Published on 12, July, 2020
Is there anyone here for whom anxiety literally never stops? During waking hours I mean. I’d say that beyond the lingering after effects of sleep - lasting for considerably less time than any lie in, perhaps a few minutes- I’m soon into a baseline of fairly steady anxiety, from which more intense spikes could and do at any moment erupt as small or large triggers or thoughts have their effect over the day. Is this unusual? For there to be practically zero absence of ‘the fear’ for any significant period of time except when unconscious or on the threshold of that state? I think it only ever gives me a proper reprieve when I get a really bad cold or flu or something. When the parasympathetic nervous system just goes into offline mode out of sheer necessity. Sometimes I’m glad to get ill as it’s a holiday from the terror. Which can sometimes be so intense (at least every few days) that it feels like barely an exaggeration to say that most ordinary people would only be in that internal state if their plane was attempting an emergency landing ir they were in an unfolding car crash. Except drawn out over hours until staying awake is no longer possible. Thank goodness for the temporary oblivion of losing consciousness. Without it my nerves would never be rested. Am I alone in this? I’m calmer when alone usually (at least initially), but ruminating starts up in those conditions too. And some of my most distressed states can be in either setting -invisibly overwhelming me on the inside (masked) while in company or public, or unseen (and less masked to myself) in private
Dearest Shard, please go and talk to your doctor!
I think I was always on edge, too, and feeling low but thought it was just a normal state of being. I finally spoke to the doctor and she said "that sounds like anxiety" and straight away gave me some meds.
I had no idea how low I'd become until these things kicked in and now it's like, is this I was supposed to feel all along? Why didn't I get these 30 years ago?
To be fair, there are still things that worry me, but the difference is that I now feel like I have the strength to deal with them. And I haven't woken up with that feeling of deep dread since I've been on them.
I know that it doesn't always work this well for everyone, but I do think it's worth a try. Brain chemistry can affect how you cope with things so much.
Yep. This is the case for me and I've mentioned it often on this forum.
My antidepressants (Seroxat) work beautifully and don't have any serious side effects (for me).
I've been on and off antidepressants all my life, and the times off were far worse than the times on.
I remember saying to my GP once: 'I feel locked into a state of anxiety'.
It was ever present, now it's just something that occurs when there is a 'good' reason.
I'm glad you feel so much better G.