Nervousness and Worry

@annie2 How does your home make you feel? Secure? Safe? Both are so valuable. I will share one thing that I've started using for the first time. It's called Tulsi Ashwagandha tea. I got it on Amazon (didn't have to leave the house) It's made by a company called Organic India and it's caffeine-free. I have stopped drinking all caffeine drinks. I substituted decaf coffee so I could keep my morning ritual. But I was too distracted by withdrawal to do what I wanted to. This tea is quite sedating, calming, and helps me focus on what I want to focus on. This is my reaction and opinion that I'm sharing I don't know if it would be the same for you. But I hope you can find some relief. Best, suzanne

That’s a great way of explaining it. Paralyzing. I just get overwhelmed & cannot make decisions or do much of anything.

Thank you for the suggestion. I am such a die-hard coffee drinker and have started to fill the cup with maybe a quarter cup of coffee and the rest, water, lol. Trying to keep my ritual as well. It is funny that you ask about my home. I live in an apartment and I hate it. When I first moved in I was not experiencing any anxiety issues but now, it just reminds me of not being well. Hard to explain. That is why I sit on the patio so much. It doesn't get much light inside and it just depresses me. Wish I could move but that isn't in the cards right now. Thank you for responding. It is much appreciated.

I too am a worrier. I have struggled with nervousness and depression since I was a young child. Mental illness does run in my family and life growing up was very difficult. For many years I accepted this condition as "normal" for me. As I approached my older years, (I am 65) I think the flood gates opened. Digestive issues, severe burning in back of the throat, anxiety attacks that last for months from morning till night even in my sleep. It is all very frightening. I am now getting much-needed help but it took me this long to realize I needed it. Don't wait until your worry and depression make you ill. Get the help you need now for a much happier tomorrow. Take good care of yourself. Be your own advocate and best friend. A happier future depends on it. Best of luck to you and as always, I pray for all who suffer.

@annie2 So glad to read you’ve gotten some help. Yes. Advocating for self is key.

I thought I just needed a med/tweak but I may need to talk. My growing up years were really challenging to say the least. But I’m pretty sure I’ve covered that in therapy. But there’s the huge subject of the here and now. At 70, I just went through a divorce , had two major moves within one year, and lost my 17 y/o dog whom I’ve had for 15 years. I admit I like living alone but it took me this long to realize I’m an introvert. Introverts aren’t anti-social, we just need a lot of alone time. That really helps.
I had a TBI from a riding accident and was in hospital for two weeks. Little was known or followed up on in 1965. My personality fundamentally changed after that. All I can say is I became unmoored. I relied on my father and stepmother who were hugely status conscious. When I wasn’t invited to a party, they said I should have gotten an invitation. So, they sent me. The second time it happened, I ran out of the party, went home and cried.
I’ve never talked about this before. Not even in therapy. Ha! But it feels good to write it out. And maybe I do have more to cover in therapy. But it’s not about then. It’s about now. I’m in a new state, with a new dog and she’s a lifesaver. And I too can help myself by getting some help. Thanks for the nudge @annie2

Hello Annie2, this is my first time trying this out be patient with me please

Hi @smpt I see you’re brand new to Connect! Let me welcome you to our amazing, supportive community forum. We’re here for each other so I’m glad you found us. I’m posting a little link about how to navigate our site just in case you didn’t catch it on the home page.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/get-started-on-connect/
Your first comment is in our depression and anxiety group. Is this something that affects you too? Is there anything you’d like help with?

Where can one go for help, when you don't know whats causing the way you feel, if it's anxiety, depression are what . I'm taking anxiety med. Lorazepam .5mg but it seems like it's not helping, sometimes you feel like your going out of your mind, and then the shaking, it's an awful feeling, so what do you do. Go to the emergency, what casn they do? Thanks for any reply.

Hi @a9g. I’m pretty new to this also but to echo what @loribmt said, I think you’ll find a lot of support from others as well as the process of writing things down. I like to write because I think more clearly, one word at a time. Not knowing is a big stressor and hopefully you’ll read something that will resonate with you and then follow up on. Is this the first time trying a med? That’s such a big step and one we’ve all wrestled with. It takes time. Finding the right kind of help and combinations of self-help will eventually give you a leg up. Please keep writing, i think it’s one part of my self care that really helps.

@a9g Like @susbyrne mentioned, writing down what is bothering you can help alot! Also, writing down the symptoms that you see, noting time of day, what you are doing, general environment, etc. may help you notice a pattern. Can you do that, and then review it after a couple of days?

Speaking with your medical team to let them know about your thoughts on the Lorazepam will help you. Remember, we try many things to find what will work for us as an individual, and reading here what others have done/tried/experienced can be so helpful. We cannot rely on medications solely, in my opinion, and often need to supplement with good healthy eating, quality exercise, and other forms of therapy that work for us. For me, writing and keeping a journal really helps me [I rarely go back to read what I wrote] plus talk therapy with a psychologist. Being honest with myself is critical, as I have everything to gain from that!
Ginger