For quite a few years now I've been suffering from (what I would describe as) moderate anxiety with bouts of depression here and there.

Some of the main things I experience are....

1) a kind of fear of doing anything outside my usual routine...eg, going somewhere I wouldn't usually go. I wouldn't say it's been severe enough to cause a a full scale panic or anything but in instances where I HAVE gone out of my usual "bubble", afterwards I felt...not right in some way, like a feeling of un-easiness or not feeling myself. SOMETIMES I can get this feeling even if I haven't done anything unusual, most often if I'm tired (Like, I could think about something insignificant that happened years ago and my brain goes into the same feeling/frame of mind as I had back then and I have to steer myself back to the "here and now". It's SO hard to explain)

2) Dreams can have a really big effect on my day. If it's especially weird (IE set in a strange place or people I know in the dream are acting odd/unpleasant) it can really make me feel unsettled for the entire day and even make me feel different (temporarily) about a person in the dream, depending on what they were doing.

3) MY mind just won't stop THINKING sometimes. I think FAR too much about EVERYTHING....sometimes to the point of finding it hard to concentrate on whatever I'm SUPPOSED TO BE thinking about. I also find that occasionally(on Sunday nights before work, next day) my mind racing like mad and I have to get up and watch some TV.

Actually coming on here and typing this makes me feel anxious as just thinking about mental issues can make me feel anxious.

I visited my doctor today and he said it did sound like anxiety and said I could go down the "pills" or therapy route. I'm totally unsure which would be best.


Any help/advice would be VERY MUCH appreciated.

Thanks:)

Sure sounds like anxiety it to me.

I remember my doctor telling me when it starts to affect the way you normally live that you needed to do something about it. You didn't want it to get so bad you stayed couped up at home, afraid to leave your house. I am not saying that will happen to you but I would suggest counseling first to see how you do with the feelings and if that doesn't help maybe try some medication coupled with the counseling. I have mixed feelings about medication but I will tell you I have been on Zoloft for over 15 years.

I also have dreams that will really have an affect on me for the entire day. Not sure if that is anxiety related???

Not being able to focus and having obsessing thoughts are sure signs of anxiety.

You are not alone my friend. I hope you can find what works for you.

I do many of the same things, especially when tired which is often because I have two little boys. When tired everything gets worse, its like I lose the ability to control my own mind and gets so frustrating. You are not alone.

I notice that if I have a lot of stress, very tired and have not been eating well than my anxiety is worse. If I pay attention to my lifestyle and change what I am doing wrong than it will get better. Right now it is really bad.

Yes being tired and not living a healthy lifestyle will make things much worse. You are not the only one that feels these things! I feel like that too. The "bubble" thing. I don't like to go places I don't usually go or be around new people. What you are experiencing is anxiety. I am trying counseling right now before I start any pills. It is helping. You should make an appointment to get some help. You will be glad you did. :)

Hey man..

I could not agree with you more, especially about dreams/thoughts that I get hit with directly before going to bed..It usually puts me in a very detached or antsy mood for the first hour of being awake..But I usually think about it throughout the day. I often think about places I have to be to do a certain thing and although I am in no way agoraphobic, I get an uncomfortable or anxious feeling about having to be there..especially If I've been feeling anxious or depressed beforehand..You are in good company with those feelings, buddy..trust me..I started experiencing this crap, to a certain degree, maybe 3 years ago..and until a year into it I thought i was the only person in the world going through it..I then realized several of my friends had/were going through similar anxiety/depression..also my father..cousin...Youre fine man..Some days suck, some days are beautiful..take care

Nick

I know how you feel I often have the problem of thinking of too many things at once. Sometimes I do feel just a little 'weird' and can't pinpoint any one particular thing. What's really weird, is that lately my anxiety has been a little less, and I mean lately as the last week or so, but when I feel kinda good I'm not able to enjoy it becuase I feel like something is going to happen. Too used to having anxiety I guess. What I try to do when I find myself thinking about too many things, and for example, I want to get to sleep, is that I have to mentally picture everything I'm thinking about and just, kick it out, so to speak. Whatever it is that you are thinking about, just say, I don't have to think about that right now, get out! and then move on to the next thing. I actually sometimes visualize whatever or whoever I'm thinking about and visualize them just scooting out of the picture. Then, when I have kicked everything out of my head (and I sometimes have to do it twice ! haha) I just tell myself, "Just be", over and over, so I can just concentrate on me and only me at that minute. I don't have to worry about ticking off my dad cuz I don't wanna go shopping with him, I don't have to worry about what the kids want me to do, etc, I just tell myself I don't have to do anything. Even if you do have alot on your plate it helps to tell yourself you don't have to do anything you don't want to, and it will kinda make you more comfortable for a while. It helps me calm down becuase I think alot of my stress stems from having to do things for everyone and be on the go so much, have many people pulling at me. Sometimes you just have to forget about everyone else and focus on yourself. Just try to remember that no matter how you feel at that moment, you ARE going to be alright, nothing is going to happen to you. You have felt this way before and you got through it and you are strong enough to get through it again. You will be fine.

Nope, Pictobug, You are most defintely NOT alone. You are describing what many, many people feel. I don't know if it's anxiety, b'cuz I am not a pdoc, but you went to one and sounds like that's what he said--and that does make sense. I, personally have GAD, which is generalized anxiety disorder, so I am treated for depression/anxiety. For a lot of years now (OK, I'm old) I still don't feel terrific all the time, but truly, I feel ok most of the time. Meds help, but therapy helps more. I'm in and out, depending on what's going on in my life. If you can deal with this with therapy only, I say Go For IT! If you need meds, they're a good route too, but they are not the only answer. TV commercials make it look like you pop a pill and your life is back to normal--what a crock. Pills just give you the ABILITY to be able to have the normalty back if you work at it--don't expect miracles. But you can be ok--know that, and know there's a lot of people here on these boards who have been thru it and who really care. Good luck--you aren't alone.
Liz

I am struggling with starting Cymbalta. You are not alone! My anxiety gets really bad before I go to bed. I start thinking that I don't wanna fall asleep because I am losing control of everything. Then I start to worry more and more and I keep myself up. I do get nervous about being around new people and trying new things too. I am seeing a counselor right now which is helping some. I think I am gonna try some of those self help books before I get on the meds. though.