u/stephaniebates11

Not sure if this is real or not, but I feel like the longer I don’t have a period, the worse my pms feels when I eventually do have a withdrawal bleed. The bleeding itself seems heavier too

Feels a bit hopeless because it’s caused by hormones, there’s not much in the way of therapy techniques that help. Any tips to make it more comfortable? I’m on medication but it feels like it’s on hold until my period (well, BC withdrawal bleed) is over

Feels a bit hopeless because it’s caused by hormones, there’s not much in the way of therapy techniques that help. Any tips to make it more comfortable? I’m on medication but it feels like it’s on hold until my period (well, BC withdrawal bleed) is over

I want to preface this by saying I’m not suicidal. However, one of my anxiety triggers is what if I get so mentally unwell that I become su*cidal or off myself? I don’t know why this thought makes me anxious, because I don’t really have a fear of dying or getting ill (well maybe a normal amount of fear). There’s no real reason why I think this might happen, except for me having problems with anxiety, and the worry that I will get so bad and that nothing will help and that this would be my only way out. Has anyone else experienced this and how did you get past it?

I’ve been on 50mg for years, went up to 100mg 4 weeks ago because I was struggling with anxiety again. Been great for most of the 4 weeks, however started my period yesterday (well, withdrawal bleed from birth control) and I’ve had a return of how I was feeling before I increased my medication. I know periods alter your mood anyway just hoping it goes away when my period finishes. Anyone else experience this?

Just out of curiosity, I know a lot of people stay on this medication for years with no problems, if it works it works, but alternatively a lot of people say it’s not a long term solution and try to come off when they feel ready. Ive been on 50mg for 4 years and recently increased to 100mg, haven’t decided what I want to do, currently in therapy too

Has anyone else experienced this? I remember feeling this the first time I started sertraline. It feels like my brain is still overthinking and trying to make me anxious but it’s hitting a wall. It’s hard to explain the feeling, kind of like I’m expecting the anxiety to come but it never really does. Will this go away?

Something I’m stuck on at the moment, I hate feeling anxious, that’s why I’m learning coping mechanisms to help me through it. But am I not just reinforcing the fear of feeling anxiety by trying to get rid of the feeling?

Something I’m stuck on at the moment, I hate feeling anxious, that’s why I’m learning coping mechanisms to help me through it. But am I not just reinforcing the fear of feeling anxiety by trying to get rid of the feeling?

I have learnt that trying to avoid panic feeds the anxiety and confirms in your mind that it’s something to be feared, but how do you balance this with doing coping mechanisms like meditation, breathing, cold water etc without reinforcing this belief that anxiety is bad and you need to do something about it? On the other hand, it’s supposed to be an uncomfortable feeling for survival reasons, so it’s only natural to not want to feel anxiety so badly?

I have learnt that trying to avoid panic feeds the anxiety and confirms in your mind that it’s something to be feared, but how do you balance this with doing coping mechanisms like meditation, breathing, cold water etc without reinforcing this belief that anxiety is bad and you need to do something about it? On the other hand, it’s supposed to be an uncomfortable feeling for survival reasons, so it’s only natural to not want to feel anxiety so badly?

I already feel so much better than I did a couple weeks ago, however I’m really struggling with the idea that I’m just putting a bandage over the problem (anxiety disorder) instead of facing it and dealing with it. I’m not sure if this worry in itself is rational or my anxiety speaking. Does/ did anyone else feel like this? I am currently in therapy but I don’t feel like I’m getting anywhere, just saying the same thing over and over. I don’t think I have particularly bad thinking habits, or bad enough to justify how anxious I’ve been feeling recently. I did actually start to get better before the increase, but I had one bad day and I felt hopeless and did the increase

I’m currently in therapy, my therapist said she doesn’t suspect I have OCD but also didn’t seem to know what I meant when I referenced pure-o ocd. Does this thought pattern sound like OCD or could this be anxiety making me think I have OCD?

I’m really troubled by the thought of making my mental health worse. I had panic disorder a few years ago which I managed to move past, but a couple weeks ago my anxiety came back for seemingly no reason. It’s the “no reason” that really makes it difficult for me. I’m being encouraged to examine my thoughts and rationalise them, but I know this is very unhelpful to someone with OCD. I’m scared that I’m going to make myself worse by giving my thoughts attention. I don’t have any physical compulsions but I do relate to a lot of things people say about having pure-o, but there is a lot of overlap with neurodivergence

I also increased my SSRI dosage and feel a lot better but I’m scared I’m just putting a bandage over the issue and not actually solving it. This thought will not leave my mind no matter what I do! Do I engage with it or not??

I upped my SSRI dose recently and I’m feeling a lot less anxious but I can’t help but feel like I’ve just put a bandage over the problem. I struggle with knowing when to use coping skills, meditation, self soothing, or if that is just me trying to get rid of the anxiety and reinforcing that it’s bad and should be feared. I feel so torn and not sure what to do to help myself

Context: I had panic disorder a few years ago which came with a few specific fears (going crazy, having a heart attack, all the good stuff). This seemingly came out of nowhere, which itself made the problem worse, because why would I feel so bad when my life is so good! I must be broken!
I managed to get over 90% of that and have had an amazing couple of years albeit on 50mg of sertraline/ Zoloft which did help.

Anyway fast forward to now, or specifically 4 weeks ago, I started getting horrible anxious feelings with seemingly no cause, again. I feel like because I “got over” it, and now it’s come back, I have the persistent thought that it’s always going to come back and I’m just waiting for it. This thought in turn makes me anxious, then that self fulfils the prophecy of “omg it’s back im getting worse!”.

Last week in increased my sertraline from 50 to 100mg, and I feel a lot less anxious, but this thought will NOT leave my head. Even though I know it’s not necessarily true. I’m currently in therapy and I’m doing everything I can do help myself, but it feels like my brain just wants something physically “fixed” and won’t shut up until I do whatever this magical thing is. I feel like I’m masking the problem with meditation and it’s going to reappear and ruin my life

I think I may have a case of main character syndrome, where I am the exception and nobody else has every dealt with my problem before (which I know realistically is false)

Edit; to add, I think I have a pretty good outlook on life and myself, which makes it more concerning that I’m having these issues. I feel like everything I’m being told to do, I already do

Context: My anxiety disorder is fuelled by my anxiety around feeling anxious, which is a horrible self-fulfilling cycle. I’m not anxious about anything except the thought of being anxious for the rest of my life and not being able to manage.
Went from 50mg to 100mg a week ago. Not had any side effects (fingers crossed), and I do actually feel much better than I have been doing. Although, all I can think about is my anxiety. All day every day. What if it doesn’t work. What if I get worse again. The medication increase has stopped me spiralling into an anxious mess, but my brain still seems bothered by the fact whatever the route cause it isn’t “fixed”, ie why did I get bad again after years of being fine and what’s stopping it happening again. Will this eventually go away? I don’t even feel anxious anymore but the constant overthinking is bothering me. I have bought some L Theanine for the mornings because that’s when I feel the worst. It doesn’t help that I’m autistic and all I want to do is learn and understand but there are no definitive answers and everything varies so much person to person. Just feel like I’m constantly looking for answers that don’t exist and my brain won’t let it go

Are anxiety disorders caused by the brain being wired differently or having different chemicals to people who don't struggle, or is it purely mindset that causes it? I know depression can be associated to a chemical imbalance, not just mindset, but wasn't sure if anxiety is the same
I'm just interested if anyone can fix their anxiety disorder by having the right mindset and reaction to the emotion or if there's some people who will always struggle due to chemical differences
Edit; speaking about otherwise healthy individuals, under normal circumstances

Are anxiety disorders caused by the brain being wired differently or having different chemicals to people who don't struggle, or is it purely mindset that causes it? I know depression can be associated to a chemical imbalance, not just mindset, but wasn't sure if anxiety is the same
I'm just interested if anyone can fix their anxiety disorder by having the right mindset and reaction to the emotion or if there's some people who will always struggle due to chemical differences

Edit; speaking about otherwise healthy individuals, under normal circumstances