I have anxiety, which is the primary reason I went to the therapist today.

She told me to do deep breathing exercises—4-6 seconds in, 4-6 seconds out, repeat 4 times. This changes your brain waves to alpha waves (I just googled to check—yes, it means it puts you in a state of relaxation. It is supposed to change you over time, too. She said singing does the same thing. I used to sing all the time (I’m a good singer; I was in the state choir a long time ago).

Anyway, I know I’m in the bipolar forum. Do you guys suffer from anxiety? I have heard this is a common problem in bipolar, but I’m unclear if this is a symptom of bipolar or if it is a separate problem

[fishin fool]

The breathing exercise works pretty well but when my anxiety is high I sometimes
forget to do it.

[UpDownAround]

I don't usually get it out of the blue but if I have a legit concern, I get way more anxious about it than I should.

[HALLIEBETH87]

I'm anxious majority of the time

[~Christina]

I have yet to meet any one with Bipolar that doesn’t have anxiety issues.

It’s just part of the Bipolar umbrella. Self esteem , social anxiety, inability to maintain friendships or any relationships, they are all part of Bipolar

[boogiesmash]

I have anxiety as well.

[Sunflower123]

I have bad anxiety that is currently under control.

[scatterbrained04]

I have anxiety as well. Gabapentin helps a little. I find the breathing helps but not enough.

[Moose72]

Originally Posted by ~Christina

I have yet to meet any one with Bipolar that doesn’t have anxiety issues.

It’s just part of the Bipolar umbrella. Self esteem , social anxiety, inability to maintain friendships or any relationships, they are all part of Bipolar

Interesting. I've always had relationship issues- all people. Just when I think I've beaten it it comes back to haunt me and I don't know what I've done or not done.

[raspberrytorte]

I have anxiety problems as well. It's pretty bad.

[Gabyunbound]

I suffer from a great deal of anxiety. Klonopin helps, I think I'd be a basket case without it. Right now I'm very anxious; I have tons of chores to do and I feel overwhelmed and for some reason these situations make me very very anxious, which is why I put them off, they pile up, I get overwhelmed, rinse and repeat.

I know I should see a therapist about this. Though I just tried those breathing exercises and they didn't help. Still, I assume you need to do those things on a regular basis to really have an effect.

I was agoraphobic for 2 years. This was a long time ago, but I still had an enormous amount of anxiety after that. It's gotten better over time. I think Seroquel (aside from the klonopin) actually helps with anxiety --or maybe it just makes me too out of it for me to be highly anxious.

I wonder, if polled, how many of us suffer from anxiety. I think it's a large proportion of us, and I've wondered why that is.

Originally Posted by fishin fool

The breathing exercise works pretty well but when my anxiety is high I sometimes
forget to do it.

taking this off topic (just a little), that's the same with me and CBT

6 months of doing it, and I've forgotten/ don't use the skills

and I know I should.

I should make a concious effert to keep up with them

it's sad, because when I started and learned the various skills, I used to tell people... this is what I learned, and this is how you do it- and show them how it works using examples

Originally Posted by Gabyunbound

I suffer from a great deal of anxiety. Klonopin helps, I think I'd be a basket case without it. Right now I'm very anxious; I have tons of chores to do and I feel overwhelmed and for some reason these situations make me very very anxious, which is why I put them off, they pile up, I get overwhelmed, rinse and repeat.

I know I should see a therapist about this. Though I just tried those breathing exercises and they didn't help. Still, I assume you need to do those things on a regular basis to really have an effect.

I was agoraphobic for 2 years. This was a long time ago, but I still had an enormous amount of anxiety after that. It's gotten better over time. I think Seroquel (aside from the klonopin) actually helps with anxiety --or maybe it just makes me too out of it for me to be highly anxious.

I wonder, if polled, how many of us suffer from anxiety. I think it's a large proportion of us, and I've wondered why that is.

how did you deal with your agoraphobia?

I am agoraphobic, have been now for so long.

and a poll is a great idea

[WildcatVet]

Pretty bad anxiety some days. Buspirone usually controls it...unless I'm facing a real phobia like driving or going out in public.

[WildcatVet]

VERY bad today...family and friends in the CA wildfires...

[99fairies]

My first diagnosis was GAD...and I still struggle with it a lot. Clonazepam helps a lot.

[*Laurie*]

Extreme anxiety. Relentless. I practice breath work and meditation, which helps a little bit. The only thing that truly causes my anxiety to decrease is Klonopin, 2mg. per day.

[1978dd]

Originally Posted by key tones

I have anxiety, which is the primary reason I went to the therapist today.


She told me to do deep breathing exercises—4-6 seconds in, 4-6 seconds out, repeat 4 times. This changes your brain waves to alpha waves (I just googled to check—yes, it means it puts you in a state of relaxation. It is supposed to change you over time, too. She said singing does the same thing. I used to sing all the time (I’m a good singer; I was in the state choir a long time ago).


Anyway, I know I’m in the bipolar forum. Do you guys suffer from anxiety? I have heard this is a common problem in bipolar, but I’m unclear if this is a symptom of bipolar or if it is a separate problem

I have anxiety daily along with bipolar. I've heard that some have one or another, but not both.

[Miss Laura]

I have both social and general anxiety which like many of us on here makes living life to the full hard. I went to CBT sessions and found them okay I felt there wasn't enough sessions to help me fully I was only allocated 13 sessions. I try to use the techniques but it's so difficult when your in the midst of an attack

Originally Posted by WildcatVet

VERY bad today...family and friends in the CA wildfires...

hope they are okay

((((hugs)))

[UpDownAround]

Originally Posted by UpDownAround

I don't usually get it out of the blue but if I have a legit concern, I get way more anxious about it than I should.

Reading some other responses, it occurs to me that what I consider a "legit concern" does include social situations with an expectation of interacting with people I don't know well. If that is social anxiety, then I guess I have it.

[Cocosurviving]

Originally Posted by ~Christina

I have yet to meet any one with Bipolar that doesn’t have anxiety issues.

It’s just part of the Bipolar umbrella. Self esteem , social anxiety, inability to maintain friendships or any relationships, they are all part of Bipolar

This is very true.

[Guiness187055]

My anxiety is controlled by my klonopin. Xanax takes care of panic attacks

[GoldenSnitch]

My anxiety is horrible. I’m on meds for it as well and my therapist is great for helping me deal with it but I don’t see it ever going away.