Hey Ellkay,
Don't give up. Maybe you need more Zoloft and maybe a tranquilizer(sp?) would help you. I take one a day and can have 3 but have never needed more than one. I have taken them for years. Some years I need them and some I don't. But if I need one, I have learned not to beat myself up over it. Please take your medication. Up it if you need to. You are beating yourself up.
calling it quits
after all the responses from this post I am feeling better. I am going to consider talking to a therapist. Maybe I have some hidden anxieties from what I have been through that must be dealt with before I can work on getting rid of the body symptoms.
Just so you all know I am not to the point where I just can live any more - Just so frustrated because I feel like I have been workng so hard the last year to rid myself of anxiety or more importantly the body symptoms and its seems to be a vicious cycle.
The book freedom from fear was recommended to me - has any one ever read that book or know of any book that deals with fear of body symptoms? That is the problem that I haven't been able to overcome. for some reason the symptoms terrify me.
Thank you to all of you - your kind words and support. I hold everything you say dear to my heart and will try to use everything you suggested.
God Bless!
Just so you all know I am not to the point where I just can live any more - Just so frustrated because I feel like I have been workng so hard the last year to rid myself of anxiety or more importantly the body symptoms and its seems to be a vicious cycle.
The book freedom from fear was recommended to me - has any one ever read that book or know of any book that deals with fear of body symptoms? That is the problem that I haven't been able to overcome. for some reason the symptoms terrify me.
Thank you to all of you - your kind words and support. I hold everything you say dear to my heart and will try to use everything you suggested.
God Bless!
-
Guest
I just started Week 2 and am experiencing more anxiety than ever! My thoughts are constantly turned inward and all I think about is how bad I feel. I don't want to go anywhere and yet I don't want to stay home. I will stay with the program, however, because I've heard so many poasitive results. Ermie
-
Guest
ellkay, you are so right; different things work for different people. Maybe the combination of the program, a live therapist and peer support (like here) will take you to the next level.
If it helps even a little, I am 40 and I've had anxiety off and on since I was 16. I recently had a physical and I'm STILL in fantastic shape. The numbness, tingling, chest pain or whatever other physical symptoms I battle from time to time, are still just anxiety and nothing more.
Keep fighting it, you'll break through.
If it helps even a little, I am 40 and I've had anxiety off and on since I was 16. I recently had a physical and I'm STILL in fantastic shape. The numbness, tingling, chest pain or whatever other physical symptoms I battle from time to time, are still just anxiety and nothing more.
Keep fighting it, you'll break through.
-
Guest
I can understand your point of wanting to do this without medicine. But each person was designed uniquely which makes each one of us special. I do believe anything is possible through God and Faith......and believing in yourself. Yes I too am frustrated with feeling anxious all the time. I'm missing all the precious present moments with my baby and 9 year old....I am on session 3 and so far this program has given only a few tools........that have been helpful......but having an escape from the present moment of what I'm really feeling and then identifying it later as to what it was helps me.......and if an escape is not always available........my Xanax is!!!!
-
Guest
As my therapist puts it..........
You have to go through your bag of tricks or basically your bag of tools and see which tool works for the moment that will pass. You will find each one make work differently on different occassions. Its all about you being happy and finding a balance and peace in life. You deserve to be happy and feel some peace I know I deserve and I will not longer deprive myself from it or allow anxiety to continously steal it from me.......think about it!!
You have to go through your bag of tricks or basically your bag of tools and see which tool works for the moment that will pass. You will find each one make work differently on different occassions. Its all about you being happy and finding a balance and peace in life. You deserve to be happy and feel some peace I know I deserve and I will not longer deprive myself from it or allow anxiety to continously steal it from me.......think about it!!
-
Guest
Hi Elkay,
I can relate to what you are going through. I was on Celexa for 3 or 4 years, and I was able to get my dose down to 10mg and it worked very well for me. I had tried going off of it a few times and always had a relapse of the anxiety. I toyed with the idea of trying to get off the medication and once I started this program, I almost felt like I had to do it. If all the people on this forum felt so good from the program and could do it without medication, then why couldn't I? I was on a very small dose, things were going good in my life, and my anxiety wasn't as bad as it was for some of the others on the forum. Why wasn't I strong enough to do it withou the meds? Another example of how we are too hard on ourselves... anyway, I got off the meds at about week 6 and made it through the first 12 wks of the program (although I did start slacking off around week 6 b/c I felt so good). My anxiety came back with a vengenance in November. Still, I resisted going back on the medication because I was stronger than that, right? Finally, I came to the realization that I was not going to be able to really utilize this program and get healthy and get my life back on track if I had that anxiety always there, like a black cloud (not sure about you, but I am more GAD than panic attacks). Anyway, I went back on the med, my body symptoms went away, and I felt like myself again. My plan was/is to do the program a second time and not to slack!! Once I finish the program, or maybe halfway through it (depends on how things are going), I plan on going off Celexa and giving it one more try. BUT, if it doesn't work and my anxiety begins to take over my life again, I'm going back on the Celexa and staying on it. As long as you are using the skills that they teach us in the program and taking care of yourself by exercising and eating right,etc....there is nothing wrong with taking a low dose antidepressant if it keeps you on an even keel. The stress from the constant anxiety is harmful to your body and your soul. Think of all the conditions that people take medications for...would you beat yourself up if you had to take a high blood pressure medication despite doing your best to eat well,exercise, and keep stress to a minimum? As someone that has been there, I would really think twice about getting back on the Zoloft and using that break from constant anxiety to focus on getting yourself well. Life is too short to suffer! good luck..
I can relate to what you are going through. I was on Celexa for 3 or 4 years, and I was able to get my dose down to 10mg and it worked very well for me. I had tried going off of it a few times and always had a relapse of the anxiety. I toyed with the idea of trying to get off the medication and once I started this program, I almost felt like I had to do it. If all the people on this forum felt so good from the program and could do it without medication, then why couldn't I? I was on a very small dose, things were going good in my life, and my anxiety wasn't as bad as it was for some of the others on the forum. Why wasn't I strong enough to do it withou the meds? Another example of how we are too hard on ourselves... anyway, I got off the meds at about week 6 and made it through the first 12 wks of the program (although I did start slacking off around week 6 b/c I felt so good). My anxiety came back with a vengenance in November. Still, I resisted going back on the medication because I was stronger than that, right? Finally, I came to the realization that I was not going to be able to really utilize this program and get healthy and get my life back on track if I had that anxiety always there, like a black cloud (not sure about you, but I am more GAD than panic attacks). Anyway, I went back on the med, my body symptoms went away, and I felt like myself again. My plan was/is to do the program a second time and not to slack!! Once I finish the program, or maybe halfway through it (depends on how things are going), I plan on going off Celexa and giving it one more try. BUT, if it doesn't work and my anxiety begins to take over my life again, I'm going back on the Celexa and staying on it. As long as you are using the skills that they teach us in the program and taking care of yourself by exercising and eating right,etc....there is nothing wrong with taking a low dose antidepressant if it keeps you on an even keel. The stress from the constant anxiety is harmful to your body and your soul. Think of all the conditions that people take medications for...would you beat yourself up if you had to take a high blood pressure medication despite doing your best to eat well,exercise, and keep stress to a minimum? As someone that has been there, I would really think twice about getting back on the Zoloft and using that break from constant anxiety to focus on getting yourself well. Life is too short to suffer! good luck..
-
Guest
Hey Elkay...
How about coming to our weekly prayer group? We have been getting some pretty good results through prayer and just coming together to talk and encourage one another... See the "March 6 Prayer Together..." post...
If you can't make it, we will lift you up in prayer next week...
God Bless
How about coming to our weekly prayer group? We have been getting some pretty good results through prayer and just coming together to talk and encourage one another... See the "March 6 Prayer Together..." post...
If you can't make it, we will lift you up in prayer next week...
God Bless
-
Guest
Thank you - Yes you are right and I am going to consider (very carefully) consider going back on the Zoloft.
I just cannot tell you how great it is that so many people resonded to me. I would have been in terrible shape ifI didn't go into the stress center website. The support has been unbelievable. You have all given me the courage to keep going with this, read a little more and maybe go back on the Zoloft.
One thing that sticks with me is when I originally went on the Zoloft, my husband said "I am glad to have my wife back, welcome back" I won't ever forget that.
Sheils75-your experience is very much like mine and what I am currently going through. I am leaving work to go to the book store to get some more reading material and work on my tapes when I get home.
Thank you for your support!!
I just cannot tell you how great it is that so many people resonded to me. I would have been in terrible shape ifI didn't go into the stress center website. The support has been unbelievable. You have all given me the courage to keep going with this, read a little more and maybe go back on the Zoloft.
One thing that sticks with me is when I originally went on the Zoloft, my husband said "I am glad to have my wife back, welcome back" I won't ever forget that.
Sheils75-your experience is very much like mine and what I am currently going through. I am leaving work to go to the book store to get some more reading material and work on my tapes when I get home.
Thank you for your support!!
Ernie,
I understand how how feel, too. I am on week and feel more anxious. I am anxious about listening to the audio and doing the workbook. It seems I am discovering things I didn't know were bothering me. I guess we need to plod on to the next session, breathe and keep reminder ourselves its just anxiety and it will pass. I have been taking walks and they seem to help.
I understand how how feel, too. I am on week and feel more anxious. I am anxious about listening to the audio and doing the workbook. It seems I am discovering things I didn't know were bothering me. I guess we need to plod on to the next session, breathe and keep reminder ourselves its just anxiety and it will pass. I have been taking walks and they seem to help.
Originally posted by Ermie:
I just started Week 2 and am experiencing more anxiety than ever! My thoughts are constantly turned inward and all I think about is how bad I feel. I don't want to go anywhere and yet I don't want to stay home. I will stay with the program, however, because I've heard so many poasitive results. Ermie