Does it ever get better

Does anxiety and panic and fear of just about everything EVER get better?? I have had so many lows and losses over my half and a bit century that I am constantly in this mind muddled nightmare and try as I might I just cant see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I read so many of your posts and realise that you are all fellow suffers of panic and anxiety and I am not alone. Does anyone stare out of the bus or the car and see people going about their daily lives and think - I wish I could be like them - just flick a switch and have something positive to think about and climb out of this awfulness? I know envy and jealousy are dangerous emotions but I do envy and am jealous of those that seem to take lifes knocks on the chin, brush themselves off and turn a new page. I try to do this but all my pages just get stuck together and I cannot see the positive in anything and just worry and fear constantly.

I seem to be phobic about health issues, phobic about going anywhere of any interest alone .... sleep is disturbed and i wake up in an anxious and panic state, heart thumping, tingling ...I expect you have all been there. I'm thinking of perhaps trying valerian to help me sleep a bit better and perhaps trying St Johns Wort - anyone tried these and did they help???
Sydney

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I tried the stjohns wort when I first started getting the anxiety years ago. It didnt work for me but worked wonders for a coworker of mine. Give it a try, it cant hurt right?

there is light at the end of the tunnel, I feel 75 percent better than I did 6 months ago. its still there lingering, and waiting to get me but I take things day by day now, and try to blow off the stupid things in life that seem to get my mind to overreact.
I am in a program now sponsored by my health care and we have our first group session coming up. although I fret about that I know that it will be safe since we all have the same issues and together as a group with therapists maybe we can combat this curse once and for all.

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Thanks Chrissy and Erinb - no I'm not taking any medication - my doctor suggested St Johns Wort as I do not really like taking pills of any sort and although I had been prescribed prozac it was absolutely dreadful for me and made me feel worse and its effects frightened me terribly - but there has been conflicting reports about St Johns Wort - but isn't there always!! but perhaps its worth a try. I do appreciate your words of support.

Also, I wonder if there is a way of finding out if there are any actual meetings for suffers as in AA etc? I live in the Bristol area so wondered if you guys have ever expeirenced an actual 'face to face' meeting and how you feel it helped (or not!).

Thanks again - I will take one day at a time, but the slightest thing and the old heart starts racing and off we go again - but hey ho, at least I am not alone!

Sydney

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Bristol in the usa or uk?

I live in Rrhode Island usa and am involved in a program called leap
its group discussions with people with the same issues as me. I also looked around and found tons of info of places to go if you are in the states

lemme know

Hi Erinb

No i'm in Bristol UK - although US sounds good! I am amazed that the forum reaches so many corners of the world and people like me have the same problems. Thanks for trying to help out.

Take care

Sydney

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Hi Sydney - How`s it going? You asked about valerian, which is one of the ingredients in Kalms along with gentian and hops. They do seem to work for me, but as others have pointed out, they don`t for everyone.

Worth a go perhaps; and let us know how you`re managing.

A

Hello Sydney, I read your post and just like you I am in near constant fear most days. About 12 months ago I was in an awful state made much worse by taking antidepressants, so I stopped them and carried on without. Eventually, I started having one or two days at a time without all the sickly feelings that goes with the anxiety, what I am trying to say is that you will see light at the end of the tunnel. I still find it very hard most days but I feel I am getting somewhere. Finding this site and reading reports on it for a few months from all the different people has been a great help. But I was so nervous I would not dare write anything on here. Hope this helps you to know someone else is feeling the awful fear just as you are. Ann

I never get ANGRY-envious, but yeah, sometimes I think "Why me?" I wouldn't actually express that sentiment to just anyone, though, only the people who've experienced panic attacks themselves, or witnessed a loved one suffering from them. I like who I am (for the most part), but I just wish that this PART of who I am would go away.

Does anxiety and panic and fear of just about everything EVER get better?? I have had so many lows and losses over my half and a bit century that I am constantly in this mind muddled nightmare and try as I might I just cant see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I read so many of your posts and realise that you are all fellow suffers of panic and anxiety and I am not alone. Does anyone stare out of the bus or the car and see people going about their daily lives and think - I wish I could be like them - just flick a switch and have something positive to think about and climb out of this awfulness? I know envy and jealousy are dangerous emotions but I do envy and am jealous of those that seem to take lifes knocks on the chin, brush themselves off and turn a new page. I try to do this but all my pages just get stuck together and I cannot see the positive in anything and just worry and fear constantly.

I seem to be phobic about health issues, phobic about going anywhere of any interest alone .... sleep is disturbed and i wake up in an anxious and panic state, heart thumping, tingling ...I expect you have all been there. I'm thinking of perhaps trying valerian to help me sleep a bit better and perhaps trying St Johns Wort - anyone tried these and did they help???
Sydney
sydney
hi
i hope my response will give you hope and comfort.
i have been learning to cope with cronic anxiety/panic attacks for over 30 years.
i would say that in my personal experience, the intensity of experiencing a panic attacks has reduced over the years.
looking back to when i was in my childhood/teenage years i was having severe panic attacks that made my life a living nightmare.
i panicked over everything!
going outside caused the worse anxiety for me because as soon as i was out of my safety zone(my bedroom) i felt insecure and frightened as if i had just come into the world.
i developed a fear of using public transport because i was afraid of walking to the bus stop especially if it was crowded with people.
i would feel very self conscious and would be shaking like a leaf.
it was worse if their was girls standing their because i was always painfully shy.
but to cut a long story short, i made my life so complicated by avoiding things because i was afraid of getting nervous.
now i can walk to asda in the morning without taking my medication.
only a year before i could not leave my flat without taking my medication day or night.
i still find it very uncomfortable and nerve wracking going out during the day.
it sounds silly but i just find it difficult to relax.
i dont think i have ever had a day when i felt 100% comfortable in myself.
even while at home my body and mind are on edge.
when the human and mind and body is subjected to anxiety 24-7
it becomes hard to change.
this is why i wish so much that there could be a place for people like you and I to go to to recieve the right kind of treatment
so that we can stop panicking and start enjoying life.
this is also why i disagree with alternative treatment by means of things like cannabis etc.
i actually spent a small fortune and at least ten years of my life using cannabis as a anisetic for my nerves
but the fact is i still find it hard to control my nerves.
a friend of mine is seriously addicted to cannabis and he has anxiety problem too.
at the time it may feel like it is the answer but it isnt.
there must be an answer that doesnt require doing harm to our already hurt and damaged minds and bodies.
i'm due to start seeing a pyschcologist soon.
i hope i can learn a new way to cope with anxiety so that i can go back to work and hopefully fall in love and get married and look forward to my later years at last happy and at peace.
i wish you well.
best wishes
from ukdrumstick