Anyone w/anxiety disorders? Describe it.

by ashitaka 32 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  invisible

  Hello Ashi, not shared with you for a while, how goes it?

  I used to have demophobia (fear of crowds) and agrophobia (more recent).

  The Demophobia made meetings and assemblies absolutely hellish for me, give me wide open expanses any day. It got so bad the pressure to attend the meetings that in the end I couldn't 2 years prior to being D'fed in April '95, even get in through the front door. I was in absolute dread of the kingdom hall. I would shake and get very angry if the elders tried to overstep the mark in their 'encouragement'. Life was a dark tunnel, a black veil, my emotions scraped raw, the only thing they couldn't take from me was this final pip of light energy, can still see it now, even writing this now, I'm starting to feel angry at the WT, I better stop.

  Peace

  Celtic Mark

  Edited by - invisible on 16 June 2002 22:30:38
• 

  ARoarer

  Hi Ashi, I think almost all Jehovah's Witnesses experience some level of anxiety disorder due to the natue of the way they are expected to believe the way life is, and the way they must live. The next

  time you and Lauren come over I will give you some info I have.
• 

  Bang

  Causes:

  • Conflict in the mind, or between the mind and environment.
  • Threat to self concept.
  • Threat of death or harm (though generally unrealistic).
  • Unconscious conflict about essential values.
  • Unmet needs.
  • Concerns about loss.
  • Fear of embarassment.
  • Continues until problem is understood.

  Symptoms:

  • Release of adrenaline alters body function, associated low levels of cortisol.
  • Hormonal switches for stress response triggered.
  • Somatic changes include cardiovascular excitation and GI supression.
  • Muscle tension.
  • Constant alertness.
  • Withdrawal.
  • Low self-esteem.
  • Fear and dread.
  • Possible agitation and irritability.

  Interventions:

  • Re-acquire internal locus of control.
  • Breathing exercises, yoga, relaxation, non-threatening environments.
  • Alleviate real troubles.
  • Non-judgemental social contact.
  • Encouragement.
  • Therapeutic relationships.
  • If necessary, serotonin agonists.

  Bang
• 

  ashitaka

  Everyone, thanks for the replies.

  But, now I'm pissed at myself for mentioning this to anyone.LOL

  ashi
• 

  Incense_and_Peppermints

  wow, bang - excellent post! in fact, many of your posts are insightful and intelligent. i printed it out . maybe it will help my loved ones understand it a little more. don't feel bad, ashi. according to the latest issue of time magazine, more americans are suffering from it than ever before.
• 

  Marilyn

  I believe our heightened state of awareness after the WT causes us to become overly anxious

  after reality takes hold. Especially with regards fear of making decisions

  because we've made one huge mistake in the past. Anti depressants are

  incredible if you are in a real mess, but I've moved on from them and now use

  exercise to counteract anxiety. I accept that I'm anxious and try not to dwell

  on how I feel when I'm overly worked up. Sometimes my blood sugar gets out

  of whack, which adds to the problem. Try to eat from the low glycemic index.Exercise every day for 40 minutes.

  Marilyn
• 

  kheli

  I used to have general anxiety disorder along with severe depression before I left the org.

  My heart would beat rapidly and I would be extremely nervous to the point where I couldn't calm down. I would daydream constantly about my own death (very paranoid). At night, I couldn't sleep. Eventually, my therapist prescribed Paxil for me. It was horrible for me. While it did make me sleep, I was "spaced out" all the time.

  So I quit taking the medication. Instead, I took a class on depression and had a book/workbook called "Mind of Mood" to help control my irrational thinking, etc.

  Ironically, once I left the org, my depression and anxiety vanished. I've never felt better.

  I hope you get a handle on your emotional well being. Good luck to you.

  Kelley
• 

  kheli

  I made a mistake on that book title. It's "Mind Over Mood".
• 

  ashitaka

  My big thing is that I want to stay away from drugs at all costs. I don't want to medicate myself. I'm not going bonkers, but perhaps I'm just having a near-nervous breakdown. Sometimes I'll be talking to someone, and trail off midsentence and forget that I was just talking. I'll be talking to someone, and watching their mouths move, and not hear a damn thing their saying. Plus the anxiety.

  Could be that stress is just making a mess out of me and I just need some time to myself. Who knows?

  Thanks for all of the thoughts, people, I really appreciate it.

  ashi
• 

  professor

  kheli,

  Interesting about the class and book. How did that work for you?