How do YOU deal with anxiety? « Singletrack Forum

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How do YOU deal with anxiety?

58 posts & 50 voices | Started 8 months ago by cruzheckler | Latest reply from st colin

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dogbert - Member

at the moment, i do all the wrong things through pure habit - smoking, eating bad, shying away from exercise.

At the moment i'm wound tighter than a magnets coil (5 points if you can name the song and band) Illness saw me booted out of my half decent paid job, had to sell my car, work part time in a call centre to make ends meet (nothing wrong wit that and grateful of the job), A year later and about 3 weeks from not being able to meet the mortgage I got a full time job (but for less money than I could live on, but times is tough innit)

15 months later and I'm nervously waiting for my first pay rise (had the review 3 weeks ago and have had nothing but my praises sung and promise of my wages being raised) living outside my means and my debt keeps rising so everything's crossed.

Had a panic attack today, drink 2 pints of water and walked away from my keyboard. My wife's best advice seems to work in the meantime for short bursts but there's been some good advice on this thread - And i have to get some help or my marriage will be next to crumble around my ears.

Posted 8 months ago #
razor1548 - Member

"Is it ok if I ask any of the people who say they suffer with it to describe how it is please? I don't suffer myself, thankfully, but interested in others' perspective. What does CBT do to help? When does CBT stop and drugs start?"

CBT was really no help for me. But then I am limited to the experience of the local small clinic to which I was referred. I found more in depth help of the same kind on various websites recommended by my GP at the time, who was brilliant when I first began to realise that I wasn't just a bit stressed and had a situation that needed some help to sort out.

I saw a very good counselor paid for by work and that helped a great deal. Work only covered six sessions... but I would probably still be waiting for the same kind of help from the NHS. It seems that they have easier access (or maybe cheaper, but I can only guess) to CBT therapists than 'Psychotheraputic Counselors', so they offter you CBT quite quickly... and in my case at least, openly admit that it will take a lot longer to arrange anything else.

I am the kind to ramble when given the chance, but it isn't a very easy situation to talk about. I will tell you that if not for a (I think) Mexican guy calling himself Nay online who spent time talking to me through the evening of the last Christmas day then I would at least be less healthy than I am today!

When you are genuinely past being able to pick up a phone and call someone and tell them you need help... there isn't much out there for you.

When I get myself together fully I would consider if a very valuable achievement if I can do any little thing at all to change that!

Posted 8 months ago #
deadlydarcy - Member

So when someone says "Worrying never helps", how does that make the sufferer feel? Does he/she realise that it doesn't help, but has no control over the feelings of anxiety? Sorry if these questions are infuriating.

Posted 8 months ago #
razor1548 - Member

"Worrying never helps"

Completely aware of it all the time. Logic almost never left (possibly just in one or two moments).

Would often remind myself that mothers in warzones just lost their children and that there are people without eyes, limbs and vital organs all over the world.

It didn't seem to help... but I am sure a pretty strong liking for the logical side of things stopped me from feeling worse than I did once or twice.

Posted 8 months ago #
aP - Member

I find lying awake from 2-5am sweating, heart racing and thinking about finishing is enormously unhelpful. Obviously 8am is usually better, but doing it the next night and the next night tends to take it's toll. Mostly I get over it after 4 or 5 nights but it does make getting through the next few days quite hard. For those that are really affected I can't really offer any advice.

Posted 8 months ago #
cinnamon_girl - Member

I was having panic attacks when riding on my own in densely wooded areas, including Swinley. Literally forced myself to do it - tried to focus on breathing gently, correct body position, looking ahead and not at the million and one trees closing in on me.

Generally don't suffer from anxiety though but this could have been due to stressful events at the time.

Posted 8 months ago #
razor1548 - Member

Ah... the sleeping thing. My best friend.

When I used to stay up late drinking and then had to be tired and fit to drop at work all day then I was to blame and I deserved every minute of it. When I go to bed at 23:00 and wake up at 02:00 and can't get another wink until... yes.. until about five minutes before my alarm goes off for the next wonderful day at work. Then I am not happy about it!

Posted 8 months ago #
couldashouldawoulda - Member

Sadly we have a young family member who suffers from this quiet badly. The first time it went badly wrong it was a real eye opener. The chaos in the health service led us to decide to come up with a back up plan of support groups etc for when it happened again. We never quiet got it finished so when it soon happenend again we were equally out of our depth.

Anyways - happy endings / plateaus are there. Get support from family and friends. GP's. When in a good place come up with Plan A and B. As a family / couple etc - write it down and agree it. Actually that act alone had the most concrete effect of all - ie agreeing there was a real issue and the ways it would be helped / dealth with.

Sorry if that all appears waffly - but all situations and backups are different.

Posted 8 months ago #
The Southern Yeti - Member

How does learning the basics of riding a motorbike help?

Posted 8 months ago #
couldashouldawoulda - Member

How does learning the basics of riding a motorbike help?

Eh? I'm lost. What do you mean?

Posted 8 months ago #
brooess - Member

I took up yoga a couple of months ago.
As well as making me feel stronger physically, it's very calming and has a non-religious spiritual side about looking after yourself. I know that sounds a bit hippy but it's really effective.
I have a total idiot boss at work who would normally stress me out but regular yoga is keeping me on the straight and narrow. Better than normal exercise has...

Posted 8 months ago #
Kevevs - Member

alcohol and garibaldi biscuits.

Posted 8 months ago #
konabunny - Member

I stay up late, drink alcohol and avoid things by surfing the net.

Eh? I'm lost. What do you mean?

It's a joke because CBT also means Compulsory Basic Training, which is what you have to do before you get a learner's motorcycle licence.

Posted 8 months ago #
10 - Member

At the moment i'm wound tighter than a magnets coil (5 points if you can name the song and band)

That'll be 'Magnets Coil' from Sebadoh.

Posted 8 months ago #
bol - Member

I'm lucky in that I don't have panic attacks, but I do have fairly regular bouts of continual low level anxiety brought on by a combination of work, family and life just being busier and more complicated than I would like. I find riding is a huge help, but that self medication via the stw classifieds and eBay only gives fleeting relief.

Posted 8 months ago #
neallyman - Member

I'm interested do people feel they suffer nerves and do they associate the 2 things - anxiety & nerves - together?

I suffer from what i'd describe (if being honest) extreme nerves. Started at high school and peaked between final high school years and university. Initially my big fear was talking formally in public - presentations, meetings, group situations etc. But it spread to using the telephone, talking with people I perceived to be in a position of authority such as my bosses/tutors, job interviews etc. I'll even feel sick with nerves if I watch people acting in a film or TV programme where they are doing any of the above, a kind of 'associated nervousness'.

At times I feel this has ruined my life, in almost all other respects I'm quite confident and most people who know or work with me would be astonished if they knew my secret. I say it's a secret and people would be astonished because I've always fought tooth and nail to hide this from absolutely everybody I know...because i reckon it's perceived as a weakness of character. Maybe it is?

It came to a head at Uni and I went to my GP. I had to prepare a big presentation in my final year and I knew I wouldn't be able to worm my way out like I had all the others up to that stage. I did CBT and also started taking 1/2 Inderal La beta-blockers. I fell away from the CBT for a variety of reasons but 11 years on I still take the beta-blockers. They allow me to hide my 'secret' and lead a 'normal' life but I'm very dependant on them and if I run out or leave home without taking them I can get very panicky, shaky hands, sweaty etc. None of the normal triggers need to be present, just the realisation I don't have my safety net. Placibo. This in itself can lead to panic attacks.

Anyway when I get asked from time to time (such as Doctors in A&E) if I take any medication, and when I say I do I then always get asked 'what for' I always call this anxiety as I believe it's less of a stigma than saying I'm just an 'irrationally nervous person'.

I don't think one or the other is more or less valid but I'd be interested to hear if anybody who suffers anxiety would associate this with nerves, or describe this as 'nerves' or if the 2 things are seperate for other people.

OMG - I've probably just written and revealed more about this than I've ever done in my life...internet's an amazing place eh
cheers

Posted 8 months ago #
beckykirk43 - Member

Really interesting reading through this thread - thanks to everyone thats shared their experiences!

I don't think I'd class myself has having clinical anxiety or whatever, just a worrier! More often than not now I spend the small hours of the morning tossing and turning, thinking about things which for the most part really aren't that significant, turning various situations (some that have happened and some that haven't) over in my head. Have noticed over the last couple of months that the amount of time I spend during the day feeling nauseous (and not being able to eat!) and just generally a bit low thanks to worrying/thinking about things is definitely increasing.

Hoping all will become well on its own though...

Posted 8 months ago #
st colin - Member

Some very interesting posts. No need for me to say about my own condition, it's a mixture of a lot of the conditions described by you lot. My biggest fear? That it's a weakness and makes you less of a person than the next. I'm incredibly hard on myself, to the point that I wont even ride in fear of not going as fast as possible and riding perfectly on every trail. That's just one example. In reality, all I see is a normal person, who hasn't excelled at anything, and that's the big block.

Posted 8 months ago #
BigJohn - Member

There are only two things which cause anxiety.

Uncertainty, and fear itself.

Posted 8 months ago #
yunki - Member

There are only two things which cause anxiety.

Uncertainty, and fear itself.

and occasionally physiological chemical inbalances..

Posted 8 months ago #
patentlywill - Member

I have been having counselling with a psychotherapist for this for getting on for a year. A work situation triggered the onset and she has helped me to find coping strategies and a way through to change the work situation. She has also helped me put stuff in context. When the gp/wife suggested it I was in favour but a little sceptical as I knew that there seem to be quite a few well meaning "talking therapy" types out there, and I didn't want to go to someone who didn't know their stuff. I ended up paying for sessions with a psychotherapist on the local mental health team.

One of the self help tools suggested by my therapist was to do some meditating on the " mindful way", a strong theme of which is to concentrate on the present and not spend huge amounts of time fruitlessly ruminating on what has happened in the past or worrying about what will happen in the future. Easy to say but difficult to put into practice, and that's where the meditation can help. Again I was sceptical about the softly spoken californian taking the meditation on the cd but I found it very helpful (although I haven't been very goof at doing it regularly. The book (and cd) are called "The Mindful Way through Depression - Freeing Yourself From Chronic Unhappiness" Mark Williams et al £10.72. Although the title is directed towards depression it has some helpful content that applies to anxiety.

And ride a bike - connect with the present and savour the moment.…

Posted 8 months ago #
Mostly Balanced - Member

Focus on something positive that's going to happen in the near future, even if it's as mundane as enjoying a good breakfast.
Alternatively think of the worst time you've ever had and the fact that it's been and gone and you're still here now.

Posted 8 months ago #
st colin - Member

I had a big issue with oral medication. I refused to believe it helped, even though I was being told that there was a 'physical' problem with me - some kind of chemical imbalance. The tablets sure did something, generally making me drowsy, lose my appetite etc. I stopped over a year ago, didn't wean myself off them. Did me no harm.

Posted 8 months ago #