r/anxiety_support

Hello all!

This year has been weird and a disaster. My heart dog got diagnosed with lymphoma and I had changed meds right when that happened. Those meds made me feel flat, and I wanted to die. The med was pristiq. During that time I also got accepted to vet school out of state. Fast forward to now, I am moving out of state and recently changed my meds to viibryd. I am doing unwell. Everything feels off , almost like it’s another dimension. Time doesn’t feel right, the demeanor of my close family seems different. I feel out of place. I also have brain fog and feel not as sharp as I was. Can big moves affect your mental health and anxiety in such a way? My boyfriend is also coming with me, and we are moving as two separate units. The amount of things he has to move is giving me so much anxiety. I am at a loss. My psych doesn’t want to change too many things at once, but I am drowning. I was on lexapro at the very beginning of all this and it was fine, but it was in the yellow on my genesight test and she wanted to try the green meds first (only 3). The two of the three have not worked.

Thanks.

I’ve struggled with anxiety, depression, and panic attacks since 2014. Paroxetine (Paxil/Seroxat) worked amazingly well for me for several years, but after a major relapse in 2019, I never fully returned to how I was before.

Since then, I’ve tried fluoxetine, venlafaxine, desvenlafaxine, duloxetine, vortioxetine, moclobemide, bupropion, lurasidone, clonazepam, bromazepam, diazepam, propranolol, and CBT. Some helped temporarily or partially, but nothing has given me stable, lasting improvement.

My main symptoms now are persistent anxiety, depression, low energy, panic attack with agoraphobia,anhedonia, lack of motivation, and sometimes a dream-like/unreal feeling.

Has anyone been in a similar situation and eventually found something that truly worked? Was it a medication combination, augmentation strategy, TMS, esketamine, or something else?

I’d really appreciate hearing real experiences from people who went through multiple treatment failures and eventually improved.

I am 15yo about 2 weeks ago i had a terrible headache and i was throwing up and having a panic attack my mother was extremely worried and contacted a doctor. She told me she was gonna schedule an MRI i didn't know what that was so i searched it up and freaked myself out, about time for the appointment the doctor told me he didn't think anything was wrong with me and he said the MRI was optional and he thought the headaches were anxiety (haven't had a headache since) but the MRI was scheduled for august 21st and now ever since that day of the appointment i've been having terrible anxiety issues yesterday i cried 4 times my heart keep beating extremely fast i was unable to eat, I wake up with my heart beating very fast and I am unable to make myself relax my mother even said she would cancel the MRI and i thought that would calm things down but no my body is still in this fight or flight mode i just need to know i'm not in this alone i've did some research looks like heart palpations and just anxiety if someone could give me some advice/information i'd really appreciate it.

Hi Friends!

I am writing here to ask for your advice.

I generally suffer from severe social anxiety. As a child, I hated public speaking or talking to strangers. I don't have many friends as a result. I can't even hold eye contact with strangers. I can't reply in interviews, my fear and aniety are clearly visible on my face, my hands shake with nervousness. Even on phone calls, I fumble, take long pauses or freeze entirely. I have lost many job opportunities due to this. It's really getting tough for me to find a job. It's really taking a toll on me.

If any of you can help me through this, please advice.

I won't make this too long, but here's the short version. For the past two months, I was in a very deep relationship with someone. Like many of us here, I had been relatively stable before that, but once I got into the relationship, almost all of my symptoms started showing up again. However, the breakup wasn't really caused by the symptoms themselves. If anything, my partner actually helped me cope with them.

The situation is basically this: I received a job offer that will completely change my life for the better, but it's on the other side of the world. I'm moving at the end of August, and in the most conservative estimate, I'll be there for at least a year. Around the middle of this month, my ex is also traveling to another country to visit their parents. That means we would have gone at least a year without seeing each other because of the distance, money, and other practical and cultural differences.

As both trips got closer, I started having severe anxiety attacks. Recently, I decided to end the relationship because I couldn't handle the emotional pain anymore, and I felt we hadn't built a strong enough foundation to make a long-distance relationship work. On top of that, ending things while I'm still here means I have a solid support network around me. Once I move abroad, I won't have that.

Even though I truly believe it was the best decision for both of us, I'm heartbroken. My mind keeps telling me that things could have turned out differently, and I keep questioning whether I made the right choice. I really need some advice and support on how to get through this.

Been dealing with anxiety my whole life but only really started managing it properly in the last couple years. Tried all the typical advice deep breathing, journaling, meditation apps and while some helped occasionally, nothing really stuck long-term. Made me feel like I was doing it wrong tbh.

Finally found some approaches that actually work with my anxious brain instead of against it. Nothing revolutionary, just stuff that clicked:

• The "5-4-3-2-1" thing when I'm spiraling. Name 5 things you see, 4 you can touch, 3 you hear, 2 you smell, 1 you taste. Sounds dumb but it pulls me out of panic mode by getting my brain to focus on right now instead of the disaster scenarios.
• Writing down worst-case scenarios and then what'll probably actually happen. My brain loves jumping to the worst possible outcome. Seeing it on paper shows me how ridiculous it usually is, and the real likely outcome is almost always fine.
• "Worry window" - only letting myself worry between 7-7:30pm. When anxiety hits during the day, I write it down and deal with it at worry time. By evening most of it seems way less important or I've forgotten why it even mattered.
• Cold water on my wrists or face when panicking. The shock just interrupts everything. I keep a water bottle in the fridge for this. Works way better than trying to breathe through it.
• Box breathing but only in the shower. Something about warm water plus breathing actually calms me down. 4 counts in, 4 hold, 4 out, 4 hold. Only time that breathwork stuff actually works for me.
• Keeping a "did well" list instead of to-do lists. End of each day I write 3 things I did, even tiny stuff like made breakfast or texted someone back. Helps me see what I accomplished instead of obsessing over what I didn't do.
• I use Soothfy for anchor activities (stable routines that keep me grounded) and novelty activities (different stuff to stop boredom and keep dopamine up). Having both predictable calming things and fresh engaging stuff helps me stay balanced without getting stuck in anxious thought loops or getting bored and restless.
• Tensing and releasing just my jaw and shoulders. Hold for 5 seconds then let go completely. That's where most of my physical anxiety lives and releasing it gives this weird instant relief feeling.
• Stopped fighting high-anxiety days. They just exist sometimes. Those days are for easy stuff only comfort shows, light stretching, organizing one drawer. No guilt about it. Fighting makes it 10x worse.
• Pre-planning what I'll do if anxiety hits in public. Like "if I panic at the store I'll go to the bathroom and run cold water on my wrists." Just having a plan removes that extra fear of not knowing what to do if it happens.

Been managing pretty consistently for about 4 months now which is honestly a big deal for me. Anyone else find weird stuff that works? The normal advice never really clicked.

Just really hoping someone can relate out there..

I'm not posting for sympathy or anything like that, just genuinely trying to connect to stop feeling this god awful loneliness.. it doesn't really matter my situation, as I feel even hving lungs to breathe is still a blessing, but I hv no idea how to talk to ppl anymore irl without becoming a turtle..

Like u get so locked up inside u just start to feel like u can't relate to ppl anymore..

Anxiety is so hard to deal with I feel like I'm nvr going to be able to get back to my old life..

Hope everyone is doing ok out there and if u want to add to this or share ur experiences, it's more than welcome... I'm really interested to hear other ppls experience with this ❤️

Hey everyone! After years of struggling with anxiety, I have figured out what helps and wanted to share.

1. The worry time method

Dedicate 15 minutes a day as your official 'worry time'. When anxious thoughts come up outside that window, write them down in a journal and tell yourself you'll address them later. It sounds simple but is surprisingly effective at stopping the spiral.

2. The body first rule

When anxiety spikes, your rational mind is already offline. Trying to think your way out doesn't work because the amygdala has bypassed your prefrontal cortex. Ground your body first with the 5-4-3-2-1 method, breathing, cold water on wrists, then think.

3. The fact vs fear journal

Draw two columns in a journal. Left column is for the anxious thought. Right is for what the evidence actually says. Most anxious thoughts can't survive contact with actual facts.

4. Naming the anxiety type

Realising that my anxiety wasn't one thing but different types in different contexts changed how I responded to it. GAD feels different to social anxiety which feels different to health anxiety. The tools that work for each are different.

5. The one check-in rule

If you have separation anxiety or health anxiety, do just one check-in. One message, one google. Then stop and redirect. Checking repeatedly temporarily reduces anxiety but increases it in the long term.

6. The exposure ladder

Avoiding things that make you anxious feels safer, but it teaches your brain that the thing is genuinely dangerous. Write down your fears starting with the least scary version of the situation. This is the most effective evidence-based approach for most anxiety types and helped me the most.

What has actually helped you? Particularly interested in things that worked when nothing else was.

(some of my words might be to confusing I'm writing all of this from the heart I don't care about structures anymore)

Guys I genuinely need help, I don't know where else to vent about this but here I hope it's a right place to tell anyone about something personal.. Or if anyone have a solutions, anything I just geniuenly need help (I'm sorry if English bad it's not my first language)

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For so long I've been dealing with social anxiety... From elementary i was bullied for 4 years straight.. I genuinely have no one at all at school, and live in complete isolation from everyone... And the moment I finally adapt I have to already fo to middle school which the same thing happen again same for highschool.. for months no one wants to sit with me cause I'm to socially awkward... And those ruins everything.. I keep trying ,y best to do kindness still I do indeed got some friends but damn it.. I feel like there's always something missing and I keep getting hurt time and time again..

For years I've failed to study well and get that confidence and know myself well... Now after finishing hifhschool I got rejected through college while lot of my classmates already got in my dream college., some that I help but I myself doesn't get in it..

I know maybe it perhaps I'm not trying enough but still....

I'm genuinely scared of the future, of facing things inc life... I couldn't make myself useful anywhere.. and I'm struggling so much with something as simple as socializing..

And everything else in the real world and reality and everything surrounding me..

I don't know what to do.. what do I do? Can someone help?

I don't want to listen to myself that I should just end it all cause I keep failing In life.. but at the same time why is it so hard for life to get better

The problems i have with my family and friends is that i dont want competition, ego and pride that applies to big things in this capitalist modern society that values hyper individualism, materialism and consumerism. Like ‘whos got the biggest house, whos got the best car’ etc etc. its love destroying because now you in a serious competition against people who you grew up with, that involves ego, and most likely pride. I dont think certain types of competition are wrong, like who can run the fastest and whos got the best bench press max. But when it comes to bigger life stuff in this type of capitalism of the modern first world, it creates ego and fuels competition. It literally creates and brings out the worst of you. And people are blind to it. Its very sad, I want my family and friends to win and be happy. But I can’t help it if they think we are competing against each other, that removes all the love. All i can do it remind myself of this and understand this is the reality of the world for a lot of people. Not everyone but a lot of people nonetheless, unfortunately. I will try to communicate this to them to bring hope and faith in the future. All love.

i’m such a chronic procrastinator. my nervous system is so fucked up that if i try to do my work, my anxiety shoots up for i don’t know what fucking reason. it’s something easy, something i can get done in a couple hours of focused work but i can’t get it done. btw things i think i have but am too broke to get diagnosed: adhd (100% sure) autism (abt 70% sure) depression (lmfao yeah) anxiety (90% sure). it’s affecting my mental, physical, emotional wellbeing and i feel like im just going deeper in.

i think if i get back my ability to function normally, a lot of these feelings would be elevated, but it’s like a vicious cycle. the adhd affects functioning, the procrastination builds anxiety and it keeps going on until i fuck up everything and hate myself. i don’t think i can get diagnosed until i graduate and start earning my own money. how did you guys with similar situations deal with it?

About 12 days ago I suffered an injury at work. I had surgery on my hand 9 days ago with healing period of 10-14 days which isn’t that bad at all. Mid last week I had a bad panic attack that lasted hours through the night. Since the injury I have had poor sleep due to the heat in Uk and just with my anxiety in general. Last week I had a night where I just kept trying to yawn like air hunger and the more I focused on it the worse it got. Then it went, but yesterday it came back and I couldn’t take my mind off it, I slept okay last night but today I just keep yawning and it’s annoying me. My arm has been tense for like I week so not sure if that is causing my chest to be tense as well. Will this pass? as it’s starting to annoy me as I keep needing to yawn and when it gets worse I can’t yawn.

Every day I wake up with overwhelming anxiety. It feels like my heart is on fire, and the discomfort in my chest is so intense that I can't describe it. I feel completely exhausted all the time, and I often get headaches too.

The hardest part is that the feeling is there almost every day. Sometimes I get a short break where I suddenly feel okay, and I realize how relieved I am just to have a few moments without that constant anxiety.

I also hide it from everyone. I act like I'm okay, I laugh, I smile, and I go about my day, but inside I'm struggling. Sometimes I catch myself laughing and realize it doesn't even feel real. I wish it was genuine.

When my anxiety gets really bad, I do the weirdest things. I crack random jokes that don't even make sense, talk to myself out loud, randomly start dancing, or do other silly things. I think it's just my mind desperately trying to escape the anxiety for a moment. Deep down, I just want to feel alive again.

Has anyone else experienced this? Did it get better? I'd really appreciate hearing from people who've been through something similar because I feel very alone right now.

How do they deal with your anxiety issues like panic attacks and random bursts of crying and so on (or whichever signs of anxiety you experience)?

Honestly, there have been a few times where my bf has told me its all in my head and every time i had an episode of crying (where i didnt know why but i just had this sense of doom and anxiety ) he would keep asking me why why why and how is it possible that i dont know, that clearly is stupid and pointless that i cry in that case. He also once said that maybe i havent gone through enough in life, if i cry and dont know why and that my life is great and i have nothing to be anxious about.
He is also against me taking ssri (which i do and very low dose at that) but im not stopping just because he doesnt believe in it.
I never really explicitly told him that i have anxiety unless he asked me how i feel, and even then a lot of times i just said im good. But when i did, i got into this questioning and its honestly exhausted to the point where i decided to stop telling him about it all together and deal with it by myself like im used to.
We had discussions about it many times and he says this is his way of trying to help, but i said this is the opposite of help for me

To give a bit more context: i had severe anxiety issues since i can remember. I grew up in an abusive household, worried about both my parents lives, there was threats with objects and so on, constant fighting and alcohol involved (parents). Then 2 years ago i burned out grom everything family and work related and was not functioning for 1 year so i decided to go on a low dose of prozac which clearly helps. But i still have seasons of huge anxiety that im learning to deal with. Im much better now than i was and it just makes me sad that he just doesnt understand. Not saying he has to but i just wish my bf would just be there for me in those cases. Like a hug and thats it, i dont need anything else cause i know it will pass eventually..

So im wondering. Anyone else with similar issues? I feel like a burden right now..

I’ve been having anxiety attacks like everyday because of my job, and I want to find a way to calm down during them. I’ve tried box breathing, naming things I can see in the room, naming things I can smell, meditation, deep breathing, etc. none of these have worked for me.

Maybe crying is the key. Or maybe talking it out, or yelling at the top of my lungs or a walk in the park or nature trail? I am reaching my limits to I am seeing someone I don’t recognize.

Need advice.

I am trying to start moving again, but I just don’t trust my body, and sure enough, I panicked on my walk today. My heart rate hit 161 and I felt on the brink of passing out.

This is why I don’t like walking outside: if I am at home or in a particular space, I’ve learned to sit down and wait it out, but I thought it would be weird to just sit down on the street? However, my decision to simply keep walking and hope I didn’t die before I made it home can’t have been good for my body either. I’m surprised I survived.

What do you think? Should I have tried to sit down and rest? Should I have called for help? Every panic attack makes me feel like my days, even hours, are numbered …

My anxiety has always been bad but since I lost my father last year it has been almost unbearable. Ive been throwing up and constantly nauseated, even lost like 12 pounds because of it.

I know I've been burying my greif and focusing on my anxiety subconsciously. Im trying to work through it because it is tearing apart my life.

However, this nausea ia relentless. And even when im not overthinking its like my body is telling me to be anxious, reminding them that things aren't good.

Ive tried zofran, and it has worked some of the times. Ive tried weed and herbal teas. What else? Drinking Sprite because that sometimes helps and then eating sporadically not big meals. Nothing really works all the time. And there are some times when nothing works.

Does anyone have a cheat code?

Recently I’ve been literally absorbed by sadness and anxiety to the point where I can barely sleep. The issue is I am a very extroverted person and I’m very “bubbly” so I always keep a happy persona on around those around me. And the few people I’ve tried to share my situation with haven’t taken it seriously. I’ve also tried to talk to my mom about it but she thinks it’s just because of family stuff, when it’s been happening since well before that.
— Another issue is even with a very out going personality I only really have two people close enough to me where they are willing to talk to me on the phone and out of school. Well these people have recently been very busy with their own personal lives — which is fine — however I haven’t had anyone to talk to about my feelings due to this fact, and I’m getting bad again.
—I’m not sure who I can talk to because I feel like I’m usually the friend people talk to about their issues not the other way around.