calling it quits

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 4:07 am

I really want to do this with out the meds!!!!

But I am also afraid that I am doing harm to my health because of so much anxiety.

I told my self that I WILL BEAT THIS. I am a very positive person but now I am just out of ideas and quite frustrated.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 4:50 am

Elkay...I can relate to your post in so many ways. I was on Paxil for about two years and weaned myself off February 07. I was fine for about 10 months and in November 07 my anxiety came back stronger than before. For no real reason mind you. I don't know if it was the winter weather or just me thinking too much. I tried the program again and did everything it proposes to no avail. I could not take it anymore and went back on Paxil in late December. Ever since then, I feel myself again. I hate the fact that I have to take Paxil but I've tried being off of it and did not like the constant and non-stop anxiety. I've been "balanced" once again and myself ever since. Ofcourse, some good days and some not so good but overall much, much better. Perhaps the issue is a chemical one that you cannot control other than with proper diet. Just a thought. Good luck.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 4:50 am

Don't give up, we are all here to try to say the right words of encouragement to help. Have you tried other therapy, such as accupuncture? YOGA tapes, something in addition to try to relax your mind and spirit? I started this thing a few days ago to get rid of those negative thoughts and scary body feeling too. I recently injured my leg and my Anxiety started again. I thought I was going to die from heartattacks and stress. I went to the doctor's, hopitals and everything came back normal. Then I knew it was STRESS related Anxiety. So when I get a pain in the shoulder and an ache in the head or leg, I will say or its just the Anxiety and IT WILL NOT KILL ME, so i go onto doing my job, cooking or finding a few minutes to take the focus off of it. Today is another day, we survive, so we are not going to die for any body aches. I have reached middle age now and ALL kinds of things are happening to me. BUT the TEST don't lie, you are probably AS HEALTHY as the next person, TRY to calm your mind down. It hard to do, I understand, but you CAN DO IT. That the focus of what is wrong or let me know some POSITIVE things about you and your life. If you need to go back to the doc for a moment then set a timeframe, maybe 30 months with meds to keep you balance. But don't give up keep talking to US, we are not doctors but REAL people with REAL issues.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 4:57 am

Hey ELKAY, I thought 3months ago, I was going to have to walk around with a cane at a young age. I injured my back, leg, had pain 24/7, had all the high dose medicines and each day I awake in misery of pain. Unable to walk, stand, sit, but 3months later, I still have the leg ache, but it is not the way it use to be. I am saying this to share with you that EACH day is a NEW DAY, and somedays are WORST than others. Have you had ONE good day or a few HOURS of happiness this week. What is it that you like to do to make you happy that you haven't been able to do?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 5:01 am

I haven't had a good day in a while. I enjoy life and love to live life to the fullest - but this anxiety is like a dull toothache, I just can't shake.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 5:12 am

Ellkay - I would recommend going back to tape 3 and listening to it over and over. I get this feeling that your self talk is of defeat, but not only your self talk - also your body language to yourself. Really notice your reactions to the anxious feelings and your reactions to your thoughts. Start breathing into them. Welcome them. Open your arms up to them. Nothing bad will happen. (Our tricky minds tell us something bad will happen but it's all a lie.)

Practice soothing instead of judging. See that little person inside of you. That's who is suffering! And she really needs your love and support and encouragement. No matter what you go through you can always love yourself through it. It sounds more like you are struggling and fighting what is going on. More acceptance will lessen your discomfort.

Another good book to help you on your way is Freedom from Fear by Dr. Howard Liebgold.

Another thing to remember is: anxiety will not hurt you. It will not hurt you. You need to let yourself know this. It's just the adrenalin creating the anxiety. Adrenalin is a natural body response. Natural body responses can not hurt you. You can feel anxiety for 40 years everyday and it still will not hurt you.

Take the meds too if you need to. You'll know when it is time to go off of them. You'll know when you are ready.

It doesn't matter why you are having anxiety, Ellkay. Your goal is to learn to be unafraid of the feelings. Practice your tools. Great information here has been given by a lot of people with experience. You too can cure from this. Persevere. Start over as many times as you need to. You can heal.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 5:14 am

Don't give up - perhaps with the guidance from
your therapist combined with the program you will
be able to relieve your anxiety symptoms.

Good Luck but don't give up-

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 6:37 am

i can relate, as I am typing my right leg has ache like a dull tooth aches since Dec 11th. I did for 2 entire month Stress over it, wondering like you WHEN will IT end, and each day I rose up, IT was there. I knew I could not cut my leg off, because it hurt. I need my leg, HA!, but instead I started fighting back mentally. This leg is just one part of my body and not my entire life. I stop taking those HIGH dose medicines and only use the ONE motrin800 for pain. But their is no pill that will cure anyone of us, WE have to be our own true friend to survive. IT is our life and no one else. If you say you enjoy life, then together we will BEAT this thing!!!! you are not Anxiety you are Elkay, so that sometime to do those fun things. As a mother and wife and a full time worker, I always find time for ME!
2 weeks ago, I could barely breath, do to LOW IRON, but my anxiety told me I have might have a blood clot in my leg. (that's what the condition has done to us) Make up things in our head - Over dramatize everything. But I REALIZE IT, so try to put those positive words you wrote to reality "live each day to the fullest - enjoy life" you and i are in control of this situation, don't let is control you anymore!!!!!!! sometimes you have to walk away from it for a while, maybe you need to find other resources (positive and motivational books), bowling, walking, dancing, to take the edge off. I know what have works for me, and I did not have anything bad happen today, so even though I am in pain, I still have joy. I am not cripple. I can work, walk, and meet new people like you. Take cool amd calm and when you feel anxious find the old photograph or place that you like an rest. Treat yourself to a back massage, I HAD MY first this year and I am 46 from a professional and by the second treatment of 45minutes, I FELT great. I plan to go every month for the rest of 2008 and 2009.
I am overweight a bit, but now I have 4new tapes to help me. Yoga, kickboxing, dance arobics. Oh year, by the end of 2008, it will be a new me. Take time for you, find your joy.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 3:17 pm

Hi elkay.

What boon says is so right on. I was going to say the same thing about the positive self talk. You have to get to the point where you believe the positive things you say to yourself in order to soothe yourself and calm yourself down. Don't give up. I know it's hard but just give it more time.

Another good book is: What to say when you talk to yourself by Shad Helmstetter.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 4:33 pm

A couple suggestions from a fellow anxiety former pill taker. Post more I see you only have 110 posts in a year since you registered. Try getting on here everyday were here for you. I also think that a strong FAITH in a higher power will help you it has helped me recover from an addiction and start my recovery in this program. God Bless you, Good Luck!