How do you deal with anxiety?

LegacyUser

First of all, apologies for the length. I didn't want to leave anything out which might be significant.

I get very panicky and anxious when it comes to having to deal with college assignments and exams. I get very antsy, break out into a cold sweat, feel like I’m going to faint, have palpitations and trouble breathing. I’m quite good at disguising this from others and I always manage to leave the room before it gets noticeable because I’m always so scared of their reaction towards me. I’ve always been the one that others have come to for help so I’m sure the idea that I’m not coping would invoke ‘Cop on’ and ‘Get on with it’ type responses which I really don’t need right now so it’s just easier to keep it to myself.

In another couple of weeks I’ll be finished my course. There is an option to do an extra year which a few of my lecturers have been encouraging me to do. Other people in my current course have also been telling me to go for it and it’s lovely that they all think I’m capable academically of continuing my education and applying for the extra year but I know mentally I can’t deal with it. Constantly worrying about assignment and project deadlines and doing everything right, for weeks on end means I either can’t sleep at all or become so exhausted through doing so much work that all I can do is sleep. When I’m busy doing an assignment or studying for an exam I often lose my appetite entirely or am simply too anxious to eat. I know when I’m finished in a few weeks I’ll feel better, and I’m fairly sure I’ll manage until then, but I know I just can’t put myself through all that for another year no matter how much I want to do the extra year.

I’ve been to my doctor about it. I told her everything and she didn’t seem all that bothered by it, wrote me a prescription and sent me on my way fairly quickly. I wasn’t too keen on taking the tablets but I trusted her opinion and took them for a couple of months. I didn’t think they were working so I gradually stopped taking them. I did it without consulting with my doctor (I don’t mean to advocate this at all) because I got the impression that she just didn’t want to try anything else or seem capable of dealing with the situation. I’m not commenting on her ability as a doctor overall because up until now I have had positive experiences with her. She just seems quite disinterested in anything psychological and more focused on physical conditions, which is understandable because they are a lot easier to treat.

I know I could always go to another doctor but I don’t think it would make much of a difference. I don’t want to seem disrespectful towards GPs but there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot they can do about it apart from prescribing me something. I know I could be referred for counselling but that takes months and months and I want to start dealing with this issue as soon as possible, before it gets worse and takes any more opportunities from me. I’m reluctant to take tablets because I feel they will only deal with the symptoms and serve as a mask for the real problem. My circumstances at the moment dictate that I can’t afford to go for counselling off my own back and I have enquired but there doesn’t seem to be anyone in my area that offers counselling on a sliding scale basis and I don’t have the means to travel further afield.

I’m trying my best to balance doing college work with taking time to do things that I enjoy and know will relax me. I know not being able to sleep or eat properly isn’t exactly helping me but I’m doing what I can to tackle these issues. I also make sure to get myself out for a walk every day. When I feel myself getting anxious I try breathing exercises and thinking positively to prevent things from progressing further. Sometimes it works, more often it doesn’t. I’m naturally quite an organised person, I don’t leave things until the last minute and I make lists to help me to get the most important things done first. Judging from the feedback I have gotten from others, thankfully I don’t think my work has suffered much because of this, just my head. I’ve been thinking about trying meditation or yoga but I never really get a moments peace at home so unfortunately I don’t think that would work really.

I started out feeling anxious about college things but I think it is slowly starting to worm its way into other parts of my life. I’ve more or less already made the decision not to go for this additional year and even though it is disappointing I’ll be ok with it. At the moment I’m more concerned with preventing this anxiety from taking over every part of my life because I’m starting to become a bit withdrawn and I wouldn’t be a very outgoing person in the first place.

I’m not looking for medical advice. I just want to know if anyone else has suffered from anxiety like this and what they found worked for them. I’m curious to see if there is something else I could try that might making things at little easier for me at the moment while I try and get money together for counselling.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Lionel Messy

Calm down.
You have alot going for you, you are in education so you are smart and that is further emphasized by the well written piece you have wrote here.
If you are unhappy with your doctor you would be wise to "shop around" Remember, If you are getting nothing from your doctor, it's not your fault, it's their fault.
As for the anxiety symptoms you listed, i'm going through the same stuff and it's not nice. There are ALOT of people out there with the same problems, nevermind globally, i'm just talking about our little island. Your never alone.

Johnny_BravoIII

There is an option to do an extra year which a few of my lecturers have been encouraging me to do. Other people in my current course have also been telling me to go for it

What do you want?
Is this course for you?

I’ve been thinking about trying meditation or yoga but I never really get a moments peace at home

Really could be beneficial.
Take a class.

Torakx

Your already getting out for a walk each day,so thats excellent!
I have anxiety issues left over from when i was agoraphobic due to candida issues.

Obviously my cure had to be diet and exercise related.
But even if your going to counseling which would help if you happened to be able to afford it.
I believe personally that diet and mood are very much related in general.
Sugar highs and lows from carbs can set many peoples moods and nervous system into overload.
Same with nicotine,cafiene etc.
Wether its psychological or biological i suppose testing that route cant hurt while you can still do all the rest too.

Ive had the same experiences as you with doctors myself. il say no more on that lol

How i deal with anxiety now is to go for a run in the park.Not just a light jog, but run until i cant go anymore.
The tiredness helps my brain relax(for the rest of the day) when i have a habit of over thinking.
I also get nervous more in groups if i have alot of pent up energy and have just been sitting around and thinking too much.

And the bonus is my immune system gets a great boost every day i do go out.So keep up the walking for sure!

It might be also you are generally a perfectionist or view achieving your goals as the be all and end all.
Failure might be too big an issue as it can be with myself anyway.
I try tell myself it doesnt matter if i fail or am not the best.
As long as i try my best when i jump in i cannot fault myself one bit.
What is..just is.we sometimes have to accept it when it comes to academics.
Sounds like you would do well if you manage the stress out of your life.
Hope you dont forget your dreams too much.
Having a strong purpose is a great driving force.

Benny_Cake

Your post reads like something I could have written. Sorry to hear that you are going through a rough time.

You should go back and talk to your doctor again, or find another doctor if necessary. Different medications work differently for different people and conditions, I've suffered from anxiety and related depression and the first medication I was on did nothing for me, but I'm currently on another medication and I've found it to be a significant help. I know you don't want to take tablets, and I can understand that, but what I have found is that they take the edge off the anxiety and give you a bit of space to deal with the causes.

I would also strongly suggest that you see a counsellor - is there a counselling service in your college? Often anxiety stems from something that happened earlier in your life and it takes time to figure out where it comes from and what it's about. A good counsellor will help you to do that.

On a practical level, I'd try to find some new interest or hobby to occupy your mind. Exercise is critical, try and do a form of exercise that you will enjoy. Walking (which I see you do already, works for me too!), running or swimming - anything that gets the heart pumping and the endorphins flowing. Drink plenty of water or other liquids, I always got really dehydrated when I had anxiety attacks. Try and eat a healthy diet.

Above all, realise that you aren't alone, there are so many of us. But it can and will get better. You deserve to have a happy future, and if you take a few steps now you can start on the road to it. Don't be afraid to ask for help here. Good luck to you!

Agent J

I can empathise a lot.

I'm not going to comment on the medical side because i'm not a doctor but would say as others have. If you aren't happy with your one get a second opinion.. or third.

Diet & exercise as others have suggested all good ideas.

I have one suggestion just about productivity. You seem an organised person already.

Do the task which is in front of you now. Keep that in front of your mind.

Don't worry(or try not to) about what might happen or next year etc. I know when you start a train of thought on "what ifs" you can get caught up pretty quickly & lose perpective. Figure out what you need to get done now, today & stay with that thought.

And be realistic. Set a today list which is too much and you'll get anxious about not doing it all either.

chocolatrose

My god OP, you might as well be my double talking there. Word for word everything you have wrote is almost an exact carbon copy of my experience.

I think our problems stem from the same source, fear of under performing, feeling you need to perfect everything. To be honest, I'm not even sure why I feel that if I'm less than or if I perform less than that it will in some way reflect badly on me. I think like another poster has said at some point in your life something probably triggered this anxiety reaction off and it can become hard to shake that off after that until you can identify it and the thought processes that trigger it. Ultimately it is your mind controlling your body. Once you address the negative thought processes in your head you can address the behaviour.

I could write a book about how anxiety has affected me and my life, especially academically. The key thing here is that it can only affect you if you let it. You reach a point in life where you say god damn it I'm not going to let this define me from here on in, I'm done with this. It can actually in turn became your driving force if you harness the power within you. You absolutely have the power to change yourself for the better. In a way, although anxiety has played a major role in my life to date, I almost feel now it is a blessing in disguise. You may not feel it now and sometimes you feel why me. I honestly believe it will give you more strength in the long term. Nobody goes through life without hiccups, everyone gets hit with something sooner or later.

From reading your post it is obvious you have the will power. That's all you need. I myself don't rely on doctors any more or anything else as a crutch to get me through it. You are right in thinking that taking the psychological approach is the way forward. If you have the strength to do it without the drugs that's great. It doesn't work for everyone but I think it's the best thing to do. You should really look into cognitive behavioural therapy as this is meant to be the most successful form of treatment for anxiety sufferers. If you can't afford to see a therapist, or wait to see someone in the health board it is something you can work on yourself.

Diet and exercise especially is very important too. It releases much needed endorphins and keeps your mind fresh.

The most important thing you can learn is to live in the present and to try and curb your mind from wondering off on it own causing more harm than good. You are a worrier like me but it doesn't mean we will always be this way because once you recognise where you are going wrong you can do something about it. You might like to get some ideas about how not to let our thoughts become our identity form Eckhart Tolle The Power of Now. Not everyone's cup of tea but you might get something out of it. It is beginning to help me. I don't have the book but I listen to the audiobook, it's easier:) I think you might be willing seeing as you are already interested in deep breathing techniques and yoga.

You have a lot going for you and seem very proactive in your approach which is excellent. I'm trying to take this approach myself now. I could honestly go in to so much more about this but I'd be here all day and night. Anxiety can be so stressful and seep into so many areas of your life before long without even realising it so I know where you are coming from. In my case it has even affected me physically to the point where it actually made me sick. This happened in my teens. Low and behold around exam time too.

If you persevere you will come out the other side the stronger person.

ihsb

Hey OP. Look into counselling services in college. As far as I know they are free in most of them.

I get the same way as you. I take precautions. I don't sit in the middle of the row at the cinema for example. Deep breaths always help, and I honestly think counselling is the way forward. It is good to talk through the deeper issues with someone that is trained and completely uninvolved in the situation.

I have never taken medication for my attacks, even at their worst, instead I work on preventing them and then working through them.

I really hope you find something that works for you OP