Stress Center Peer Support

Hi everyone. It seems like now that I've declared war on anxiety, it has declared war on me. For some reason, I walk around in a constant state of anxiety. I don't know what happened, to be honest. I was doing well and then it creeped up on me and got me.

I was wondering if this anxiety was left over from my nightmare vacation. We just got back from Disney, the happiest place on earth...unless you have anxiety. Before we left, I got an infection in my mouth. The docs gave me some medicine and on our way there (a very long drive) I get very sick from the medicine. Once I'm there I am sick for 2 days. Finally on Wed. I start to feel better until I see the pollen everywhere and guess who's allergic to pollen? Yep. The next morning I wake up with a horrible sinus infection and I'm running a fever by the afternoon. On top of feeling physically ill, my anxiety is just over the top at this point. I'm in tears waiting to get on rides. Usually I can control it but I don't think I had it in me at that point, I was just worn down from being sick. Can't tell you how happy I was to be going home. My poor family, I felt horrible for bringing everyone down.

So I get home and the anxiety is still there. At first I thought it was just left over anxiety from the trip but I realized that the anxiety was there before the trip also.

Does anyone else have anxiety all the time? Most of the time it's not something that I'm dwelling on, I know it's there but I'm still functioning. Other times it jumps on me and sends me to the point of panic. I would love to hear what everyone else does for this.

I, too, have anxiety all the time. Sometimes it's alllll day long...I just can't relax and I don't know what to do. I end up loading up on benzo's. It's terrible. I'm in the same situation...and I would like some advice too.

Hi guys,

I have written this many time because this is the most common question. You said it in the first sentance- war on it, war on you.

When I was feeling this way I posted the same thing and a recovered member described it to me this way: the disorder is like a dragon the more you attempt to slay it it fights back harder- it doesnt want to lose and the old saying "bad habits die hard" is the truth- keep fighting and try and tell yourself its a memory [negative thinking] I think positively now. Keep on keeping on- I promise you get better its like the evolution of this program, yuo are just starting and feeling anxious about the change, the new material, new feelings, the whole caboodle- by session 6 youll be feeling as though youve worked through a lot and can no long be the person you were however, you arent sure of the person you are.. its a tough phase to. Dont forget you will take two steps forward, one back, just keep faith. I promise you are where you are for a reason and you will be recovered.. keep working it! this is a normal feeling at that stage- session 2 and 3 aleviate a lot of what your feeling, good luck!

p.s. really use the relaxation cd that is a key to recovery as silly as it is/sounds- it figgin' works! amazing!

Hi Maeggie. I appreciate your response. However, I've been thru the program TWICE. Once on my own, once with a counselor. It seems to have helped with the panic attacks but not the ever present anxiety that is there every single moment of the day. That's the kind of anxiety I'm talking about. Where do you go when you've positive self talked yourself to death and it's still not getting you anywhere?

Hi Mac,

Good question.. I am still in the midst of this disorder but am doing better slowly- sounds like you simply expect to much from everything still, you must live it, practise it, forget about it just live. Obviously there is something that is hindering you, any outside triggers such as coffee? outside people/experiences bringing you down? do you exercise daily some people need exercise daily to be anxiety free..there is a root cause to your anxiety and the program isnt meant to fix that- it is just meant to teach you tools to make some of it easier and if possible we can live it and eventually run enough with these tools to recover. Maybe you should seek a doctors evaluation and make sure there is no tyriod problems.. there is endless possibilities.

I feel exhausted mentally and physically often too pushing recovery but I have felt the benefits and I know this sh*t works.. so thats what keeps me going, I have momments now where life is exciting that NEVER happened before.

Please feel free to PM if you want to chat although Im not too much help best wishes

p.s. perhaps focusing on the keys sessions like 3 (I do 3 daily) that is the key for me so I do it more than recommended.. feel it out for you and go from there. Does any of this answer your question?