Anxious

I have really bad anxiety - GAD. I saw my psychiatrist yesterday and he increased my Clonazepam and Pregabalin. He's really nice and very good to talk to, but I'm so distraught all the time that I always think that no one likes me so I come away from my appointment with him feeling like he thinks I'm just pretending to get more drugs. I know he would never give me anything that he didn't think that I need, so I have no reason to feel this way. It just makes me feel like a bad person, like I'm not trying hard enough, that I should be getting better. My mind is just an endless cycle of anxiety and worry. My (imagined) fears become my reality. Anxiety causes depression and then depression increases all my fears. Is there really a way out? I'm 56 and have been like this all my life. How do we learn to live with this? to all.

Hi jean17. You need to take it one day at a time or break it down as 1 minute or equivalent at a time. The main thing to have an achievable goal. I do not know what your current therapeutic goals are(if you are working with a T to overcome/reduce GAD.) But that's a suggestion to consider as it is flexible with your specific situations.

Anxiety is a horrible feeling. I hate it even worse than I hate depression. The paranoia you describe is just another symptom of the depression. I remember being flabbergasted when my psychiatrist listed the symptoms of depression. I didn't recognize paranoia but thought it was myself being honest with myself. I was so relieved to know it was just another part of my illness and not the deepest truth about myself. I hope this helps a little bit.
I was only able to control the anxiety with medication. Other people have had success with other methods so keep trying.
I'm really glad you have a good dr. It can make all the difference. Just tell him ALL your feelings. Only then can he prescribe treatment.
Good luck with everything.

Pregabalin helps me way more than Zoloft. Anxiety sucks but Pregabalin helps. That said, I'm up to max dose, and still feeling bad. I hope things improve for you.

I have suffered with anxiety my entire life as well. I know what you mean when you say that the fears become your reality. My Pdoc is great and the meds he has me on for the anxiety has pretty much stopped the panic attacks. But the down side is it has increased the depression. So I am still working on getting a good balance even after all of these years.

Sorry I hijacked your thread. I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone. I have found in my short time here that just putting my feelings into words helps more than I could have ever imagined. I used to keep a journal but that was different because it was private. Here I get actual people who read and respond.

I have suffered from anxiety and depression all my life, I know the feeling, or lack of, that depression causes. I've noticed that the anxiety gets so bad that I just feel forced to let go of it and that in turn, brings on the depression like a protective shield so I don't suffer from the nervous feelings. I have discovered that at this point, I'd rather feel depressed than anxious.

As far as medications, I've been on valium before and that helped the anxiety, but I am currently fighting this time without any assistance.

I try meditation and that helps sometimes, but what helped me laugh a little today and not feel so alone was a blog my counselor told me about, hyperbole and a half. She has 2 entries on depression. They were spot on for me.

Hopefully that helps, sorry I am not of more use in the medication department, I wish you all the best.

Patience and love

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