Is it really true that you can recover from panic and anxiety?

[youdontknowme]

It is very possible to make vast improvements, probably even to recover entirely. I used to have multiple anxiety attacks a day. I remember crying in high school because I couldn't even go to the movies with my friends without having to struggle the entire time. I felt like I couldn't enjoy life.

But, I just kept living anyway; seeing my friends, going to school, following the rhythms of life. I didn't let my anxiety cripple me and turn me into a hermit. I had rich friendships, relationships, adventures, travels, classes... I kept putting myself out there, even if it was scary. Now I'm 21 years old and haven't had an anxiety attack in at least a year. I occasionally have short lived bouts of disassociation, and I certainly overthink health issues from time to time, but I'm about 90% better.

I go out rock hiking with friends and don't even feel a twinge of uneasiness. I drive my little shoe box of a car to unfamiliar places to get painful piercings and eat Chinese food, and I have a blast! I'm even saving up to get a bus so that I can travel around the US.

Have hope! Anxiety can make you feel trapped and frustrated, but don't let it shove you around. You're in control. The road to healing can be difficult and fraught with set backs, but you can get better, and you can live the life you know you want as the person you know you are Hang in there.

[Nat2015]

Yes it is true, but it means a lot of work few are willing to put in. I went from a panic attack every night and Agoraphobia during the day to one panic attack a year which was very mild and absolutely no Agoraphobia. But I am unique. I am totally recovered not just coping real well. I think though that you would accept coping if it would let you do what you want to and people do get that. Some (and they are on here) want to take it past coping to gone for good. They could stop at what they have but want total freedom from it. And that you get from cognitive restructuring. This is more than just thinking different. It is thinking different so strongly that the pathways in your brain change permanently. Like brain washing but to the good. And no it will not just change back on you when you are not looking.

Great to read this This is exactly the approach I am taking to recover from panic and agoraphobia. I view everything I do as retraining and I will not stop until I have fully retrained myself so that I can lead a "normal" life again. I believe completely that it is not only possible, but inevitable, as long as I put in the training. I am using a variety of ways in doing this and the new neural pathway connections are starting to become the new default setting. I just need to keep repeating things over and over to reinforce it.

[meche]

Great post youdontknowme ! I couldn't agree more. Throughout all my issues I've still managed to work full time, socialise & get on with other hobbies. It hasn't always been easy but you have to force yourself. I think if I had let myself become reclusive, I would still be there now. Keeping active has helped my hugely in understanding my anxiety. No matter how bad I felt or how ill I thought I was, I was always amazed that after going out hiking or spending time with friends, my symptoms had miraculously disappeared & I was still alive ! Distraction is the the way forward in dealing with anxiety. . xx

[Snaily2015]

snaily can I ask and can you be honest without dwelling?

is there a time of the day when you start feeling a bit normal ie when you have had a good nights sleep do you generally wake up ok?

if so does a thought pop up thinking hhmmmmmmi feel normal or do you question why you feel normal then by midday start feeling downhill?

I used to wake up ok lets use the word copeable? is that even a word lmao

but then because I felt normal id start questioning it like it was weird?

then bang by afternoon id have most of the symptoms of 300 critical illnesses

putting the fire out with petrol was my doing instead of starving it

Hi ohwell123. I do actually recall TWO events of being at complete peace with myself, literally my brain was completely empty and I was at peace and felt completely normal - both times it only lastes an hour or two - but it felt truely amazing! (Does this sound really silly - does anyone else get that?). I think I feel.most relieved on an evening cos then I know its bedtime n ive made it through another day (makes me sad to think like that, .cos at 27 I should be out loving life!). I dunno really if there's certain parts of the day when I feel better than others, kinda alternates I think. Im anxious n worry all the time. ...stupidly the other night I knew I had to be up early and id gone to bed late. So of course I laid there all night worrying about how tired id be in the morning! (I mean how ridiculous do you wana get) I wish my brain would just give over n become normal!! So frustrated about it all. I think I need to learn how to accept it too, I dont want to think ive got a mental illness. Snaily x

---------- Post added at 16:45 ---------- Previous post was at 16:33 ----------

For me personally it's all about acceptance. For a long while I refused to believe I had anxiety issues and it was just a phase but when I really thought about it, I realised I've probably been anxious on some level all my life. I haven't had a major anxiety episode for 3-4 years now (that was my worst time) but I do have days when I feel nervous, unsettled & overthink the simplest of things. I call these my 'glitch' days. I accept them for what they are, go with however I feel till it passes & move on. I don't know that I will ever be cured of anxiety - I think it's just the way my brain works. It's who I am & I have to acknowledge that. xx

Hey its great that youve come to terms with it - how did you get to that stage? Want it purely just through reading about it or did you get therapy? Id be interested to know if your on meds too? Snaily

[ohwell123]

see the mere fact your questioning how you feel is like putting a fire out with 5 pounds of petrol

my dad gets up he doesn't wonder how he feels he just gets on with his day we don't we get so used to negative dwelling we feel normal and think OH MY GOD WHY DO I FEEL NORMAL???? or you are pre empting disaster
if you could stop fueling these bad habits you would go a long way to curing anxiety without meds imho

its funny when you look back but not at the time

tk care kris

[meche]

I can't claim I've had a miraculous recovery because I do still have my moments. I didn't do any one thing in particular - I just carried on. I've never had therapy and never been on meds. I do however have a responsible full-time job, a mortgage, bills to pay, cats to feed & relationships to sustain. I have to take responsibility for all these things - if I had let anxiety get the better of me I would risk losing the very things that bring me security. It wasn't always easy & not every day was a success but I tried and eventually turned a corner. The best advise I can give is don't beat yourself up about it. I would have a really great couple of days then out of the blue for no reason I would feel nervous & highly anxious & I would get angry because I was doing so well. Take each day for what it is - accept & get through the bad days and enjoy the good days. xxx

[Davit]

I used to think it was just me and that was it, that there would be good days and bad days, it isn't true. That just fed it. It started controlling my life.

It is gone, totally. Every day is free. No more I'll have to live with this.

---------- Post added at 12:13 ---------- Previous post was at 09:36 ----------

Hello Nat

Good to see there is someone else who understands how this works. Some times I feel like I'm banging my head against a wall trying to explain neural pathways and the fact we built the negative pathways and we can build new positive ones. It isn't hard but one thing you probably noticed is it takes time and repetition and the right attitude. Something not everyone is willing to do.

[fallingstar]

Snaily,

There is DEFINITELY hope. And you can make 98% of them go away like someone else had said. You may never make them go away 100%, as everyone experiences some level of healthy anxiety in their lives, so you will probably encounter it somewhere, however it may be easier and easier and easier to cope with through things like positive thinking, breathing exercises, etc.

You know how many times I have thought about the same thing? I can't even count how many times I may have - too many.

This may be a bit long-winded and I will probably write a small novel here, but this has been my experience... and keep in mind, right now I'm ok, not 100%, but ok. I attribute it to positive thoughts and little things that keep me calm like music, tea or my daughter or the nice breeze as I sit on the porch.
I have had bad, good and fantastic periods anxiety speaking.
I have gone from the initial diagnosis at 19, where I was forced to be put on Xanax and go through trials of about 8 medicines at that time alone (it was that bad)... to a period where I was off of all medication and Xanax and went months panic free - then they returned in full force and I dealt with it medicine free - went back to meds - got to a point where I couldn't leave my house in 2008... to recovering enough to leave my house, live alone (somewhat aside from roommates) and tackle bills, life etc on my own, purchasing and driving a car again and going out and getting a job again after those 6 months of being at home/barely going out. It's a rollercoaster ride... quit said job...more Xanax after, Zoloft for a couple years with Xanax, a pregnancy with no meds (where I had barely any attacks), a start up/dependency on Xanax (in 2014 April - start of July) just to feel normal and to PREVENT attacks in my mind. End of July is where I joined this site right after I said enough is enough with depending on a magic pill that I'd come to 100% rely on and crumble without. I had a horrible couple weeks, but again it got better for a period again. I can't list all the periods of attacks or periods of no attacks or barely any... but what I can tell you is that they do go away at times for some - short or long periods or almost for good as it may seem. For myself, they tend to go away for no reason at all sometimes, other times I will suffer for weeks or months on end and then be ok. What I've noticed is that a limit on caffeine, drinking and negative thinking keeps them at bay a good amount. And a lot of deep breathing.

Hope things are good for you today!

---------- Post added at 21:55 ---------- Previous post was at 21:43 ----------

Hi ohwell123. I do actually recall TWO events of being at complete peace with myself, literally my brain was completely empty and I was at peace and felt completely normal - both times it only lastes an hour or two - but it felt truely amazing! (Does this sound really silly - does anyone else get that?). I think I feel.most relieved on an evening cos then I know its bedtime n ive made it through another day (makes me sad to think like that, .cos at 27 I should be out loving life!)

...in reply to this other post of yours; those moments where you feel at complete peace, whether it's an hour, a day, a month, etc... those are the best - and if you always remember that no matter how many attacks you have in a day, that you'll eventually have a period of feeling like this, it may make it easier. I recently had some discussion about those periods of feeling amazing. I had a week of zero panic attacks at the end of March. That made me so hopeful for my future (and made me feel wonderful at the time)... knowing that I could be panic free for a week. It made me go, well that means I could be like that for 2 or 3 weeks, or a month, or months! I say hope does a lot.... as well as environment and the people around you of course.

And like you said and I agree with you... atbedtime, when you've made it through another day... that is an amazing feeling... it's relief and hope for the next day.

At 27, I was feeling awful too and not out enjoying life (and from 19-27 as well). At 29, I am starting to break free, enjoy small things like walks outside, able to work, and ride public transportation... in 2 years time, when you're 29, you may be out with your friends having a great time, or going out for a day on the town, etc. Although, I hope that happens for you sooner than 29 of course. Who knows, in a month you could be out having a nice time. You never know what tomorrow will bring.

[Snaily2015]

Snaily,

There is DEFINITELY hope. And you can make 98% of them go away like someone else had said. You may never make them go away 100%, as everyone experiences some level of healthy anxiety in their lives, so you will probably encounter it somewhere, however it may be easier and easier and easier to cope with through things like positive thinking, breathing exercises, etc.

You know how many times I have thought about the same thing? I can't even count how many times I may have - too many.

This may be a bit long-winded and I will probably write a small novel here, but this has been my experience... and keep in mind, right now I'm ok, not 100%, but ok. I attribute it to positive thoughts and little things that keep me calm like music, tea or my daughter or the nice breeze as I sit on the porch.
I have had bad, good and fantastic periods anxiety speaking.
I have gone from the initial diagnosis at 19, where I was forced to be put on Xanax and go through trials of about 8 medicines at that time alone (it was that bad)... to a period where I was off of all medication and Xanax and went months panic free - then they returned in full force and I dealt with it medicine free - went back to meds - got to a point where I couldn't leave my house in 2008... to recovering enough to leave my house, live alone (somewhat aside from roommates) and tackle bills, life etc on my own, purchasing and driving a car again and going out and getting a job again after those 6 months of being at home/barely going out. It's a rollercoaster ride... quit said job...more Xanax after, Zoloft for a couple years with Xanax, a pregnancy with no meds (where I had barely any attacks), a start up/dependency on Xanax (in 2014 April - start of July) just to feel normal and to PREVENT attacks in my mind. End of July is where I joined this site right after I said enough is enough with depending on a magic pill that I'd come to 100% rely on and crumble without. I had a horrible couple weeks, but again it got better for a period again. I can't list all the periods of attacks or periods of no attacks or barely any... but what I can tell you is that they do go away at times for some - short or long periods or almost for good as it may seem. For myself, they tend to go away for no reason at all sometimes, other times I will suffer for weeks or months on end and then be ok. What I've noticed is that a limit on caffeine, drinking and negative thinking keeps them at bay a good amount. And a lot of deep breathing.

Hope things are good for you today!

---------- Post added at 21:55 ---------- Previous post was at 21:43 ----------



...in reply to this other post of yours; those moments where you feel at complete peace, whether it's an hour, a day, a month, etc... those are the best - and if you always remember that no matter how many attacks you have in a day, that you'll eventually have a period of feeling like this, it may make it easier. I recently had some discussion about those periods of feeling amazing. I had a week of zero panic attacks at the end of March. That made me so hopeful for my future (and made me feel wonderful at the time)... knowing that I could be panic free for a week. It made me go, well that means I could be like that for 2 or 3 weeks, or a month, or months! I say hope does a lot.... as well as environment and the people around you of course.

And like you said and I agree with you... atbedtime, when you've made it through another day... that is an amazing feeling... it's relief and hope for the next day.

At 27, I was feeling awful too and not out enjoying life (and from 19-27 as well). At 29, I am starting to break free, enjoy small things like walks outside, able to work, and ride public transportation... in 2 years time, when you're 29, you may be out with your friends having a great time, or going out for a day on the town, etc. Although, I hope that happens for you sooner than 29 of course. Who knows, in a month you could be out having a nice time. You never know what tomorrow will bring.

hi
thanks for replying to my post...see I'm glad u put your story down as i can relate to bits...but at the same time it does make me wonder like if theres a time that it literally will stop FOREVER - knowing for definite that that is possible for me would i think help with the panic attacks/panic disorder n make them more manageable knowing that there would be a true end to them! however when you mentioned you've been a few weeks without panic or a couple of months....(see thats good, and I'm not saying its not making progress, n wan a congratulate you to getting to that point... its perhaps just the way I'm thinking) but for me its just like having them still n that amount of 'recovery' wouldn't be good enough. i think I'm in that much fear of being like this for the rest of my life...n being like this so young (i too started in my teens!) i just can't see how life can be good like this to be honest.
I'm really hoping counselling and CBT really helps - i can but pray n hope i guess! x

---------- Post added at 13:29 ---------- Previous post was at 13:28 ----------

It is very possible to make vast improvements, probably even to recover entirely. I used to have multiple anxiety attacks a day. I remember crying in high school because I couldn't even go to the movies with my friends without having to struggle the entire time. I felt like I couldn't enjoy life.

But, I just kept living anyway; seeing my friends, going to school, following the rhythms of life. I didn't let my anxiety cripple me and turn me into a hermit. I had rich friendships, relationships, adventures, travels, classes... I kept putting myself out there, even if it was scary. Now I'm 21 years old and haven't had an anxiety attack in at least a year. I occasionally have short lived bouts of disassociation, and I certainly overthink health issues from time to time, but I'm about 90% better.

I go out rock hiking with friends and don't even feel a twinge of uneasiness. I drive my little shoe box of a car to unfamiliar places to get painful piercings and eat Chinese food, and I have a blast! I'm even saving up to get a bus so that I can travel around the US.

Have hope! Anxiety can make you feel trapped and frustrated, but don't let it shove you around. You're in control. The road to healing can be difficult and fraught with set backs, but you can get better, and you can live the life you know you want as the person you know you are Hang in there.

hi, thanks for replying to my post.
indeed that is how anxiety makes me feel - trapped n frustrated. i feel it hard to believe that I'm in control as most of the time it seems to control me n i hate it!!
its lovely to hear that you're doing so well - congratulations n keep up the hard work!