Poppy Girl
01-11-14, 13:46
Hi
I'm new on here but have been recommended by my Dr and friends.
I've been suffering from GAD since last December when I had my gall bladder removed. No worries about the op but my Dr said anxiety was probably caused by the stress leading up to the op, it being Christmas at the same time and worrying about my boys.
Anyway, after trying various SSRIs, none of which worked, I bought the book At Last A Life by Paul, who had suffered with anxiety for 10 years. Everything in the book made sense - in order to get better, you've got to stop trying. Accept the anxiety is there but don't give the feelings any power.
So, I decided to adopt this policy. My Dr also put me on Venlafaxine at the same time, which definitely helped but I just kept on living my normal life and within 6 weeks all anxiety had gone and I felt better then ever.
However, 2 months later, out of the blue, the anxiety came creeping back. My Dr has upped the dose of the medication but I still want to just accept the anxiety. I know it can't hurt me but the physical feelings, particularly tightness in the chest, just won't go away and I can't ignore them. I'm going to work, socialising, exercising regularly etc but 4 weeks on, things seem to be getting worse, not better.
I'm keeping as busy as I can but I just want to feel comfortable on my own. The problem is, any time I'm alone I become very self-focused and can't switch off from the anxiety. It overwhelms me and then I just end up crying, which I hate as it's self-indulgent but I just can't see an end to it.
Has anyone got any tips or suggestions as to how you can accept the anxiety? Paul says that you have to "not care" if the feelings are there but when they are so intense and there as soon as I wake in the morning with very little respite all day it's very hard!
Any advice would be very welcome. :shrug: TIA
I'm new on here but have been recommended by my Dr and friends.
I've been suffering from GAD since last December when I had my gall bladder removed. No worries about the op but my Dr said anxiety was probably caused by the stress leading up to the op, it being Christmas at the same time and worrying about my boys.
Anyway, after trying various SSRIs, none of which worked, I bought the book At Last A Life by Paul, who had suffered with anxiety for 10 years. Everything in the book made sense - in order to get better, you've got to stop trying. Accept the anxiety is there but don't give the feelings any power.
So, I decided to adopt this policy. My Dr also put me on Venlafaxine at the same time, which definitely helped but I just kept on living my normal life and within 6 weeks all anxiety had gone and I felt better then ever.
However, 2 months later, out of the blue, the anxiety came creeping back. My Dr has upped the dose of the medication but I still want to just accept the anxiety. I know it can't hurt me but the physical feelings, particularly tightness in the chest, just won't go away and I can't ignore them. I'm going to work, socialising, exercising regularly etc but 4 weeks on, things seem to be getting worse, not better.
I'm keeping as busy as I can but I just want to feel comfortable on my own. The problem is, any time I'm alone I become very self-focused and can't switch off from the anxiety. It overwhelms me and then I just end up crying, which I hate as it's self-indulgent but I just can't see an end to it.
Has anyone got any tips or suggestions as to how you can accept the anxiety? Paul says that you have to "not care" if the feelings are there but when they are so intense and there as soon as I wake in the morning with very little respite all day it's very hard!
Any advice would be very welcome. :shrug: TIA