Feeling anxious for no reason (vent)

[BNL2]

I thought I've had my anxiety under control for a while now, but I'm thinking I'm wrong. Tonight I'm a mess and I'm realizing that the slightest stressor can send me in a whirlwind and I lack adequate coping skills. This makes me feel like a complete loser who can't handle real life. It sucks.

There's really no point to this post, I just wanted to get it out there. Thanks for letting me vent.

[jennipea382]

I know the feeling! Sometimes I just freak out or get really down for no reason at all, or something really stupid triggers it. I usually just have to find a way to distract myself and relax. It of course sounds easier than it is, but once I distract myself enough, it usually passes. I also vent to my FI a lot because I don't really have anyone else to talk to (though now that this board is here, maybe I can vent more here so it doesn't always fall on him! Haha).

Have you talked to a doctor or counselor at all? In a perfect world, I'd go to counseling and if that didn't work, go to the doctor and get on medication, but I know sometimes it's not that easy. I get nervous about going to a counselor even though I KNOW they help. They have helped so many of my friends and I could probably benefit from it, but I just don't do it for some reason. I guess I find it easier to just go to the doctor and have them prescribe something for me. Anyways, if you haven't talked to a professional at all, I'd suggest it to at least see what you can do! Good luck!

[midnightrae]

I know how you feel. Sometimes, even little things can trigger it. Do you take an everyday anxiety med? It might help. I'm trying to do with out mine and things could be better. I'm sorry that you feel the way you do. What are your current coping skills like? You are not a loser.

[BNL2]

I'm already in therapy, but only go biweekly. I won't see her until next week, but I'll definitely bring it up. I don't take a daily med for anxiety but I've taken ativan "as needed" for years. I've actually been avoiding it because I don't want to be dependent on it or antidepressants.

If I were to be honest, my coping skills are completely unhealthy and involve wine and food. I can avoid panic attacks with self-talks and breathing techniques, but that doesn't seem to work when I'm jittery and unfocused.

[phoenixrising]

I also use food as my coping mechanism, which, as you know, doesn't actually work in the long run. And I totally understand that generalized, all-the-time feeling of anxiety (when I describe the feeling to my therapist, I call it the low hum of anxiety that is there all the time). I would like to say that antidepressants aren't something I would worry about becoming dependent on. If they would help with the day-to-day and my therapist felt it were time to refer me to a psychiatrist to have a prescription written, I would definitely go for it. I am surprised by the number of people I know who have told me they take a low dose of something to keep things kind of in check. Done right, the meds just make it easier to cope...they don't numb you to the problems.

[Deleted]

I realize this is random, but I feel like this when my thyroid meds aren't high enough.

[BNL2]

Thanks for the input. I've been on antidepressants before with both good and bad experiences. I'm TTC right now and I'm on a million different meds for different health issues. I just don't want to add anything else to my system right now. It's funny because I often advise others to look into meds, but I don't take my own advice.