Surviving the Storm: Coping with Severe Anxiety

Just surviving the storm: coping with severe anxiety is very heroic. Accordingly, my first experience with severe anxiety was when I had to put my cat down a little over a year ago. I had 3 cats over the years and he was the last one to go.

I wanted to be there in his last moments, but I couldn’t take the anxiety and ran out of the room and drove home. Afterwards, I felt so guilty leaving him there. The guilt is like a veil that hangs over my head and will always be there.

All in all, severe anxiety hits you especially hard when it comes out of nowhere. Nothing triggered it, so why is your body responding as if something did?

As a matter of fact, health professionals still don’t know why “flight or fight” response is activated even though there is no reason for the response.

I hope they figure it out in my lifetime because I’m curious to know why.

Causes of Severe Anxiety

Comparatively, severe anxiety can have many causes, including environmental factors, medical conditions, and personality traits:

Environmental factors

Stress, exhaustion, uncertainty, and change can all cause anxiety. At length, this can include feeling pressure at work or school, long hours, financial problems, or housing issues. Anxiety can also be caused by worrying about the environment or natural disasters.

Medical conditions

Anxiety can be a symptom of some medical conditions, due to heart disease, diabetes, thyroid problems, respiratory disorders, chronic pain, or irritable bowel syndrome. It can also be caused by drug misuse or withdrawal, including from alcohol, anti-anxiety medications, or other drugs.

Examples of medical problems that can be linked to anxiety include:

Firstly, heart disease
Diabetes
Thyroid problems, such as hyperthyroidism
Respiratory disorders, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma
Additionally, drug misuse or withdrawal
Withdrawal from alcohol, anti-anxiety medications (benzodiazepines) or other medications
Chronic pain or irritable bowel syndrome
Rare tumors that produce certain fight-or-flight hormones
Lastly, sometimes anxiety can be a side effect of certain medications.

Personality traits

People with timid or negative temperaments, or who avoid dangerous situations, may be more likely to experience generalized anxiety disorder. Consequently, other risk factors include genetics, a history of trauma or negative experiences, or exposure to stressful or negative events.

Symptoms of Severe Anxiety

Just surviving the storm: coping with severe anxiety is difficult, but not impossible. Furthermore, severe anxiety can cause a variety of physical and psychological symptoms, including:

Physical symptoms

Specifically, sweating, especially on the palms and soles of the feet, increased heart rate, heart palpitations, faster breathing, nausea or abdominal distress, light-headedness or dizziness, pins and needles, headaches, backaches, or other aches and pains, muscle tension or aches, and dry mouth.

Psychological symptoms

Thus, feeling nervous, restless, or tense, having a sense of impending danger, panic, or doom, trouble concentrating or making decisions, difficulty controlling worry, and the urge to avoid things that trigger anxiety.

Severe Overthinking

Surviving the storm: coping with severe anxiety is a form of couragousness. Severe overthinking. I do this even if I didn’t have anxiety. Therefore, I analyze and reanalyze everything. You know how they say you can make something out of a mole hill, that’s me.

Some people with anxiety tend to ruminate overs situations and often revisit those thoughts. Thus, you may think that you did something wrong or you should have said that.

Subsequently, your brain just automatically thinks that YOU did something wrong and not anybody else. You always put yourself in the negative.

How do you get out of that loophole? Obviously practice positive self talk. Don’t automatically think it’s your fault when something goes wrong.

Severe Sleep Anxiety

I take a ton of sleep medicine since I was diagnosed with anxiety. But even then, sometimes I can’t sleep. Some of the medicine that I take is also a sleep aid. Plus I take 30 mg of melatonin.

Although, part of it is because of the movements from Parkinson’s. I started having problems right around the time that I had my first severe anxiety attack.

By and large, one of my favorite solutions to help me fall asleep is to listen to guided imagery cd’s. It’s so relaxing and it will put you to sleep in a heartbeat.

Another key point is I always have the radio on when I fall asleep when I’m not listening to cd’s. Hence, I don’t feel as anxious if there is some noise in my room. That way I don’t get scared of the things that go bump in the night.

I also don’t try to force myself to sleep which makes the anxiety worse. It may take me half the night, but it works.

Extreme Anxiety in the Morning

Particularly, I used to get really bad anxiety when I woke up in the morning. I had trouble doing normal morning rituals-eating, showering, getting dressed. Even more, I was shaking so bad and I couldn’t get past the brain fog.

I will tell you honestly the one true thing that helped me is Klonopin. It’s like my miracle drug. I still have some bouts of anxiety, but it’s no where near what it used to be like.

Some people have reached out to me about microdosing. Nonetheless, I’m kind of hesitant because I don’t know much about it. Plus you have to be very consistent when taking it- that’s not me.

I have to have alarms go off on my phone to remind me to take my meds.

Treatment for Severe Anxiety

Cognitive Behavorial Therapy(CBT)

Just surviving the storm: coping with severe anxiety plays the many faces of anxiety. CBT helps with anxiety by addressing and changing negative thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to anxiety. In any event, It helps individuals identify and challenge their irrational beliefs and fears, and replace them with more realistic and positive thoughts.

Acceptance or Commitment Therapy

This focuses on acceptance of difficult emotions and thoughts, rather than trying to control or eliminate them. Given that, ACT teaches individuals to be mindful of their thoughts and feelings, and to accept them without judgment.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing

Overall, EMDR helps with anxiety by targeting the underlying traumatic memories and experiences that contribute to the anxiety symptoms.

Thereupon, during EMDR therapy, the individual is guided by a therapist to recall distressing memories while simultaneously focusing on external stimuli, such as bilateral eye movements, sounds, or taps. Therefore, this process is believed to causes the brain’s natural healing mechanisms, allowing the individual to reprocess the traumatic memories and reduce the emotional charge associated with them.

Dialectical behavior therapy(DBT)

DBT helps individuals with anxiety by teaching them mindfulness techniques to stay grounded in the present moment and reduce rumination and worry. It also helps individuals regulate their emotions by identifying and changing patterns of emotional reactivity and impulsivity. In sum, distress tolerance skills taught in DBT help individuals to tolerate and cope with anxiety-provoking situations without resorting to abnormal behaviors.

Interpersonal Psychotherapy

IPT helps individuals with anxiety by focusing on the following areas:

Interpersonal disputes: Subsequently, IPT helps individuals address and resolve conflicts with others that may be causing distress and contributing to their anxiety.
Role transitions: In short, IPT assists individuals in navigating major life changes or transitions that may be causing anxiety, such as starting a new job, ending a relationship, or adjusting to a new role.
Grief and loss: Specifically, IPT helps individuals process and cope with the loss of a loved one, which can be a significant source of anxiety.
Interpersonal deficits: Finally, IPT addresses difficulties in forming and maintaining relationships, providing individuals with the skills and support needed to improve their social interactions and support network.

Antidepressants for Anxiety

Surviving the storm: coping with severe anxiety is achievable. In like manner, several antidepressants are commonly used to treat anxiety disorders. Some of the most commonly prescribed antidepressants for anxiety include:

Firstly, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs): Examples include sertraline (Zoloft), fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), and escitalopram (Lexapro).
Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs): Examples include venlafaxine (Effexor XR), duloxetine (Cymbalta), and desvenlafaxine (Pristiq).
Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs): Examples include imipramine (Tofranil), amitriptyline (Elavil), and nortriptyline (Pamelor).
Additionally, Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs): Examples include phenelzine (Nardil) and tranylcypromine (Parnate).
Atypical Antidepressants: Examples include bupropion (Wellbutrin) and mirtazapine (Remeron).
Lastly, Tetracyclic Antidepressants: Examples include maprotiline (Ludiomil) and mianserin (Tolvon).

Real-Time Data

Real-time data can help with anxiety in several ways:

Self-Monitoring: Real-time data collection through apps, wearable devices, or other digital tools allows individuals to track their anxiety symptoms, triggers, and patterns in real-time. In other words, this self-monitoring can provide valuable insights into the factors that contribute to anxiety, helping individuals identify patterns and make informed decisions about managing their symptoms.
Biofeedback: Real-time data from biofeedback devices can provide immediate feedback on physiological indicators of anxiety, such as heart rate, skin conductance, or muscle tension. Thus, by using this data, individuals can learn to recognize and control their physiological responses to anxiety, leading to improved self-regulation and reduced symptoms.
Behavioral Interventions: Real-time data can be used to deliver personalized interventions and reminders to help individuals manage anxiety in the moment. For example, an app may provide prompts for deep breathing exercises or mindfulness practices when it detects increased stress levels based on real-time data.
Treatment Progress: Real-time data can be used to track the effectiveness of anxiety treatments, such as therapy or medication. Therefore, by collecting real-time data on symptoms and treatment adherence, individuals and their healthcare providers can make more informed decisions about the effectiveness of their current treatment plan and make adjustments as needed.

Exposure therapy

Exposure therapy works by helping individuals learn that the feared situations or objects are not as dangerous as they perceive them to be. In the long run, through repeated and prolonged exposure to the anxiety-provoking stimuli, individuals can experience a reduction in their anxiety response over time, a process known as habituation.

Additionally, exposure therapy can help individuals learn new, healthier responses to anxiety-provoking situations.

Supplements for Severe Anxiety

Vitamin D3
Magnesium: ·
Melatonin
Omega-3 fatty acids
Chamomile
Valerian root
Ashwagandha
Kava

Alternative Treatments for Severe Anxiety

Aromatherapy
Acupuncture
German chamomile
Exercise
Massage
Meditation
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy

Help Someone With Severe Anxiety

Here are some ways to help someone with severe anxiety:

Encourage Professional Help: Firstly, encourage the individual to seek help from a mental health professional, such as a therapist, counselor, or psychiatrist. Professional treatment, such as therapy or medication, can be crucial in managing severe anxiety.
Offer Support: Be a supportive presence for the individual. In this situation, listen to their concerns without judgment, and offer reassurance and empathy. Let them know that you are there for them and that they are not alone in dealing with their anxiety.
Help Them Seek Information: Not to mention, provide them with reliable information about anxiety disorders and treatment options. Encourage them to learn more about their condition and the available resources for help.
Assist with Daily Tasks: On the whole, offer to help with practical tasks or responsibilities that may feel overwhelming for the individual. This can include helping with errands, chores, or other daily activities.
Encourage Healthy Habits: On one hand, encourage the individual to engage in healthy habits that can help manage anxiety, such as regular exercise, adequate sleep, and a balanced diet.
Be Patient: On the other hand, understand that recovery from severe anxiety takes time. Be patient and supportive, and avoid pressuring the individual to “just get over it” or “calm down.”
Encourage Self-Care: To enumerate, encourage the individual to engage in self-care activities that promote relaxation and reduce stress, such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, or mindfulness practices.
Set Boundaries: While it’s important to be supportive, it’s also crucial to set boundaries to ensure that you are not shouldering the entire burden of the individual’s anxiety. Encourage them to seek professional help and support from multiple sources.

Living with Severe Anxiety

I’m trying to be optimistic about living with severe anxiety, but I can’t even handle generalized anxiety. I give kudos to someone who consistently has severe anxiety.

To clarify, there are strategies that can help individuals cope and manage their symptoms. Here are some tips for living with severe anxiety:

Seek Professional Help: To begin with, it’s important to seek help from a mental health professional, such as a therapist, counselor, or psychiatrist. Professional treatment, such as therapy, medication, or a combination of both, can be crucial in managing severe anxiety.
Learn About Anxiety: Then again, educate yourself about anxiety disorders and the specific symptoms you experience. Understanding your condition can help you feel more in control and better equipped to manage your symptoms.
Practice Self-Care: What’s more, engage in self-care activities that promote relaxation and reduce stress. This can include regular exercise, adequate sleep, a balanced diet, and activities that bring you joy and relaxation.
Develop Coping Strategies: Also, learn and practice coping strategies to manage anxiety symptoms, such as deep breathing exercises, mindfulness meditation, or progressive muscle relaxation.
Build a Support System: Under the circumstances, surround yourself with supportive and understanding people who can provide encouragement and empathy. This can include friends, family members, support groups, or online communities.
Set Realistic Goals: With this in mind, break tasks into smaller, manageable steps and set realistic goals for yourself. This can help reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed and provide a sense of accomplishment.
Challenge Negative Thoughts: Without a doubt, work on challenging and reframing negative thought patterns that contribute to anxiety. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can be particularly helpful in addressing these thought patterns.
Manage Triggers: All in all, identify and manage triggers that exacerbate your anxiety. This may involve avoiding certain situations, practicing relaxation techniques, or developing a plan for when you are faced with triggers.
Be Patient and Kind to Yourself: In conclusion, recovery from severe anxiety takes time, and it’s important to be patient and compassionate with yourself. Avoid self-criticism and acknowledge your efforts and progress.

Certainly, living with severe anxiety can be a long-term journey, and it’s important to remember that it’s okay to seek help and support. If you’re struggling to manage your anxiety, consider reaching out to a mental health professional for guidance and support.

Sum It All Up

Surviving the storm: coping with severe anxiety, my hats off to you. Subsequently, I will say, if I didn’t have the Klonopin, I’d still be hiding in a corner afraid of everything. That med was my turning point.

Also, like I mentioned earlier, some people have commented about microdosing. Maybe one of these days I’ll check into it and see what it’s all about.

I give my full solute to those living with severe anxiety. To tell you the truth, I don’t know how you do it.

Nothing is fullproof, so I still have bouts of anxiety here and there. The episodes of severe anxiety that I’ve had, I survived them, but I don’t care to experience it again. Until next time…