Source
r/Anxietyhelp•
Emack76

I have anxiety, where to start?

Hey there,

A recent event in my life has, as far as I can tell, given me a lingering anxiety issue. It went down about 6 weeks ago and the event itself caused me to have a 3 day anxiety inducing adrenaline rush. I was extremely angry. The source of the issue (people) was never resolved, but has been removed mostly from my life for the last 4 weeks.

After an intense weekend of physical and mental exertion this thing rared it's head in an ugly way yesterday. Trembling, rapid heart beat, dry mouth, feeling out of control, tight chest, short of breath, etc... Many of the signs. I even had a few of those laugh/cry/shout in anger moments where multiple emotions pour out at once. I cried for the first hour at work this morning.

Give that I'm an extremely calm and stoic character, this is very much not me. Family and friends noticed immediately last night.

Anyway, I'm pretty sure I know the why of it, and I think I can guess what triggered me yesterday...but I'd like a place to start looking at ways I can keep this thing managed so it doesn't blossom into something worse.

EDIT: I've only ever had a few episodes of anxiety when deployed in the military over 20 years ago. I take a prescription for my cholesterol and very mild hypertension. Most people know me as "the chillinest dude they ever met."

Posted Apr 4, 2018, 8:24 PM UTC · edited

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going_postal87•

i had a big thing typed out but since i dont know you i wasnt sure if my personal view of the military(as seeing it change many friends over the years) would be accepted as not an attack on you or the institution. if you were a friend i would tell you to go to a doctor, since the medication for hypertension can lower anxiety issues, and may just need a change/slight up dose of it. you may also need other medications and/or therapy. I will say i had a friend loose it a few years after his 3rd deployment and finally got help, found out it was mild PTSD he had been drinking to deal with and guilt from other aspects of his service, hes now doing much better and only seeing a therapist once a month and goes to a group therapy of other ex-military people once a month(its every other week between the two) and my buddy is back. he also welcomes troops home, shows them around, and gives them information about support groups in the area to help with the transition to civilian life/signs of mental health problems.

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Emack76OP•

I have a few military friends in a similar predicament. Fortunately my service was 18 years ago and I never saw combat( though I was infantry). I’ve not had an issue with anxiety in all that time but will consider it. I’m pretty sure I know the cause and it is recent. Quite a stressful deal. Thanks for your note, I’ll be speaking to my doc next week.

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going_postal87•

be sure to be prepared to explain both mental and physical symptoms you experience. a lot of physical can be fixed with beta blockers, and the mental probably with a low dose of an antidepressant and maybe a low dose benzo to match it. and give any antidepressant time to work, up to 6 months unless after a month youre crying all the time when you werent before or suicidal, or insanely anxious all the time, they take a while to work best of luck man

chin up kid

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jocksjocks•

Hey mate don't feel like you need to love up to being the chillest dude as you don't want to put too much pressure on yourself. Maybe look at mindfulness or acceptance and commitment therapy. It works on the idea that we don't try to get rid of the anxiety but rather stop struggling and reacting to it and carry on with your life. It doesn't necessarily work instantly but for me was the beginning of the end for my crippling anxiety. By all means see a doc but I found medication was a band aid and doesn't cure anxiety. Good luck dude.

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Emack76OP•

Thanks for sharing your experiences. Ruminating is a problem for me right now. I’m familiar with mindfulness and will look into your other recommendations. I think I really need to be concentrating on ‘being here now.’ Thanks again.

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