Last time it happened it went on for 3 days. I’m not sure if nervous breakdown is the right word, but I feel a tightness around my chest, inability to focus, inability to sleep, unable to find entertainment in anything and just frustrated and tired.
I’m taking whatever I am supposed to be taking. I can feel it coming though. The shortness of breath, the inability to concentrate on any task or games or book for more than 10 minutes, a racing pulse.
I guess the one week of OT is taking its toil. I have major dateline every week. I don’t seem to have friends to approach. I’m afraid if they see me in this state they would not want to have anything to do with me anymore.
Does this post sounds familiar? All right, no matter, what can I do to prevent the onslaught again? My appointment with the doc is next month, I don’t want to be warded (as good as getting myself fired) - I need to find a way to relax. I don’t want what’s the cause. I hope it’s not workload. There’s no social welfare from where I am from.
When I get severe aniety, I turn off the phone, lock the door, put on some candles, some soft music and have a single glass of wine with a nice bubble bath. I make myself wind down.
Too much is expected of me too quickly at work, I have a basket full of serious problems not of my own making that I must deal with. It’s too much for one person to bear. If I don’t completely unwind for an hour or two, I will eventually snap. Better to bend than break.
Sounds like you are getting close to having a panic attack. They are torture, but your mind and body can handle them. But you can stop them before they start by noticing that you are hyperventilating and slow down your breathing.
When you go to your doc, please ask NOT to be put on a benzo(diazepine). Those things can seriously mess you up. I’m still working off some that I got prescribed because of a panic attack.
What can you do? Learn relaxation techniques. LurkerInNJ mentioned some good ones. For when time is shorter, try 7-11 breathing (in 7 seconds, out 11). Or progressive muscle relaxation (look it up). Heck, there are plenty of them on Google.
Also, work on telling yourself good things. You’re probably telling yourself negative things, like “I can’t handle this.” Argue with that. You can handle it! Oh, and “Nobody wants to be my friend”? Sure they do. Your friends care about you and will want to help. Or else, why call them friends?
Is Xanxa benzo? I am on it regularly, and I forgot how many pills I pop yesterday whe the situation was bad. I think I didn’t exceed the 2mg per day limit though.
I can’t seem to relax; My brain is always thinking, plotting, ruminating, judging, anxious. I try one of those new fangled ‘body relaxation salon’ later, but i think it goes deeper than that.
Or I really just need a good rest w/o clients calling me to fix bugs at the 23:59 hour.
Here are some things to try
Meditation, either with a meditation CD (Jeffrey Thompson is good) or just mindfulness meditation.
Get a biofeedback device. Wild Divine and Heartmath both make good ones.
Get better nutrition. Start taking omega 3s, a B-50 vitamin, magnesium citrate, zinc and a variety of others.
Avoid all stimulants
Do full body relaxation (progressive relaxation, massage, yoga, tai chi, etc)
I’m sure there are dozens of other things you can try, but that is something to try.
You’d be surprised how your friends might really react. I’ve been going through some tough shit lately, and part of it was feeling like I didn’t really have friends, or that no one really wanted to hear my crap. I finally sort of “snapped” and started forcing myself to hang out with people more, drinking a tad (as in one or two, not getting drunk), and letting it all out to whoever was around. Not like, the guy at the grocery store, but people I am friends with but don’t generally open up to.
Everyone has been nice and surprisingly helpful. A lot of people like to talk about themselves but I actually found their stories helpful. In turn, people started to worry about me a bit and keep in touch better.
I still have my demons but it’s been really great to have that little bit of life to cling to. If you reach out to enough people, you’ll be surprised to find out that there are people you know who really do give a damn.
These are excellent suggestions, especially the nutrition aspect. Getting excercise and plenty of rest helps. Perhaps it was the overtime which triggered your spell.
I’ve also heard that CBT is very effective for anxiety. There are some self-help products here.