Why won't it stop

[Capewell]

Monday had a bad panic and anxiety attack. The problem is I got it under control, but the only way I can explain it is that I have quarantined the anxiety but it keeps breaking through in small bits. The thing is by the time I have that under control it's not long till another small attack and it's just relentless.

[MXman]

Morning Capewell,

My wife suffers badly with anxiety to the extent it can rule her life. She suffers with health anxiety the worst which she is dealing with through a councillor. Quick example: If she's got a spot on her back it will be cancer, stomach ache again cancer I could go on. The councillor is really helping her to look at it differently and its helping. Its a mental problem and she's accepting this but its a bit of a journey for her.

Have a positive Wednesday. XX Nick

[neilhapgood]

Hi capewell, it's the old 5 steps forward 4 steps back, so frustrating when you feel you are making progress and then go back again. In keeping with all aspects of a bi in that it's unknown, not understood and very frustrating! Sometimes it just seems so sneaky?! Just when you are making progress it comes back at you, when I am trying to have some downtime in my head and not be angry and stressed it always finds a train of thought that I just can't not follow and get stressed about! Anxiety attacks are a night are though, they are just so powerful and all consuming, I really hope things improve and loved your quarantine analogy!

[Capewell]

I know i can control it but holding it in quarantine and then old these little attacks. I am holding it together, but at the cost of shutting off to love one and almost like shutting myself down.

[razyheath43]

Hers what i learned through counselling,FEAR,holds us back,fear clouds our judgement,fear stops us from thinking clearly,and fear isnot really real,as for panic attacks,i discoverd mediation and the fact that i donot need to have them! big hugs

[peaches2]

I think it's part of who we are, I know I've always stressed about everything and anything or so people told me but I think I've become a little better since my bi and I can control it easier. Well, some days! I think we tend to over think and over analyse things more than we should, so now I say to myself...what's more important, my health or the so called problem that's mulling around in my head...and we know it's health that's more important so I bin the negatives now in a little bin that's like a trash can on my pc but in my brain....haha I know it sounds ridiculous but it helps me a lot! So try and bring your stress levels down by binning, binning and binning any thoughts that worry you! Just try to stop yourself mulling over things as soon as they pop into your head pop them in that bin and divert your mind to something else!! I'll be getting locked away for sounding crazy but it's the only way I cope...bin the negatives and let your health come first! Best wishes to you, it's horrible feeling like that I do sympathise. xx

[Lazuli]

Hi Capewell

I can recommend the audible version of Claire Weekes' book Hope and Help for your Nerves. She was an Australian psychiatrist who helped countless people overcome anxiety and panic during her practice. Her terminology is a bit out of date but if you can get past that, it's worth a listen.

I am a carer so have not experienced a BI but I do know plenty of people who have been helped by Weekes and I've used her recordings for chronic pain that has no structural cause. I'm not a stranger to anxiety either.

Scroll down until you see her smiling face. Ignore the fact this page is dedicated to juniors too.

junior-anxiety-depression-e...

I practise mindfulness meditation which is great during those times where you just can't stop yourself from jumping on that train and being whizzed off to the land of fear. There are plenty of free courses and recordings online but you might want to investigate doing an actual course if there's one running near you. Look up Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). Your local Headway might know of one. My local branch promotes this type of meditation.

Best wishes.

[Hidden]

Hi Capewell. Have you been prescribed anything to help your anxiety? I have been prescribed Amitriptyline for pain and Trazodone for anxiety. My pain is now under control but I still get bouts of anxiety although not as bad. I've only been on Trazodone for three weeks and hope the anxiety will pass in time. Hope you feel better soon.

[Elenor3]

Hi I was sorry to hear you feel you're slipping backwards - reading other peoples posts I think that's common. I'm much the same - last month I noticed improvements and what I'd call a 'good' few days where I starrd to think I was much better. I applied to my company to set up a return to work interview (yes - felt like 'oh yes - everything's starting to improve') . This was followed by a series of days where I was losing the plot, making stupid mistakes, labile issues back worse than ever, no sleep etc. . I thoght 'how foolish thinkng I was all ok to go back to work - what ever was I thinking?' - or not thinking rather! The local counselling support services in my area are appalling - let's not even go there - too long a story, so I've started writing down things that bother /challenge me. As soon as it's written down I tell myself 'That's it - not allowed to think about that again' . So if it starts rearing it's ugly head - I just keep repeating that to myself. It doesn't stop the upsetting thoughts but it helps. In the absence of anything else it might be withy a try? Also - I download radio programmes for the really bad times when I can't stop bad thoughts - and if after a few minutes of telling myself 'you're not allowed to thnk about that' I'm still upset - I go and plug my headphones in and listen to something. Its probably all that's kept me going over the last six months. Some people recommend knitting for anxiety - but imm not likely to get on with that so I'm giving it a wide berth I hope you feel better soon. Other people have posted good ideas - why not try some if them out? It's always worth a try. x