[wanttolivebetter]

My anxiety journey has been very complicated because it has involved a lot of health problems that I don't even know are for sure attributable to anxiety. I've gone through several years of bouncing back and forth between therapists and doctors. I'm not sure how to explain. Maybe an example will help. Several years ago, I started having excruciating headaches and issues with feeling off-balanced, which in turn made me afraid of being in public because I found it very scary to try and talk to people while I felt like I was struggling to keep my balance. Doctors said there was no physical explanation for the headaches and balance problems and sent me to therapists saying it was all anxiety. Then therapists sent me back to the doctor saying those were medical problems. Back and forth, back and forth. Meanwhile, there was the whole being terrified to go in public thing....did I have an anxiety disorder or did I just have a physical health problem that made being around people too uncomfortable to be worth it? Who knows. I've been put on every anxiety medication under the sun, and none of it does anything for me.

So anyway, after years of trying to sort all of that out, I'm noticing more and more behaviors in me that are definitely anxiety issues. I convince myself that people absolutely hate me and think I'm the most annoying person they've ever met. I obsess over what I need to do to make myself less annoying. I stay up all night the day before car trips worrying that I'm going to get in a crash, and I start doing all of these superstitious things that I think will make me less likely to get in a wreck (like not listening to my normal music because it has "sinful" lyrics in it, and God will be more likely to protect me if I'm not listening to sinful music). Recently, I pulled into the grocery store parking lot and then turned around and drove home because there was a car that pulled into the parking lot blasting music that had a bunch of crazy bumper stickers on it, and I convinced myself that person was up to no good...like might've been there to rob the store or do a mass shooting). I obsess over the possibility of getting caught up in a mass shooting in general; I have opted not to go so many places and to so many events because I was worried a mass shooting would happen there. I could go on, but you get the idea.

I'm realizing lately just the extent to which my anxiety is absolutely ruining my entire life. I feel like I never get a moment of clarity; my mind is always on paranoid freakout mode. It's also making me consider more heavily that maybe all of the physical health problems I've had throughout the years really have just been anxiety.

I can't live like this anymore. I feel like every moment of every day is my own personal hell. If I could afford to get a therapist, I would be scheduling an appointment tomorrow, but I lost my job and therefore don't have that option. What do you do when you need to find some way to be less consumed with anxiety but can't afford professional help?

[childofchaos831]

One thing that may help is some of the resources that therapy uses to help with anxiety. CBT uses a lot of worksheets. I found this website - https://psychologytools.com/anxiety.html - that has some of them on there. It would take a lot of looking at yourself, which usually a T helps with, but money can definitely be an issue for a lot of people.

Also, some areas have low cost or sliding scale therapy available. You may be able to find a place with an internet search.

P.S. I get headaches, a few different kinds. One kind I get are stress or tension headaches, which can be related to anxiety but they are still headaches and medicines do work. Maybe try talking to another doc, if you still get the headaches. Sometimes, doctors really don't seem to care or understand when there us mental illness involved, and just try to push us off on someone else. I learned I had to not back down and keep fighting when I was having symptoms.

[wanttolivebetter]

Originally Posted by childofchaos831

One thing that may help is some of the resources that therapy uses to help with anxiety. CBT uses a lot of worksheets. I found this website - that has some of them on there. It would take a lot of looking at yourself, which usually a T helps with, but money can definitely be an issue for a lot of people.

Also, some areas have low cost or sliding scale therapy available. You may be able to find a place with an internet search.

P.S. I get headaches, a few different kinds. One kind I get are stress or tension headaches, which can be related to anxiety but they are still headaches and medicines do work. Maybe try talking to another doc, if you still get the headaches. Sometimes, doctors really don't seem to care or understand when there us mental illness involved, and just try to push us off on someone else. I learned I had to not back down and keep fighting when I was having symptoms.

Thanks for the website! I'll check out the worksheets. I've already done a lot of research, and there aren't any clinics in my area that do free therapy. I have almost no money, so sliding scale won't be of any use to me. Sliding scale appointments still add up very quickly when you're dead broke.

Honestly, I'm not that bothered by the headaches themselves. I still get them, but they're usually not as severe as they were when they were started. I was always more concerned that they were a sign of an underlying problem like a brain tumor or a stroke. It's more the neurological issues I have that really interfere with my daily functioning, and it seems like no one is able to do anything about them.

[cryingontheinside]

Medication should help a little but you may not be on the right one for you or not a high enough dose . have you told the doctors the kind of things you worry about ? I'm on a very low dose of an anti psyhcotic drug which is suppose to aid my depression / anxiety meds .

The thing I found that helps me since I've recently started going out again is taking small steps and setting myself little goals . I missed an important doctors appointment the other day because of anxiety so this morning I woke up an extra hour earlier and for some reason I don't feel any anxiety , I may when I'm out but none yet . I also made sure I went to bed early and got lots of sleep .

[Sunflower123]

I’m sorry you are struggling. Sounds like you’ve been through a lot trying to get better. I agree with the previous two posters. Excellent advice. Interestingly, anxiety meds don’t do much for me but I was put on an AD for depression. It ended up helping more with anxiety and panic attacks then depression.

DBT skills also help as well as phone apps like Calm. I hope you resolve this soon.

CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) worked wonders for me. Fortunately, there are a lot of books out there. Find yourself a workbook - preferably a week or day at-a-time. The standard time frame for completion is 12 weeks. Actually do the work - it can be tough - and don't work ahead.

This therapy is not for everyone as it requires a great deal of work (you will require a note book too). It takes dedication and a willingness to improve. Do the work every day.

it should become a lifestyle. Pull out the sheets regularly after you have completed the course. I find that anxiety pops up its ugly head when I have lapsed which it occurs to me I have done now. Time for me to dig out the notebook this morning.

[Shazerac]

The above posters have some good ideas. Also I get dizziness from time to time. There's an over the the counter medicine called meclazine. It's in with the medicines for sea sickness like Dramamine. Ask the pharmacist if you can't find it. It helps with dizziness. It's an antihistamine so it may make you a bit sleepy.