by ashitaka 32 Replies latest jw friends
I'm curious to see if anyone here has any major anxiety disorders and how it affects their lives. As a semi-confession, I think I may have something of this sort, but I'd like a comparison first. Being a male, I never go to the doctors unless my leg is falling off, so I don't just want to go to a doctor to medicate a problem that could be overcome in other ways. Hard to describe my feelings on this, but I'd be interested in any answers to compare thoughts.
ashi
howdy ashi,
The term "anxiety disorder" can encompass many areas. There are quite a few websites with a mass of information - including Lady Lee's. Have you read up yet? The local library will have books also. I believe The Sidran Foundation website would help too.
This would help you because then, if you decide to approach a doctor and/or therapist, you could be more succinct in your wording, thus saving time, money & medication trys.
I know your family's gone through a lot of change this year, perhaps that's contributing?
waiting
I work with patients affected with various mental health pattern alterations. I wondered if many jws have underlying anxiety disorders. Excessive smiling is often considered an indicator.
Bang
Dear Ashitaka, I am no medical proffessional, but I can tell you that in the past I have suffered major anxiety /panic disorders, and I think you will not be suprised to find that many exjws have also experienced this also. One of the biggest things is you have got to try and sit down and relax, just relax , some soft mellow music and now some breathing exercises. Take a deep breathe in and then exhale slowly and repeat several times. may I suggest that you ask your doctor for an anxiety med. such as effexor, or ativan (lorezapam). and please check out one of my favorite internet url www.mayoclinic.com this can be of great assistance to you. Check under depression anxiety/panic attacks and you will get the answers your looking for and the most important this is live one day at a time and take time for yourself to relax and a hot bath and some nice smelling incense or aromatherapy works wonders believe me I have been there. Good Luck.
Orangefatcat. ((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))))
oh yes. i started suffering from anxiety disorder about a year after i left the 'truth'. i know it was because i had no clue how to live on the outside, on my own. i was almost 18 when i left, then thrust suddenly into the adult world, with adult responsibilities, including school. anyway i used to get heinous panic attacks, until i went to a doctor who told me what it was, and helped me overcome my wts experience, yes i do blame that experience almost 100%. he was a psychiatrist and i spent 6 months with him, then overcame it by way of counseling, behavior modification techniques, and positive thinking and imagery. years went by and i never had another one. i would feel anxiety at times, but knew how to talk to myself to prevent it from becoming a flull-blown panic attack.
and then about 6 months ago my sister contacted me after shunning me for years and i started seeing her again. we had a falling out rapidly because i wouldn't study with her. and i felt the anxiety creeping into my life once more. she and her daughter both suffer from it but are both on meds. i am not. so what am i doing to combat it? i got some subliminal message tapes. these tapes are unbelievably effective. one tape contains subliminal messages (a doctor speaking positive messages to you) set against a backdrop of ocean sounds, rain, or new age music. the other on is a self-hypnosis tape. you listen to it when you are in a twilight state. you totally zone out, and feel as if you are in a state of zen. i mean, totally relaxed. and when you are in an anxiety-producing scenario, instead of getting anxious immediately, you breathe deeply and begin thinking the doctor's messages (which you heard with your subconcious mind) and calm yourself down. this is all involuntary.
it is hard to describe your feelings. the best thing for me was talking to a friend of mine, and learning he has the same problem occasionally. so does his wife. and i found out the woman across the street suffers from it too and it just makes you feel as if you're not alone, and comforts you in a strange way.
but it is very scary and frightening, i know.
amazon.com has some books; one is called "overcoming fears phobia and panic" (i think). it gives you a bunch of steps to do to avoid getting distressed or unduly anxious. my husband travels a lot, especially overseas, which is quite stressful. but i am finding ways to deal with a lot of anxiety that comes from that, and the things i mentioned here have all helped me.
it wouldn't surprise me if a lot of ex-jw's have panic or anxiety disorder. good luck; i mean that sincerely.
heart racing
breathing rate increases
feeling of being 'closed in'
panic, as if your life is in danger
vertigo or feeling you are about to faint
but if you get this way, tell yourself it will pass. it always does. you are in control, not the anxiety. my problem is i think i might have one and i bring it on myself. so i learned how to not think that way, through the techniques i mentioned earlier.
Waiting, Thanks for the info. Perhaps, but I've had things me entire life life, and not wanting to
be diagnosed anything, for fear of being labled 'weak' or 'crazy' I said nothing and just dealt
with it.I'm just looking for a direction to go in. I talked to an old friend tonight. I told him
that I had been feeling wierd. He asked me to describe it. It was difficult, but he said it sounded
like an anxiety attack, because ten years ago he had a nervous breakdown and he has had some
degree of anxiety attacks ever since. I don't think it's depression. I know what that feels like.
It's sort of like a disembodied fear, but not really. I feel out of place, like I'm in the
twilight zone. I am disinterested in everything. I feel invisible, and remember all of the stupid
things I did in my life in vivid detail.; I may have terrible dreams associated with this.
Most of the time, though, I just feel terrible, and end up feeling like a truck ran over me.
It's hard to describe, though. I really can't put a finger on it. I just thought that if people
could talk about some things that happened to them in this aspect, that I could pinpoint
something wrong without having to go to a doctor and have him throw pills at me. I've tried
relaxation, meditiation, getting a hobby, talking about it with people. I have changed my diet
drastically recently, because I found out that I was allergic to certain foods. This has played
havoc with my mood swings. Also, like you said, the past year has been a whirlwind for me. I
don't have too many friends right now, and I'm normally the big man everybody holds on to when
they have problems. Perhaps I'm just getting worn out and need a change. Don't know really, but
I've had this for so long I wouldn't be surprised if it were something medical. About seven
years ago I was suicidal, and this lasted for years. I was a mess. Then I met my wife and those
feelings vanished. Perhaps a teenage anxiety disorder left ;when the rush of hormones did,
but this nasty little bug has made a reappearance because of all the stress of the past year?
I think I'm a balanced person for only being 22 and 3/4 YO. I don't drink too much, have a
relatively healthy diet, and am satisfied with my life. I have a couple of friends, but they are
mostly good, balanced people. My wife is loving and supportive. I really have no underlying
reasons to be depressed, and I am possibly the most analytical type A in the universe. Anyway,
thanks for listening. ashi
p.s-I hate this new design of the forum. Ever time I forget to put in a
password, the above happens....arrrggghhhh.
Edited by - Simon on 17 June 2002 5:59:28
Same symptoms as Incense
Sweaty palms
Erratic breathing and thinking
Fear of what others are thinking about you
And then there's the depression.......
"Being a male, I never go to the doctors unless my leg is falling off, "
Ahhh, so you're one of those sissified males. Real men don't go to the Doctor until after their leg has fallen off, and duct tape wouldn't hold.
Hmmm
Edited by - hmmm on 16 June 2002 22:13:5
You're going to love this article:
Time Magazine : The Science of Anxiety
http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101020610/
Edited by - nanoprobe on 16 June 2002 22:12:13
