Long Term Anxiety

[Mayor_Houchens_Underpants]

I have had anxiety for over 30 years. Now been diagnosed with GAD. Generalised Anxiety Disorder. I worked in a very high paced job in industry. Left that job and now work in a warehouse. I love the job but I find myself constantly confused about even the simplest tasks. My memory is also not good. I find these feelings terrifying. I keep telling myself it's just anxiety. Can anyone relate to this

 

[Borotommo]

Yes, mate. I had it explained to me like a PTSD. If you’re exposed to severe stress, over a sustained period, your brain copes with this, to allow you to survive. Once you “come down” from bouts of this stress, adrenaline wears off and cortisol is left in the body, which can make you feel ill in a number of ways.
One of the most common outcomes is prolonged anxiety, in my case leading to depression. The kicker is that anxiety creates more stress and the cycle can continue.
Exercise is the very best way to rinse cortisol and other hormones from the system. Medication and meditation can help, and getting away from the stress origin is essential. It’s taken me years to improve to where I am now, but I’m less capable to handle pressure, have a short temper, forget stuff, and am generally a less resilient person, I’m afraid.
You’re not alone, and I hope it’s something you and your GP can get on top of

 

[AytonMews]

Yes, mate. I had it explained to me like a PTSD. If you’re exposed to severe stress, over a sustained period, your brain copes with this, to allow you to survive. Once you “come down” from bouts of this stress, adrenaline wears off and cortisol is left in the body, which can make you feel ill in a number of ways.
One of the most common outcomes is prolonged anxiety, in my case leading to depression. The kicker is that anxiety creates more stress and the cycle can continue.
Exercise is the very best way to rinse cortisol and other hormones from the system. Medication and meditation can help, and getting away from the stress origin is essential. It’s taken me years to improve to where I am now, but I’m less capable to handle pressure, have a short temper, forget stuff, and am generally a less resilient person, I’m afraid.
You’re not alone, and I hope it’s something you and your GP can get on top of

This is really good to hear, as I have been suffering with a lot of the symptoms mentioned after a recent traumatic event

 

[Angus]

This is really good to hear, as I have been suffering with a lot of the symptoms mentioned after a recent traumatic event

Trauma can be a very difficult thing to cope with let alone resolve.

There is something called EMDR. It was described to me by a psychologist, who didn’t practice it but suggested it might work for me.It sounded like witchcraft and I ignored his advice and sought help elsewhere but none of the other counselling or medication helped.

After three years of absolute misery in desperation I tried EMDR and within a month I had my life back.

You could think about how it could possibly help you.

I know ultimately I have been fortunate in finding something that worked really well for me.

Hopefully everyone who has issues on this thread will soon get a positive resolution to their problems as well.

 

[AytonMews]

Thankyou Angus, I really appreciate you taking the time to post and discuss what has worked for you. I will look into EMDR

 

[Angus]

Thankyou Angus, I really appreciate you taking the time to post and discuss what has worked for you. I will look into EMDR

Good luck!

 

[Tryasize10]

Trauma can be a very difficult thing to cope with let alone resolve.

There is something called EMDR. It was described to me by a psychologist, who didn’t practice it but suggested it might work for me.It sounded like witchcraft and I ignored his advice and sought help elsewhere but none of the other counselling or medication helped.

After three years of absolute misery in desperation I tried EMDR and within a month I had my life back.

You could think about how it could possibly help you.

I know ultimately I have been fortunate in finding something that worked really well for me.

Hopefully everyone who has issues on this thread will soon get a positive resolution to their problems as well.

Someone I know who was in the forces and suffered badly with PTSD told me that EMDR helped massively

 

[Boro in Devon]

Yes, mate. I had it explained to me like a PTSD. If you’re exposed to severe stress, over a sustained period, your brain copes with this, to allow you to survive. Once you “come down” from bouts of this stress, adrenaline wears off and cortisol is left in the body, which can make you feel ill in a number of ways.
One of the most common outcomes is prolonged anxiety, in my case leading to depression. The kicker is that anxiety creates more stress and the cycle can continue.
Exercise is the very best way to rinse cortisol and other hormones from the system. Medication and meditation can help, and getting away from the stress origin is essential. It’s taken me years to improve to where I am now, but I’m less capable to handle pressure, have a short temper, forget stuff, and am generally a less resilient person, I’m afraid.
You’re not alone, and I hope it’s something you and your GP can get on top of

Thank you for your really clear explanation. I can relate to a lot of that, I had severe stress for a few years, on top of prolonged poor mental health for 25 years. I have had to stop work and take early retirement as I didnt think that I could work again. Maybe there is some hope. Thanks

 

[SalfordBoro]

I was diagnosed with GAD about 5 years ago which lead to depression to.

I was in a really bad way with both of it. Cycling helped quite a lot.

I couldn't cope at times but two significant things in my life happened.

I took a lot of time off work due to it - I lost my job

My marriage fell apart and I ended up getting divorced.

Those were the major issues in my life causing the anxiety.

I'm not advocating to divorce your partner or quit your job but I'm in a hell of a better place than I was. I just didn't k ow those two things affected me as much as they were

 

[El Guapo]

“I’m less capable to handle pressure, have a short temper, forget stuff, and am generally a less resilient person, I’m afraid”

This is me. Totally burned down.

 

[sadgit]

I suffer with anxiety and depression. My anxiety is kind of in control now. I had hypnotherapy (wasn't for my anxiety) but as a side affect it helped me massively.

EMDR. I tried it but I was told my mental state was so bad (shaking, scrambled head etc) that it wouldn't work for me.

I've been off work nearly 2 years due to the stress that sent me over the edge. It is a highly stressful job as an IT manager. I get panic attacks at the thought of going back, then my anxiety goes through the roof. Speak to your GP or better still try and see your local mental health nurse. Mine is amazing and knows more about this than the GPs every will.

 

[MaximoParkEnd]

I was diagnosed with GAD nearly 13 years ago - I’ve never met anyone with the same diagnosis.
I haven’t got any words of wisdom at all, other than to say that I too have “flashbacks” under some circumstances where even in low pressure environments my anxiety is uncontrollable.

 

[Wiseman_Vaughn]

I relate to this! I've had my ups and downs over the years but the anxiety was always there in the background. I learned to live with it. I used to enjoy deadlines and pressure situations but I didn't realise how damaging it was. These days I'm very solitary and shy away from interaction. Exercise really helps but the biggest thing for me was limiting social media to a minimum.

 

[MoggasDog]

I have had anxiety for over 30 years. Now been diagnosed with GAD. Generalised Anxiety Disorder. I worked in a very high paced job in industry. Left that job and now work in a warehouse. I love the job but I find myself constantly confused about even the simplest tasks. My memory is also not good. I find these feelings terrifying. I keep telling myself it's just anxiety. Can anyone relate to this

I started getting panic attacks when I was about 8 or 9 and, obviously, at that age, I had no idea what was happening and developed quite an ability to hide it.
Antidepressants sort of 'fixed' these problems in my 30s. But antidepressants bring their own little foibles into my life. Almost like Baldrick solving the problem of his mother's low ceilings by cutting off her head.

Please read my footer - and feel free to message me. I looked into the whys and wherefores of psychedelic therapy for 10 years before I finally took the plunge