Stress Center Peer Support

I am having a terrible time. I've been having sleepless nights and constant anxiety. Yesterday I thought I was doing better during the day and trying to just roll with everything. But last night as I laid down exhausted to sleep my mind just kept churning out scary thoughts and my stomach started churning and my skin crawling and the anxiety just kept increasing. I did a relaxation tape and did sleep for 5 hours but then up and it all started over again. My body just keeps shaking and churning and my skin is crawling. I've been trying to do the breathing and it will work a little and then it all starts again. I'm feeling so hopeless in this. I'm so exhausted yet I can't sleep and I'm so lethargic that its hard to even think about getting a workout in right now. I walked with the dog for half hour but still am feeling this way. I'M SO FRUSTRATED AND SCARED AND HOPELESS. I JUST WANT TO FEEL CALM AND RELAXED.

Diva,

I understand where you are at. I have been there. You need to know that all you have is anxiety and try to follow the 6 steps. Your thoughts are likely harbouring from something you are not willing to face in your life. Do you have an underlaying life crisis that you haven't dealt with? Try to accept your thoughts as only thoughts and that you are in control of them. You truly are. You are a wonderful, sensitive person who is just sensitized with anxiety at the moment. You will recover fully once you work through the program. Know that we are all behind you and want you to be the best that you can be. As hard as it is at times, know deep inside that you will make it through. You now have the steps to make it happen. Trust in yourself and all will be good.

I hope this helps.

Dave

Diva

I know how it is.....when it hits again it hits hard and it so very scary. Dave is correct something is bugging you that your mind is trying to sort out and thats why its all coming out as tension and anxiety. What are you eating through out the day? Sweets junk food, caffine carbonated drinks? When I am having an intense time with anxiety cutting down on the bad things I eat and adding more carbs like spagehti and breads and fruits and veggies, meat and protiens. Yougurt is excellent cuz it helps with so much and its high in calcium which is a calming nutrient.

Also are you excersising in the day? Even a walk something to get out and get that nervous energy dispursed.

There is one really great thing about a set back in anxiety...youve been here before and you survived just fine...so you KNOW you will be ok and that this will pass just as it has in the past.

Try to watch your diet.....and take your vitamins this is a tough time of the year weather is a huge factor in the way we feel and our abilities to get out and enjoy fresh air.

Hang in there....Your ok. Deep breath
close your eyes. Oh and make yourself some chamomile tea....I drink up to 4 cups a day during a tough time....too much more and you actually might feel tired. But it really does help to calm.

Your going to be ok.....Yourfreind Dodger

Dave: I don't like to encourage meds here as our goal is to be off of them. But my anxiety started and became so severe there was nothing that helped. I had to take something. If you are experiencing this much anxiety constantly everyday you should see your doctor. The constant severe anxiety was making me sick and non-funtioning. I became sleep-deprived. Things just got worse and worse. If you only have spells-forget this and work at it without. I'm passed tired of being xanax dependent.

Dave: Also I've been there. The Lamictal is helping with that.(I can never remember which sessions say these things) but there is a session that suggests if you can't sleep at night, get up. Don't toss and turn and drive yourself crazy. Keep the house or room dark-not doing anything that will stimulate you more. I found that getting up alone made it better because I wouldn't feel as crazy. I accept the fact that I can't sleep and I get up. When I was going through withdrawals, several people suggested this to me and it worked. I only did this during the day. I have not tried it at night. Sit in a hot bath and do not get your head wet as it stimulates you more. Take several deep breaths and use the breathing. It works-until the water gets cold Drain the cold water and run more hot water. My husband does this when he's stressed and he falls asleep in the tub. The program suggests other things as well, especially for insomnia. Good luck.

I feel the constant worry of what is going to happen. I have been having some minor pain in my right side. I automically assume appendix. The things is I am no sick with it and can walk around fine. It even goes away at night when I sleep. Then it seems like when I wake up and realize the pain isn't there it starts all over again. I have been having indigestion I'm not sure if that is what this is or more anxiety. Has anyone ever had this?

Carson: When my oldest stepson (now 23) was 7 years old and he was having the same type of pain. He has always been on over-achiever and competing with his 4-years-younger brother to be the favorite, smartest and best and had high expectations of himself. His pediatrician found that he had an intestinal valve prolapsing. He referred us to a specialist at a childrens hospital in Atlanta. It was happening in spells, not constanly and he was in severe pain. The doctor evaluated him and determined that he was getting so stressed that he had created this problem. Well ironically, the appointment traumatized him so that when we got outside he threw up. He also stopped having the pains after 2 more episodes, anticipating another appointments he cured himself. He was a control freak and lacked coping skills at 7! Shortly after that it went to headaches. But his pediatrician recommended tylenol and they eventually went away. He still gives himself headaches as he still has issues with loss of control and coping. He has just recently realized his issues and is currently addressing them. He's having a hard time, but we know he'll work it out.

carson....I used to think every single pain was appendix.....and if it came on the left side Id go shew glad thats not the right side or Id be freakin.

I found that a simple chewable gasex was the answer in nearly all my gut pains. Theres a lot of intestines in the body lots like 25 feet I believe and the foods we eat the tensions we feel, make for lots of gasey pockets.

All I can say is try a gas ex when you have those pains even some of my what I thought were chest pains are cured with a simple gas ex.

If your not sure if you can chew these then ask you doctor or pharmacist but again its over the counter and much like eating a tums or rolaids.

But it works and thats one less thing to worry about.
dodger

Carson: Dodger's in the right place too. I developed a gas pocket after mu abdominal exploratory surgery-they literally remove your intestines and sit them on your chest to get inside. Then they just stuff them back in. It's its up around the area where my gall bladder used to be and I have felt like I'm going to have a heart attack. I had to get up and walk it off. That area isn't as bad, but it's still there. I have been experiencing an excessive amount of gas since my hysterectomy and I can not explain that at all. The only thing that was different from before the surgery and the Lamictal was estrogine replacement and my loss of appetite. With the loss of all the pre-menapause symptoms I felt so much better that I felt my anxiety increase and excitability increased because I felt so much better. I think pre-menapause was covering up a lot of my anxiety. It gets so bad sometimes. Ceertain foods make it worse. I feel the pressure from that pocket all the way down and all the way around even in my back and on both kidneys to the point that I have to get up or at least change sitting positions and sometimes walk. Baking soda is used for gas and indigestion and it works for me and my husband. Directions are on the box. But it can also irritate your stomach. And you aren't suppose to use it often as it will destroy your stomach lining and that warning is also on the box. So if you feel the need for a really big belch, try it. My doctor said that unless your constipated you should be able to walk off gas pains. Good Luck