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Recurring severe anxiety
Posted on 4/22/26 at 10:42 am
Posted on 4/22/26 at 10:42 am
Anybody else deal with this? Tl:dr but I'm 43 and about ten years ago i had a crazy made up health scare where i was convinced i was dying. Weeks after i knew i wasn't i could not get my body/brain to relax. Prior to this i was prob the least anxious, carefree, happiest person i knew.
Anyway, i ended up getting on meds for a while and have gone on and off of then a couple of times. I have struggled while on meds and been fine for a long time without them so not sure how much they help. Sometimes it happens every few months and I've gone several years between episodes. Every time it focuses on something random like health, job, money etc even though all of those things are in good order. This current time is a crushing guilt but over stupid things like looking at porn like 20 years ago in high school. Can't sleep, butterflies throughout my body all day, feeling like such a fraud.
This one feels as bad as it has been and for the weirdest reason. Sorry for the long rambling post but it's about all my brain is capable of right now. Any help or advice would be much appreciated
Anyway, i ended up getting on meds for a while and have gone on and off of then a couple of times. I have struggled while on meds and been fine for a long time without them so not sure how much they help. Sometimes it happens every few months and I've gone several years between episodes. Every time it focuses on something random like health, job, money etc even though all of those things are in good order. This current time is a crushing guilt but over stupid things like looking at porn like 20 years ago in high school. Can't sleep, butterflies throughout my body all day, feeling like such a fraud.
This one feels as bad as it has been and for the weirdest reason. Sorry for the long rambling post but it's about all my brain is capable of right now. Any help or advice would be much appreciated
11
Posted on 4/22/26 at 12:38 pm to RandySavage
Sounds like you need to get laid, buddy.
Posted on 4/22/26 at 12:50 pm to RandySavage
Talk to a professional. If you don't want to do that, lots of exercise and practice Stoicism.
Posted on 4/22/26 at 1:45 pm to RandySavage
Ive never had anxiety that bad. But citalopram has been awesome for me
Posted on 4/22/26 at 2:54 pm to TheOcean
Doctor just said it's definitely OCD. Anybody been diagnosed with that and had success with treatment. She wants me to take Zoloft and Trazadone to sleep and start therapy.
Posted on 4/22/26 at 3:12 pm to RandySavage
I have, and it was also triggered by a health scare, though it doesn’t sound like mine was as severe as yours.
Lifestyle changes like diet and exercise helped me, but my Christian faith helped the most.
Since you’ve been diagnosed with OCD, your approach will likely need to be different than mine in intensity, but directionally the same.
My wife also has anxiety induced by OCD. OCD is not the cutesy “I like things to be clean” syndrome you see on Facebook posts. Even still, lifestyle improvements and faith help her. In addition, she used to see a psychologist who helped her a lot in learning to cope.
Lifestyle changes like diet and exercise helped me, but my Christian faith helped the most.
Since you’ve been diagnosed with OCD, your approach will likely need to be different than mine in intensity, but directionally the same.
My wife also has anxiety induced by OCD. OCD is not the cutesy “I like things to be clean” syndrome you see on Facebook posts. Even still, lifestyle improvements and faith help her. In addition, she used to see a psychologist who helped her a lot in learning to cope.
This post was edited on 4/22/26 at 3:13 pm
Posted on 4/22/26 at 3:32 pm to AllbyMyRelf
Do you feel like yours is pretty constant or comes and goes? My faith usually helps too but sometimes it becomes too strong, it also makes me feel like i shouldn't take medicine though. Do you or wife treat with meds?
Posted on 4/22/26 at 4:10 pm to RandySavage
To be clear, I don’t have something like OCD or general anxiety disorder, so my experience won’t be as intense as yours. I’ve mostly recovered from the frequent anxiety bouts I used to get, but still get it occasionally.
My anxiety triggers when I’m under stress at work or something like that. I’ll wake up in the middle of the night for multiple days and just won’t be able to get my mind to settle. Recently when that’s happened I’ve also had restless leg syndrome. I take magnesium glycinate which helps the restless leg and somewhat calms me at night to go back to sleep.
My wife was prescribed Xanax and used to take it, but stopped years ago. I never took any prescriptions for mine. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t take it if you need it, but my wife and I have very strong preferences not to take those types of medication because of other effects.
My anxiety triggers when I’m under stress at work or something like that. I’ll wake up in the middle of the night for multiple days and just won’t be able to get my mind to settle. Recently when that’s happened I’ve also had restless leg syndrome. I take magnesium glycinate which helps the restless leg and somewhat calms me at night to go back to sleep.
My wife was prescribed Xanax and used to take it, but stopped years ago. I never took any prescriptions for mine. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t take it if you need it, but my wife and I have very strong preferences not to take those types of medication because of other effects.
Posted on 4/22/26 at 4:16 pm to RandySavage
Other than working your arse off in the gym, you can try Glycine and L-Theanine. Those supplements may calm your arse down without sedating you.
Also, try box breathing:
Inhale for 4 seconds
Hold breath for 4 seconds
Exhale 4 seconds
Hold breath 4 seconds
Also, try box breathing:
Inhale for 4 seconds
Hold breath for 4 seconds
Exhale 4 seconds
Hold breath 4 seconds
Posted on 4/23/26 at 5:00 am to boxcarbarney
Took all 3 prescriptions i was given last night, zoloft, trazadone, propanol and had my worst sleep yet. Am i screwed or what's the next step?
Posted on 4/23/26 at 7:04 am to RandySavage
The Zoloft will likely take some time. The propranolol only very subtly has any affect on me, but the Trazadone may just need to be increased. It’s a sedative, so it will have an effect at some dosage.
I’ve been going through this same thing off and on the last 10 or so years. 40yo, super stressful career, and a spicy brain with combined ADHD/OCD. Very prone to impulsive behavior, ruminating on stressors/anxiety, feeling unsettled and a mind that won’t seem to stop.
the 3 things that helped me the most in this order:
Working out (strength training and moderate cardio)
Good nutrition, Whole Foods and high protein
Read “Designing the Mind” by Ryan Bush
I was taking daily Xanax, adderall, propanolol, lexapro, trazadone for 6 or so years. I don’t take any medication any longer.
It’s a daily struggle. Wake up and do calming shite, work out with a routine, try to fill your day with high valence activities to keep your head focused on the positive. Express gratitude. Memento Mori.
I’ve been going through this same thing off and on the last 10 or so years. 40yo, super stressful career, and a spicy brain with combined ADHD/OCD. Very prone to impulsive behavior, ruminating on stressors/anxiety, feeling unsettled and a mind that won’t seem to stop.
the 3 things that helped me the most in this order:
Working out (strength training and moderate cardio)
Good nutrition, Whole Foods and high protein
Read “Designing the Mind” by Ryan Bush
I was taking daily Xanax, adderall, propanolol, lexapro, trazadone for 6 or so years. I don’t take any medication any longer.
It’s a daily struggle. Wake up and do calming shite, work out with a routine, try to fill your day with high valence activities to keep your head focused on the positive. Express gratitude. Memento Mori.
Posted on 4/23/26 at 7:22 am to RandySavage
quote:
Doctor just said it's definitely OCD. Anybody been diagnosed with that and had success with treatment. She wants me to take Zoloft and Trazadone to sleep and start therapy.
ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) with medication is the gold standard for OCD treatment. I-CBT is another that folks are becoming trained in more often as well.
Highly recommend hopping on Psychology Today and searching for therapists in your area that specialize in OCD (there’s a filter at the top where you can toggle your insurance carrier as well). Try to find someone that is fully licensed (not listed as an associate).
This post was edited on 4/23/26 at 7:23 am
Posted on 4/23/26 at 4:25 pm to RandySavage
It only gets worse as you age... 
Posted on 4/23/26 at 4:38 pm to i am dan
lol, I was hoping the one benefit of getting older is my brain would slow down and all this stuff would go away.
Posted on 4/24/26 at 12:41 pm to RandySavage
Look for a therapist that specializes in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Many therapist do not understand anxiety well enough and will focus too much on symptoms or coping mechanisms that increase avoidance. To get on the other side of anxiety you have to move THROUGH it. ACT does well because it focuses on what works (exposure to underlying feelings) while incorporating meaning through values. It’s wild how quickly people can get their lives back when they are approaching anxiety the correct way. Like all emotions anxiety is meant to be a check engine light….its there to tell you something and for you to use it instead of it using you.
Check out books like “Hope and help for your nerves” and “At last a life” and “man’s search for meaning” as well.
As someone else mentioned, this would be a great time to get involved with church or strengthen your relationship with God in any way that works for you.
Check out books like “Hope and help for your nerves” and “At last a life” and “man’s search for meaning” as well.
As someone else mentioned, this would be a great time to get involved with church or strengthen your relationship with God in any way that works for you.
Posted on 4/25/26 at 10:43 am to RandySavage
Been on 5mg of lexapro and 150mg Wellbutrin for years now. Walking closer with Christ as well.
Exercises.
Worked for me.
Be blessed brother.
Exercises.
Worked for me.
Be blessed brother.
Posted on 4/25/26 at 12:26 pm to RandySavage
quote:Consider guided, therapeutic psychedelic therapy.
Any help or advice would be much appreciated
Ketamine clinics are all over the place, but it's possible to find a good one. LMK if you need help.
That's often a good place to dip a toe.
I recommend checking out a reputable psilocybin retreat - Jamaica has the best one, but you can also go to Colorado or Oregon legally.
MycoMeditations
Posted on 4/25/26 at 5:20 pm to RandySavage
Anxiety meds take a few weeks to kick in. Give it time.
Posted on 4/26/26 at 5:31 am to RandySavage
Ask about Paxil. Supposed to be good for anxiety and it's great for PE. That's the only reason I got on it and it made world of difference.
Posted on 4/26/26 at 7:36 am to TigerGman
Following up with on my other post but I would avoid taking any medication for anxiety. Again, the focus for long term anxiety remission needs to be an approach instead of an avoidant mindset. There are SOME pharmaceutical interventions that can help with SOME “disorders” but, in my experience, anxiety is not one of them.
As others have said, focus on behavioral levers that can work just as well. Exercise, diet, and community can help dampen the symptoms but I can’t stress enough that the only way to the other side of anxiety is through it. You need to switch your mindset to being “I am going to run right at and through my anxiety”. It’s meant to be a spiritual/heroes journey. It’s telling you something. If I had to guess you are an intelligent, thoughtful, and caring person. All of those qualities can be easily hijacked by anxiety but are so powerful when you’ve learned to harness them correctly. It’s so unfortunate that in modern living we’ve gotten so far away from understanding and using all of our emotions.
As others have said, focus on behavioral levers that can work just as well. Exercise, diet, and community can help dampen the symptoms but I can’t stress enough that the only way to the other side of anxiety is through it. You need to switch your mindset to being “I am going to run right at and through my anxiety”. It’s meant to be a spiritual/heroes journey. It’s telling you something. If I had to guess you are an intelligent, thoughtful, and caring person. All of those qualities can be easily hijacked by anxiety but are so powerful when you’ve learned to harness them correctly. It’s so unfortunate that in modern living we’ve gotten so far away from understanding and using all of our emotions.
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