[BFella]

It's embarrassing to admit sometimes cause people really don't understand how bad it can be, recently my anxiety has gotten really bad, my doctor prescribed me Effexor, an everyday medicine but I'm not one to take a medication everyday unless it's saving my life.

So I went back today and asked her for something that I didn't have to take everyday and she gave me Xanax. Does anyone else suffer from anxiety? And if so how do you guys deal with it?

[The Black Knight]

Never really understood anxiety problems or disorders. Not really sure what causes people to have them, though I suspect it has to be something that bothers them. I've always asked people that have anxiety if something is bothering them. If they say yes, I've always said, "have you tried doing something about it??" Confront what bothers you, don't let it control you. You either allow something to control you or you control it.

I hate heights, more specifically tall buildings. Yet I'm enamored with them. If I have to go in one, I just suck it up and do it. I've found that my fear of heights bothers me less when I don't let it control my thoughts.

I've known people that are bothered by going fast. My friend that does track days with me on our Superbikes, is just as fast as me but hates leaning over as far as I do. He's never put his knee down, while I'm to the point of almost dragging my elbow, let alone my knee. He has to work harder though to go as fast because of the lack of lean angle. However, when he tries to put his knee down he gets very anxious and looses confidence when leaning over. Yet, he has found a way around the issue.

Granted I don't know what's bothering you or causes your anxiety but my advice would be, face it head on. Don't let it rule your life, be your own master and let nothing control who you are.

[BFella]

Originally Posted by The Black Knight

Never really understood anxiety problems or disorders. Not really sure what causes people to have them, though I suspect it has to be something that bothers them. I've always asked people that have anxiety if something is bothering them. If they say yes, I've always said, "have you tried doing something about it??" Confront what bothers you, don't let it control you. You either allow something to control you or you control it.

I hate heights, more specifically tall buildings. Yet I'm enamored with them. If I have to go in one, I just suck it up and do it. I've found that my fear of heights bothers me less when I don't let it control my thoughts.

I've known people that are bothered by going fast. My friend that does track days with me on our Superbikes, is just as fast as me but hates leaning over as far as I do. He's never put his knee down, while I'm to the point of almost dragging my elbow, let alone my knee. He has to work harder though to go as fast because of the lack of lean angle. However, when he tries to put his knee down he gets very anxious and looses confidence when leaning over. Yet, he has found a way around the issue.

Granted I don't know what's bothering you or causes your anxiety but my advice would be, face it head on. Don't let it rule your life, be your own master and let nothing control who you are.

That's the thing, nothing that IM AWARE of is bothering me, I just get anxious and think every symptom I get is something serious, and gets me thinking I'm dying or going to die. It's crazy and I can't stand it, it came out of no where about a year ago, and my life is amazing. I go to Arizona state, have a girlfriend, my dream car, yet I have anxiety for no reason at all, and it's really bothering me lately.

[EETSMine]

Originally Posted by BFella

That's the thing, nothing that IM AWARE of is bothering me, I just get anxious and think every symptom I get is something serious, and gets me thinking I'm dying or going to die. It's crazy and I can't stand it, it came out of no where about a year ago, and my life is amazing. I go to Arizona state, have a girlfriend, my dream car, yet I have anxiety for no reason at all, and it's really bothering me lately.

There is nothing 'crazy' about it. I have issues right now due to the divorce and it really comes down to control. Or the feeling of NO control.

[The Black Knight]

Originally Posted by BFella

That's the thing, nothing that IM AWARE of is bothering me, I just get anxious and think every symptom I get is something serious, and gets me thinking I'm dying or going to die. It's crazy and I can't stand it, it came out of no where about a year ago, and my life is amazing. I go to Arizona state, have a girlfriend, my dream car, yet I have anxiety for no reason at all, and it's really bothering me lately.

That right there might be the source of your anxiousness or anxiety. You're anxious for no reason at all and it's getting to the point that it's bothering your more and more. You say you've got a great life but are getting anxiety. Over nothing really, and that is the source of it.

Anxiety is either rooted deep within your mind or it's something that is superficial. Either way it's up to you to figure it out and seek a means to change and correct it. Deep down you might be playing tricks on yourself. Looking at the fact that you've got it really good right now and thinking that something is not right. My point of view, when the good times are rolling, let em roll. Deal with the bad times when they arise. Otherwise enjoy having a good life, because many people don't get to enjoy one....

[motorhead]

Originally Posted by BFella

That's the thing, nothing that IM AWARE of is bothering me, I just get anxious and think every symptom I get is something serious, and gets me thinking I'm dying or going to die. It's crazy and I can't stand it, it came out of no where about a year ago, and my life is amazing. I go to Arizona state, have a girlfriend, my dream car, yet I have anxiety for no reason at all, and it's really bothering me lately.

I went through the same thing about ten years ago and yes, it does suck. After trying to deal with it with alcohol and food, I finally decided to start running. It has really helped and I'm healthier all around. I also have learned to control my mind from running wild. When I feel it coming on I learned to control it with thinking about something positive. I rarely have any problems with it any more and the last two years have been very trying. So there is hope. Also, I never used any meds along my journey. Good luck to you.

[DarkneSS]

It happens to me sometimes and is the sole cause of all procrastination in my life. I think it comes from past experiences during youth when maybe you got embarrassed in front of a lot of people or you let someone down and they negatively overreacted to your behavior, something of that nature. The anxiety comes from potentially experiencing that again.
Also to consider is that the increase in complexity in society due to advancements in science/technology is not linear to the physical evolution of our species. The lightbulb was invented 200 years ago, evolution takes tens of thousands of years. We are Hunter gatherers by design, but also have a large capacity for adaptation to our environment. It is possible that the complexity in society pushes us close to what the average person can handle.
That is why learning things like time management are so important and under taught. You said you're in college so it makes sense that you are still feeling out life in general.

[Muscle Car Lover]

Sorry you are feeling this way. See what the meds can do for you.

I have always struggled with hypochondria. My Dad died at age 50 in 1998 from a weird blood clot heart attack. I was only 20 so I sort of let it go. My brother died in 2006 from a blood clot after achilles' heel surgery. After that I had a rough spot of about 6 months where I thought I was always getting clots, everywhere and anywhere. It's a lonely place.

Keep your chin up and it's not rare nor not normal. You will be ok my friend.

[RolltideSS]

My wife suffers from anxiety and it has been a lot of work for her to get control of it - Xanax is habit forming so she avoided it as much as possible. The real break through came from seeing a professional psychiatrist. Being able to talk out her frustrations let her identify her triggers and move past them. If you want to avoid meds I would highly recommend this, it's not fast but you can get a lot out of it.

[RubyCamaro]

VERY bad idea to take Xanax. Yeah, It will help when you take it, it is "happy pills" but very addictive. You are better off finding yourself a good therapist! They you can learn the skills you need to manage your symptoms. Feel free to PM me if you want to chat about it. I am a therapist but I specialize in young children. Still I have been a therapist for over 30 years. I cannot be your therapist on line but I am glad to talk to you about your needs & help any way I can. Take care of yourself. Anxiety can be very tough to manage but can be managed.

[sberk1012]

As much as you don't like the idea, to me it sounds like you should be on a daily medication for control. From what you've said, it sounds like more of a general anxiety disorder. A daily medication would be MUCH better to help. Plus, as others have noted drugs like Xanax can lead to tolerance, dependence, and sometimes addiction.

It is extremely common for ppl to be on a daily medication for anxiety. As a pharmacist, I see it all day long. I also see ppl get addicted to Xanax-like drugs all the time, which is why it would certainly not be my drug of choice

[pickwithaustin]

Personally, I'd stay away from the Xanax and go back to the daily Effexor for now and explore the situation further in other ways as well. I contract to the mental health industry and as others have stated, surely is not a drug of choice. Read RubyCamaro's post above... good advice.

[BLTZKRG]

I think without a doubt it is 100% related to stress. I was suffering from severe panic attacks a fee years ago. Root causes were work, monetary stress, girlfriend, new baby, out of state move, giving up lifelong dreams, lack of true friends or family....cure...removed self from a bad situation, started hunting and fishing places i had in my youth. And being around people that truly love and care about you. That was my solution.
I have been on prescribed meds for depression as a teen. But they never really worked for me at all or had adverse affects making things worse. I gave up on them in my early twenties and have learned to live with panic attacks. I know im not going to die even though it feels like it. I know i will be ok in a few hours and while not normal im not alone.
Pills like xanax can be habit forming and are a bad idea unless they are a last resort. They do work ffor me. Mainly put me to sleep. I havent taken any in over a year. And through my version of therapy and self exploration ive been free of the atta ks for almost a full year.

[BFella]

Guys, the reason I don't want to be on daily medication is because it either 1. doesn't work at all or 2. works VERY minimal and has WORSE side effects rather than helping. It's just NOT my thing at all, it VERY rarely works, I've tried Prozac, I've tried Effexor, I've tried many things under the sun and they just DO NOT WORK at all, they're horrible.

Also, I don't have an addicted personality, I was prescribed Xanax yesterday and took it because of a bad panic attack, after that I felt fine, had a few minor panic attacks today at my aunts funeral but nothing enough for me to take Xanax so I didn't, I went all day today feeling "relatively" normal and okay.

Also, I believe it's GAD, because I get anxiety and anxiety attacks for NO reason at all, I will feel fine, then my mind will start racing, then I'll feel light headed and then start freaking out even more and have "shortness of breath" out of NOWHERE at all.