Lots of anxiety

I'm having a lot of anxiety lately. I can barely sit still. Its just like I feel really worked up. I feel like I need to make a statement or something that I really can't put into words. I've been doing a good job of staying quiet and not trying to concern anyone with this worried feeling. I stayed home from work today because I felt like I needed a day off. This anxiety has just been beating me down all day. I woke up from a very intense and violent dream with chest pain. It felt like pressure. I don't know if I should go to my doctor and maybe she can give me something for anxiety. I don't know, thanks.

-J
bipolar with psychotic features. Prescribed Depikote,
geodon, lexapro, benztropine

I'm not a severe anxiety sufferer but have a little information that may be helpful.

Once my doctor gave me xanax for anxiety. he said at the time that it was a short term solution to a specific situation because otherwise it is highly addictive. I understand ativan is also addictive.

Maybe you can get some relief from yoga or meditation, also called mindfulness. Years ago I was in a class where we were taught to focus on this saying when life was difficult:

This is me.
I am here.
I am alive.
I will cope.

When things get bad, I concentrate on the saying, repeating it time and again to myself. It is helpful in overcoming destructive thoughts.

I hope you get more positive feedback here. Anxiety is really a dreadful demon to fight alone. Remember you are not alone. Others here have severe anxiety too. You can support and encourage each other.

For me, the only thing that works is meds. Nothing else. It's not caused by any external event, so there's really not much I can do to stop the source. Meds have been working great for that, but I still hate taking them. If it's really bothering you (and it sounds like it is), I'd contact my doc if I were you. It's terrible living with anxiety, I don't know how I used to manage!

4tooneboston wrote:I'm having a lot of anxiety lately. I can barely sit still. Its just like I feel really worked up. I feel like I need to make a statement or something that I really can't put into words. I've been doing a good job of staying quiet and not trying to concern anyone with this worried feeling. I stayed home from work today because I felt like I needed a day off. This anxiety has just been beating me down all day. I woke up from a very intense and violent dream with chest pain. It felt like pressure. I don't know if I should go to my doctor and maybe she can give me something for anxiety.

I do not know what it is to not have anxiety. Some days are way worse than others. I take klonopin twice a day at present. There are times I have not gone into work or asked to work from home cause it was so bad I couldn't be around people.

I am now seeking 'talk therapy' to try to understand what's causing this, if there is a cause, and to also learn coping techniques so I can better handle this. I just hope that is possible.

I wish you luck. Anxiety is crappy. I loathe it. I would say yes go to the doc, it can't hurt. But that is totally up to you of course.

Feeling anxious sucks big style. I am struggling with it too atm and it is horrible. I would say try your Dr to see if they will give you anything short term - mine doesnt which means either putting up with it or finding a miraculous way which does not appear to exist to calm things down. I do try mindfulness which can help- you might want to look into this as well. i really hope you are feeling better soon and that things settle down for you

Hugs

Cracked

4tooneboston wrote:I'm having a lot of anxiety lately. I can barely sit still. Its just like I feel really worked up. I feel like I need to make a statement or something that I really can't put into words. I've been doing a good job of staying quiet and not trying to concern anyone with this worried feeling. I stayed home from work today because I felt like I needed a day off. This anxiety has just been beating me down all day. I woke up from a very intense and violent dream with chest pain. It felt like pressure. I don't know if I should go to my doctor and maybe she can give me something for anxiety. I don't know, thanks.

-J
bipolar with psychotic features. Prescribed Depikote,
geodon, lexapro, benztropine

When I first started Geodon, I had that restless, can't sit still feeling and even akathisia. They had to prescribe me Cogentin. This stopped all of that. Geodon has worked wonders for me. But there is a warning that it may cause anxiety as a side effect. You might want to mention it to your pdoc.

Hi,

What you're going through sounds extremely distressing and I can definitely relate to this issue, as anxiety is something that has plagued me for years, since I was a child. At one point it was so severe that my family believed I had a separate anxiety diagnosis in addition to the bipolar disorder, because of my OCD style rituals and panic attacks.

I also experience physical aches and pains from it, especially muscle tension in the shoulders, and chest pains, which only serve to remind me of how anxious I am, as well as being genuinely painful. Sometimes I wake up from bad dreams in tears, too.

I have to say, however, that the more stable my mood is, and the more in control of my life I feel, the less pronounced my anxiety tends to be (although I do still suffer from some residual anxiety while stable). Could it be that your mood has been slightly knocked recently (especially downwards)?

As for anxiety medications, I've only been prescribed one called Buspirone, in the past- short-term, alongside my bipolar medications. It took the edge off a little, but what has helped the most is getting my mood more stable through medication.

Finally, if you have access to talking therapy, that could be helpful. I'm doing CBT at the moment to try and get to the root of the chronic anxiety, which is mainly tied to my low self esteem and habit of anxious, negative predictions.

I think it's a good idea to meet with your psychiatrist about this and get their input. I hope you find some way to alleviate the anxiety and are feeling calmer very soon x

Since my doctor knows I have experienced anxiety in the past and he recently prescribed me klonopin for it, I had run out and I called the secretary to pass him the message that I need a new prescription. He ok'ed it and I got a prescription right away. Now, much later I have switched to Valium 20mg twice a day. And I will ask him to give me a prescription if I am half way through the bottle and I let him know when the months is over to renew it. As he only gives me a months worth at a time. I never want to be without medicine for anxiety. It is the worst feeling ever to go through it day after day. Once I went through it for a week before I got my prescription as the doctor was out on vacation and I was miserable. Please make sure and have some on hand for times when you can't get in to see the doctor soon. Good luck and I hope thing get better real soon.

Hmm, if worry is the same as anxiety I can totally relate. I worry about everything! I worry about driving. I worry for my kids, husband, just little things in general. Ativan has helped but I don't use much of it because I "worry" about driving when I use it and addiction. I do feel anxious at times like you described but I think it helps to do yoga and think through each worry or anxiety...ie. why am I afraid to drive today? and keep asking, okay what IF that happens? What next? Until you have thought it as far out as you can. It does help me a bit.