat down and had many discussions, I’m usually the one who figures out how to fix bad problems and the one who NEVER has issues but this time it was my turn.
You’re gonna roll your eyes as I did but breathing in your nose slowly and out your mouth helps. Wife suggested if it happens when I’m alone or can step away to pull phone out and watch my favorite music videos or listen on radio and that really helped. The period of anxiety that was bad lasted about 4-5 months. I’ve cut about 75% of the bad anxiety out of my life but still have issues in crowds of people that I use to not really have.
Posted on 6/24/19 at 9:17 am to windshieldman
I overcame Social Anxiety Disorder with meditation and cognitive behavioral therapy.
I tried Paxil, but it destroyed my short term menory and had sexual side effects. Threw it out after 2 months.
I still feel it, but can push through and live normal life. I even do a lot of public speaking now - something I would have never thought possible.
I tried Paxil, but it destroyed my short term menory and had sexual side effects. Threw it out after 2 months.
I still feel it, but can push through and live normal life. I even do a lot of public speaking now - something I would have never thought possible.
Posted on 6/24/19 at 6:12 pm to Nature Boy
Geez I'm going to get downvoted, but have you looked into diet modification?
Won't even say keto only, but research gut microbiome and also anti-inflammatory diets.
Good luck brother! Sister-in-law copes with weed and meds, always trying to get her to try an alternative diet of choice for a month.
Won't even say keto only, but research gut microbiome and also anti-inflammatory diets.
Good luck brother! Sister-in-law copes with weed and meds, always trying to get her to try an alternative diet of choice for a month.
Posted on 6/24/19 at 7:40 pm to Nature Boy
I try... but I keep an emergency Xanax in my pocket at all times.
I do my best to push through and push myself to avoid taking it. It’s a comfort system knowing it’s there .
I do my best to push through and push myself to avoid taking it. It’s a comfort system knowing it’s there .
Posted on 6/24/19 at 7:55 pm to Nature Boy
I'm a worrier as well. I feel most relaxed at Mass on Sunday mornings, so I try to pray when the worry hits hard. Mentally put things in a box in my mind, and slide that box over to God, and let him help handle it. You may not be religious, but maybe just try to "box up" your worries and compartmentalize and categorize them. Seems to make them easier to handle. Good luck.
This post was edited on 6/24/19 at 8:00 pm
Posted on 6/24/19 at 9:53 pm to Nature Boy
I can’t tell you there’s an easy answer. I can just tell you that getting proper help and counseling equipped me with the coping strategies I needed to no longer allow anxiety to control me. I never took medication for my issues but I’d imagine there are cases where they are beneficial. For me, learning the healthy habits have been great and anxiety is extremely manageable for me now.
This post was edited on 6/24/19 at 9:53 pm
Posted on 6/24/19 at 10:56 pm to Nature Boy
My wife suffers with this along with depression. Xanax and wellbutrin keep her functioning but we haven't found a long term solution. Most meds are problematic for her. They don't work at all, or they have the opposite effect than they're supposed to. And if there's a weird side effect, she will get it. One in particular was a rash that was a sign of a sometimes fatal reaction. The Dr said don't worry, in all his years of practice, he'd never known anybody to get it. Sure enough, she did. Fortunately she stopped taking it in time.
Good luck to you. I know it's hell.
Good luck to you. I know it's hell.
Posted on 6/25/19 at 8:26 am to Nature Boy
Yes I have had it my whole life, never knew what it was until a few years ago. I was really embarrassed to feel anxious/have panic attacks for what seemed like no reason, so I tired to just "get over it." I used to just drink heavily to deal with it in college and for a few years after but that wasn't sustainable and did a number on my mental and physical health. It took me way too long to realize the cycle: social setting (bar) leads to anxiety, I drink, which leads to more anxiety, which leads me to drink more and it would just spiral from there.
I have anxiety meds for when I have panic attacks, but I have only taken them 2 times since I got prescribed back in January (once after the saints loss). I'm also on a very low dose of an anti-depressant now that kind of levels me out.
Honestly what has been the best for me is cutting out alcohol, exercising a TON, and not going places when I don't feel like it (social settings). I have hobbies to focus on. Is started reading more, doing yard work, hanging out with my dog a lot, working on my golf game. I learned to chill at a bar and just drink water.
Eta: I went to a therapist for like a month, but I hated it, I hate talking about my problems. That wasn't for me, but is very helpful to some.
I have anxiety meds for when I have panic attacks, but I have only taken them 2 times since I got prescribed back in January (once after the saints loss). I'm also on a very low dose of an anti-depressant now that kind of levels me out.
Honestly what has been the best for me is cutting out alcohol, exercising a TON, and not going places when I don't feel like it (social settings). I have hobbies to focus on. Is started reading more, doing yard work, hanging out with my dog a lot, working on my golf game. I learned to chill at a bar and just drink water.
Eta: I went to a therapist for like a month, but I hated it, I hate talking about my problems. That wasn't for me, but is very helpful to some.
This post was edited on 6/25/19 at 8:29 am
Posted on 6/25/19 at 8:52 am to Nature Boy
I’ve pretty much completely overcome it. I started having multiple severe panic attacks a day in college due to a mixture of a bad relationship, overdoing it on drinking/partying, and the stress of school, and it debilitated me to the point that I could barely leave my house and I had to stop going to school for a while.
I used a mixture of cognitive behavioral therapy, meditation, and working out, which later turned into BJJ several times a week. I was lucky enough to be in college when it hit me so I was fine with being completely debilitated and just working through it, so I never took meds. It was absolute hell for about a year but I’m really proud of myself and I’m glad that I’m not stuck on meds for the rest of my life, which can be a temporary fix and I don’t think generally leads to a good quality of life.
I think that a major crutch of most people who have anxiety is the belief that you’re not in control and can never overcome it without meds, which simply isn’t true. The day that my therapist told me that I was in control and that it wasn’t going to kill me was the day that I felt free again and started taking steps toward functioning normally again.
Just find a good therapist and try CBT. It may not work for you and you may very well need meds but I really think it’s effective and worth a try. Good luck and keep pushing, you’ll learn to control it eventually
I used a mixture of cognitive behavioral therapy, meditation, and working out, which later turned into BJJ several times a week. I was lucky enough to be in college when it hit me so I was fine with being completely debilitated and just working through it, so I never took meds. It was absolute hell for about a year but I’m really proud of myself and I’m glad that I’m not stuck on meds for the rest of my life, which can be a temporary fix and I don’t think generally leads to a good quality of life.
I think that a major crutch of most people who have anxiety is the belief that you’re not in control and can never overcome it without meds, which simply isn’t true. The day that my therapist told me that I was in control and that it wasn’t going to kill me was the day that I felt free again and started taking steps toward functioning normally again.
Just find a good therapist and try CBT. It may not work for you and you may very well need meds but I really think it’s effective and worth a try. Good luck and keep pushing, you’ll learn to control it eventually
Posted on 6/25/19 at 9:08 am to RJL2
Completely agree with this too, aside from the therapist thing- but my therapist wasn’t touchy feely so I pretty much agree with his take on that too. He was a guy who just hit me with mental exercises like seeing a physical therapist.
Definitely agree with staying away from alcohol or basically anything that you use for “escapism”. I’ve found that even playing on my phone when I’m anxious makes it worse in the long term, definitely stick to “healthy” outlets that make you feel better about yourself and not running away from your anxiety
Definitely agree with staying away from alcohol or basically anything that you use for “escapism”. I’ve found that even playing on my phone when I’m anxious makes it worse in the long term, definitely stick to “healthy” outlets that make you feel better about yourself and not running away from your anxiety
Posted on 6/26/19 at 7:37 pm to Nature Boy
quote:
Always been a worrier but this last year has been hellish
I completely identify with this. I’ve tried almost everything suggested in the thread so far, but no success.
Posted on 6/28/19 at 10:25 pm to Nature Boy
You won't believe me. Cut gluten out of your diet for a month.
Posted on 6/28/19 at 10:57 pm to Nature Boy
Totally overcome? No way. Manage it to the point I am a functional member of society? Yes.
Posted on 6/29/19 at 12:20 pm to Nature Boy
IMO you learn to manage it through a combination of CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), medication, and lifestyle modifications depending on severity of symptoms. The CBT really helped me get to the root of what was causing some of my symptoms and a low dose of Ativan helped me manage panic attacks.
For me, it waxes and wanes depending on what kind of things are going on in my life. It was at its worst when my brother passed (2009). These days it’s a lot more manageable. Sometimes it’s as simple for me as knowing when I need some time to “check out” and walk away from the rat race, to recenter myself and keep it from “building up”.
For me, it waxes and wanes depending on what kind of things are going on in my life. It was at its worst when my brother passed (2009). These days it’s a lot more manageable. Sometimes it’s as simple for me as knowing when I need some time to “check out” and walk away from the rat race, to recenter myself and keep it from “building up”.
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