Hi

I've posted here only a few times before and was really greatful for the quality help and comfort I received. You all seem to be a very nice bunch of people.

I've suffered from anxiety for the past 5-6 years and it comes in waves. Some days/weeks are good and others are bad or even horrible. For the past week I have felt weak, spaced out, wired and on edge. My mind does'nt seem to work properly and it can be a chore just trying to form a coherant sentence because sometimes I stumble over words trying to pick and choose the right ones. It's fine if I can type a letter but if I try to carry on a conversation with someone, it's like my IQ suddenly drops 20 points. I'll start a sentence like "my mom just called and..." but then suddenly, I have great difficulty trying to put the peices of the conversation my mom and I just had together or it will come out distorted with bits and peices being inaccurate. Same thing if I run in to tell my roommate about something I just saw on TV. I don't know what causes this but it can be scary sometimes and very frustrating at other times. It's been like this on and off for as long as I can remember (I'm 39 now and male). Last night I was a bundle of nerves and so I took a xanax and this morning I woke up feeling totally hungover and "out of it". Not to gross anyone out but I'll bet I've gone to the bathroom 6-8 times this morning (semi-soft stools) and I feel washed-out. Is this the xanax or the anxiety (or both) and can any of you relate to these things?.

Thank's

Hi Jim,

So sorry to hear you are going through this. I have only been suffering from anxiety for just over a year (due to post traumatic stress disorder) but I too go through "waves"- sometimes I feel great, sometimes I feel ok, and sometimes I feel like I'm dying.

Anxiety effects different people in so many different ways, so it can be frustrating when you can't find anyone to relate to you. I can tell you that I often have some of the same problems as you, including frequency in bathroom visits (to put it mildly)....I've found this is directly related to stress and anxious episodes, or the foods that I'm eating. I take xanax or klonopin on a daily basis, the dosage depending on how well I feel. I've noticed that xanax significantly helps my stomach problems, however I can't say how it would effect you.

There ARE people here who have the same problems as you, and sometimes it takes a little time to get replies, so don't get discouraged if you don't get any right away.
Take care,
Pam

Hi

You’ve put into words what I feel, really well. I hate this conversation thing where you cant find the words and you go blank. The way you describe it as your IQ dropping is exactly it!
I know its really frustrating and you feel like a wally, and its really hard to accept that its anxiety making this happen.. I often get depressed by this and feel I cant really connect with other people because of it…

But I hope it makes you feel better knowing you arent alone. Ive also spoken to people on here about the exact same thing.

Bubbly x