emmegee
03-12-17, 18:38
Hi
My latest health anxiety episode began with esophageal issues in early October. Bothered me a little for about a month. Figured there must be a logical explanation but my health anxiety screamed esophageal cancer. So these thoughts brewed for a while. I finally spiralled in early November... complete panic and anxiety breakdown. Started my zoloft, saw my dr and therapist, relied on klonopin to keep the panicking at bay.
Ended up having a barium swallow test and started prilosec. I have been feeling better about the whole esophageal issues. Test was normal, symptoms seem to be waning.
The problem is the "secondary" anxiety I have triggered is unbearable. I am still increasing the zoloft slowly (at almost 75 mg) and using the klonopin.
I have been through this many times before, but this seems so much worse! Each time seems worse. I feel like I will never feel better! I am reading claire weekes book today but am feeling so depressed, anxious, distressed, exhausted, etc.
I'm learning that I have the inability to cope with fear. When faced with a fear, I end up having an anxiety breakdown and then the anxiety is what I fear! I am trying to accept it, float through it, tell myself to let time pass, cognitively convince myself this is just a feeling... but it doesn't seem to be working!
Just needed a sympathetic ear today, as I am really suffering.
My latest health anxiety episode began with esophageal issues in early October. Bothered me a little for about a month. Figured there must be a logical explanation but my health anxiety screamed esophageal cancer. So these thoughts brewed for a while. I finally spiralled in early November... complete panic and anxiety breakdown. Started my zoloft, saw my dr and therapist, relied on klonopin to keep the panicking at bay.
Ended up having a barium swallow test and started prilosec. I have been feeling better about the whole esophageal issues. Test was normal, symptoms seem to be waning.
The problem is the "secondary" anxiety I have triggered is unbearable. I am still increasing the zoloft slowly (at almost 75 mg) and using the klonopin.
I have been through this many times before, but this seems so much worse! Each time seems worse. I feel like I will never feel better! I am reading claire weekes book today but am feeling so depressed, anxious, distressed, exhausted, etc.
I'm learning that I have the inability to cope with fear. When faced with a fear, I end up having an anxiety breakdown and then the anxiety is what I fear! I am trying to accept it, float through it, tell myself to let time pass, cognitively convince myself this is just a feeling... but it doesn't seem to be working!
Just needed a sympathetic ear today, as I am really suffering.