Anxiety is insane!!!!

I can understand that. Anxiety is horrible to suffer from.

I think it's a good idea calling your GP. He/she can help guide you and refer you for the appropriate help and support.

In the meantime if you need support you can message us here or you can contact Samaritans. They are trained supporters who listen with care and offer a lot of support.

Here's their number - 116 123

Or if you prefer you can email at - jo@samaritans.org

I hope this helps. Take care.

I have done a few things to sort through anxiety in my life.

1. I've now found several medical papers that suggest autistic and ADHD anxiety can be caused by low GABA-Gamma ratio. I've been taking a mushroom compound to boost GABA. Most NT can apparently stop a looping thought or aren't driven to resolve an issue with the same intensity we experience. 

2. Situational anxiety from a lack of resolution can create a low-grade stress, which left unsorted will turn into anxiety. For instance, not knowing an LED is causing a strain on the eyes or an ongoing unpleasant sound is being sense-perceived at a level we're just not consciously processing will cause this background 'noise' inducing stress. Learning to contain one's environment, even craft our home surroundings to be more human-friendly or consistent with our needs will fix this.

3. Toxic relationships. I would like to suggest that humans aren't necessarily toxics but the dynamic of two individuals can become detrimental to both parties. Some people are very cruel, selfish or just in survival mode and hurting others unintentionally because that's all they know. Either way, as difficult as separation anxiety can be, once enough distance is between, the anxiety will subside.

I did have to go through a great deal of heartbreak, recalibrations, addressing and fixing my own perspectives and picking the worst of two evils to get to a place where anxiety lessened. I had to do a good deal of character growth to find much less anxiety. However, the Money can be one of the greatest complications: the demand outweighing ability, the overload of far more work than reward, these will cause anxiety. The only thing for this and for the first issue (such as a melodic loop that won't stop at 4 am) is anti-anxiety medication. Not SSRI's NOT anti-depressants. I don't recommend these drugs but in small doses on rare occasion. But they do come in clutch as they're designed to boost GABA. 

I personally have found meds made a huge difference. In particular propranolol helped me cope with a lot of the physical symptoms and in extreme cases diazepam provided enough of a fire break that I could begin to recover. 

Crazily after so many symptoms yesterday most of which could have been something serious, today nothing at all! Just a little throbbing headache.. And I'm out of migraine tablets. I'll try to get some again on Monday from my Dr.

I'm sorry about your own anxiety and I hope you can find some relief from it. I find it is an ongoing battle, like a war but with yourself, your own mind and that's a hard enemy to fight.

Thank you for your lovely message. Yesterday sucked but today is much better for me. I hope you're ok and anxious free today as well :–) 

I'm sorry to hear about how you were wrongly detained. It is shocking the way some autistic people have been treated by mental health services, both before and after diagnosis. I have had bad experiences myself and I understand how traumatic it can be and the ongoing negative effect.

Anxiety for me has been an ongoing lifelong battle. It's like I have two brains which are always fighting. I call them my anxious brain and my logical brain and they fight all the time. Sometimes one is winning more than the other.

Over the years I've had all kinds of weird physical symptoms. I think as autistic people we can be hypersensitive to bodily physical sensations that others wouldn't even notice. Just as I conquer my anxiety about one symptom my anxious brain will set off something else for me to worry about...

If you suffer from health anxiety it's best to not google your symptoms as that can make it worse. In your case it is very unlikely to be anything sinister but if you continue to worry then it's best to seek reassurance from a medical professional.

The problem is that once you've lived with anxiety for a long time the body sort of gets used to that as the normal operating level. So there is a high baseline anxiety, often for no apparent reason. When it's really bad I wake up anxious and remain anxious, hypervigilant to every little sound. On days like that I can't do very much except try to distract myself from the anxiety.

It will take time for you to work out what your triggers are and how to live your life to keep your anxiety in check. Some people finds meds helpful but personally they made my anxiety worse. 

Don't give up. Things can get better.

Yes. They are the best.

Yes thanks I do need to cut out the sugary drinks.

Thanks for this! This looks really helpful.

Hi number thank you for your lovely message. I'm feeling much better now it was just that I had an anxious day and it was all a bit much and got on top of me. I try not to let that happen but sometimes it just sort of explodes in frustration.

I've spent the night talking to my mum and getting a lot of support and I'll be seeing my Dr next week so hoping she can give me something to help the anxious thoughts and effects.

Unknown said:

Small furries (as I believe your mum might call them) are frigging EXCELLENT at moderating and calming my anxiety.  We seem to understand each other quite well.

Absolutely! Animals are the best. I have a strong connection with animals and feel they understand me as well as I understand them! They know when you need a friend and will comfort you for as long as you need. They are the best x

Thank you for the recommendations on these books. I think they will be a big help for me.

Thank you R. Reading that list was reassuring to be honest. I think deep down I know it's all anxiety related but it still worries. I'm getting support now and I'm hoping my Dr will give me something to calm my anxiety.

Hi thank you for your message.

Hello @NAS88085, I’m sorry you are going through such a tough time,. I’s good that you’ve let us know what’s happening/how you feel. Many people have similar thoughts when coping with so much and we hope you’re okay.   

If you are unable to cope with the distress or despair, it’s very important to tell someone about your feelings or thoughts of suicide. Call your GP and make an urgent appointment. Your GP can make sure you get appropriate help and support.  

If it’s outside your GP hours call  111 to reach the NHS 111 service:  

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/urgent-and-emergency-care-services/when-to-use-111/  

The Samaritans also provide confidential non-judgemental emotional support, 24 hours a day on 116 123, or by email on jo@samaritans.org.  

MIND have information pages on coping with self harm or suicidal feelings based on the experiences of people who’ve been through it that you may find helpful.   

If you are very close to doing something to hurt yourself - call 999 now or go to your nearest A&E department. There should be someone there to support you and make sure you get ongoing support.  

You can find more information here: https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/mental-health/suicide.

Best wishes,

Anna Mod

I'm sorry you're suffering with this. It sounds like anxiety and yes it can be as you describe. 

This page shows the symptoms associated with anxiety. https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/generalised-anxiety-disorder/symptoms/

Bunny said:

I just don't know if I can spend the rest of my life like this.

You can. Believe in yourself! We will support you when you need it but you can do this. I know it's hard but it will get easier.

Number is right, you can learn to control and manage your anxiety and that's key to remember - YOU are in control, not the anxiety. 

YOU can get through this. We believe in you. Believe in yourself.

Bunny said:

What gets me is how it's anxiety???? 

How can anxiety make all of this happen?!?

You may find some of the answers you are looking for in these books:

Asperger Syndrome and Anxiety - A Guide to Successful Stress Management - Nick Dubin (2009)
ISBN 9781843108955

An Aspie's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety - Attwood, Tony, Evans, Craig R., Lesko, Anita (2015)
eISBN 9781784501198

Bunny said:

I just don't know if I can spend the rest of my life like this.

Yes, yes you can.  Anxiety is very different to fear.  I have learned to manage and control my anxiety - not always successfully or appropriately - but i definitely have learned ways to suppress it enough to function and feel able to interact (just enough) with the "normal" world around me.

You are less than half of my age, I am sure you will learn good ways forward for yourself and your bio suggests you are aiming in a direction that works for me!

Small furries (as I believe your mum might call them) are frigging EXCELLENT at moderating and calming my anxiety.  We seem to understand each other quite well.

Do not (ever) despair Bunny.  It does get much easier when you are older and better able to dictate what, when and how you do things.

Best regards

Number

Bunny said:

Constant headaches, tension I think, throbbing all around my head especially the forehead and back of my head. Hurts if I touch it. If I sit and rest it feels better. If I go out, it is dreadful and then accompanied by unsteadiness which feels like I'm actually drunk. Also get tingling and buzzes through my head and face, randomly dancing about me.

What gets me is how it's anxiety???? 

How can anxiety make all of this happen?!?

By way of oxidative stress: https://doctordoni.com/2014/10/5-signs-of-oxidative-stress/

And perhaps: https://www.optimallivingdynamics.com/blog/20-proven-ways-to-effectively-lower-your-stress-hormone-reduce-counteract-manage-cortisol-decrease-levels-for-brain-mental-health-anxiety-depression-cognitive-function-foods-nutrients-herbs-supp-lz9a2

Perhaps drink more water, as caffeine and soft drinks make stress worse. (Here's me, drinking tea)

Stress and anxiety are caused by increased cortisol levels. Try eating more probiotic food.