Anxiety, paranoia, sex drive

Gracie92x

Hey,
I know this is probably in the wrong forum - sorry if it is.

So basically I have post traumatic stress disorder, I am extremely anxious and paranoid all the time.

So far I have tried to avoid using medication as they have a negetive effect on your sex drive (Xanex, vallium etc.)

I was wondering if anyone has any tips for dealing with the above?

Thank you

Moved to Personal Issues.

Chazz Michael Michaels

meditation? great for anxiety. try look up classes, online videos, etc.

Merkin

Sorry to gear about the PTSD. Have you addressed this with your GP? Some therapies deal with stress management and arm you with the tools to cope so probably best to go to your GP and ask for a referral?

Gracie92x

I have been meditating for a few months and although it eases my anxiety it doesn't help as much as i would like, an hour or so after I'm back to the state I was in beforehand. With work I do not have the time to meditate during the day apart from lunch break.

I have visited my GP/Counselor on several different occasions, they gave me grounding techniques but basically they want me to try different drugs until we find one that works, which I would like to avoid as liver damage is in the family - as you can imagine this doesn't help my paranoia when taking pills.

Thanks

JuliusCaesar

Maybe you need to look up the evidence based treatments for PTSD, and talk with your GP about them. They should be offered in the HSE Mental Health Services free of charge. Sometimes a specialised service is more appropriate than general counselling.

banquo

Have you tried jogging lightly for as long as you can until you're almost dead, then keeping going?

I tried the usual range - Xanax (doesn't reduce drive as much as valium) with a three month course of Lustral (ssri) and that did a good bit. Then one doctor told me to run for as far as I could every day for a week.

Felt normal for the first time in a year. It uses up all the nonsense adrenalin that your body is producing.

Anyway, you're not the only one out there with this problem. You can get better. It is not for life. Apart from the odd twinge, I've been fine about a year. A combination of exercise, meditation and drugs will go a long way.

jkforde

JuliusCaesar wrote: »

Maybe you need to look up the evidence based treatments for PTSD, and talk with your GP about them. They should be offered in the HSE Mental Health Services free of charge. Sometimes a specialised service is more appropriate than general counselling.

I concur, get your GP to refer you in to the public clinical psychology system (note: NOT the psychiatry system)... it will take time (have patience, it is the public system after all!) but you need to talk and explore the root of your anxiety which is a manifestation of the unconscious trying to tell you something needs to change. I'm just a fellow sufferer (not PTSD but chronic debilitating anxiety) and I found this route to be the most effective as a long-term solution. It does mean lots and lots of hard mental work to face and work through long-held thoughts and beliefs but the outcome is well worth the slog. most important, never ever give up, you will overcome this! jk

MovingOut

Hi there,

You did not say what caused you to have PSTD.

Anyway... Mindfulness: read up on it and see if you can get some sort of therapy.

I had two burn outs. Basically I went completely numb emotionally.
Yes not related you might think but I was dealing with a lot of stress.
And anything would trigger it. I went to a day centre for I think 3 weeks.
Mindfulness, is basically explained as when you are doing the washing up concentrate on what is in front of you ie the washing up and if you thoughs wander to things that cause to get stressed focus on the washing up again
This is a cup I am washing with hot water ...

sounds stupid but it did work for me.

Also get out in the fresh air rain and all and feel the weather feel the cold wear less so that you will feel the cold

Listen to calming music and focus on simple things... real simple things at the start and focus and doing something creative.

Immerse yourself in things I think I am trying to say

is this any help...?

Tokyo

Seeing as the OP hasn't responded in four months, I think that we can consider the matter resolved.

Thread closed.