Anxiety Question

So I have beat TMS issues successfully in the past. I have been having consistent underlying anxiety and some sleep issues. I believe this is TMS coming to surface. Do I take anti-anxiety medication to get over the hump? Also, I had been taking OTC medication to help sleep. Any help would be greatly appreciated. If not for this site, I would not have been previously successful. Thanks in advance!

 

Can anyone offer any advice?? I have been having a rough couple days and it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

 

Hello Joseph,
I have a lot of experience with anxiety. Like you, I was not sleeping. I decided I needed some help with it. I am not taking benzos because of their addictive qualities. I also started back on an antidepressant in mild dose. Once I started calming down my nervous system I started feeling much better all the way around. I'm still doing the TMS work every day. I can only say that for myself, medicine helped me focus more on changing the behaviors that contributed to the anxiety and pain. Best wishes, Stayfit

 

Joseph - my peer support buddy from 2014! How odd is it that we are both back here battling TMS at the same time after success. I am fighting anxiety and a bit of depression as my feet have been hurting since February. I am scared it wont go away which led me to fear and the anxiety. When it was at its worse I couldn't sleep. Anxiety just throws you off and then you worry about not sleeping and a circle starts.

Until you can get your anxiety under control...maybe see if your doctor will give you some Xanax for sleep. Its not a long term benzo and I used them just for sleep. Took about 5 days to get my sleep cycle back and I quit them. My TMS is here but having my sleep back helped with my anxiety and it is way lower now.

 

Pingman, so good to hear from you old friend. I did successfully beat all two years ago and fell victim to my old lifestyle and I think not looking after myself enough. Anyway, I got knee pain out of nowhere and quickly took off the brace and became active with bike etc. Pain went away and soon after I developed some uncomfortable anxiety. I did get some Xanax but was reluctant to take it, but it seems I agree with your advice. Sorry to hear about your feet, but I know you are fine and we again will get through this buddy. The opposite of fear is faith. Fear and attention create symptoms.

 

We are so much alike in our TMS in the way that it impacts our sleep and brings on the anxiety. I like you fell back into my same old lifestyle. I failed to take care of myself and allowed the stresses of the world and work build internally with no release. I wonder how many peoples TMS is flaring up with the current political scene we are facing.

My feet....why a mess. I actually got sick back in November last year with bronchitis that was actually pneumonia. My doctors didn't treat it aggressive enough and I ended up in the hospital with fluid in my lung. I had a chest tube for 3 days then lung surgery and was in another 5 days. I went home and had a 24 hour a day antibiotics drip for 21 more days.

Things healed swimmingly well and all was good for January. Suddenly in February my right ball of foot started to hurt and feel sensitive. Of course I googled and saw nerve damage and got anxious. Went to one Podiatrist who said nothing major, maybe some nerve compression. Saw a second who thought maybe nerve damage from the antibiotics. Ever since hearing that I haven't been able to stop checking and feeling anxious even though I have had periods where I have had little to no pain.

I still am 5% away from fully believing I am cause this from allowing my subconscious to think physical.

Hey, I am a anti-pill guy. I am afraid of the prozac and all of those type of drugs because my anxiety is rooted in my health. I have zero social or any other anxiety and I didn't want to feel zonked out and unable to smile. I finally gave in and tried the zanax for sleep and I can tell you that I in no way have any brain fog or any other feelings from the drug. It literally acts like a sleeping pill for me and calms my mind. Once my sleep was back on schedule that stress was removed I was able to fall asleep again normally.

If your on the fence about them, I had good luck with them but I knew I was only going for a short term. I was up for 30 days but was excited when it took 5.

I am here if you need to talk.

 

Personally, I think benzos are a slippery slope. I have too many friends who can't live without them now.

The U.S. takes 80% of the world's painkillers and benzos. Interesting. I've been having anxiety that is producing hives on my skin. Very tempted to take my friend's offer of some of her Xanex, but…not sure which fear is worse: drug dependency or plain out anxiety.

What I've been doing is working on taking in good breaths and then asking myself: "What does my "self" want me to hear? Why am I in fear?"

This is what Steve Ozanich posted to another TMS forum person. I think it's brilliant and read it daily, because he's been there, done that. Big time.


As long as the person fears, there will be odd disorders for the brain to torture you with. I would like to publish a paper on the wild things people have told me they've gotten. The brain has carte blanche to do what it wants if you allow it. You can't keep going back to the dark side, it feeds your fear.


A lady contacted me about a muscle "twitch" that was driving her crazy, and one about "itches" (no relation to me, but I did end up dating her).


Fear = anger = energy increase = imbalance = symptom = obsession = distraction = misery.


It all begins with fear. The people who are by far the most successful at healing are the ones who know how to address fear. They have less fear; you could say they are fear-less, but they aren't. They just learn what to worry about, and what not to.


Remember the bulk is unconscious, you don't have a clue what the culprit is, and you don't need to find out. The proof is in the healings that are occurring all the time.


Steve

 

A agree Steve about the fear. Fear and attention are what fuel TMS. I had a back problem for over 7 years and took medication for it on a regular schedule. Then after one bad flare up and finding the work of the Dr. Sarno, I stopped medication in one day and told myself I was fine. I went outside that day (snow storm) and ran up a hill ten times. I did this everyday for a week. Nothing was worse after and after time I gave it no attention. It has not bothered me for over two years. However, at the same time a massive surge of anxiety came and I was prescribed medication. I took this medication as needed for several months and gradually stopped taking them all together. I was healthy. Recently, I again have had some anxiety and will take for short period to "calm" things down.

 

Listen to Roy Masters go on nfu.com

 

Hi. I suffered from anxiety/panic attacks for over 20 years. I tried all kinds of things, spent a bunch of money on various kinds of therapy...Many docs told me I should take medication, but I have intense anxiety/fear about taking drugs! I did use Xanex occasionally when I was having full blown panic attacks(that took me days to recover from). I would always carry xanex in my purse just in case. When I first started working on TMS recovery, my anxiety went through the roof. I remember days I could not sleep and the only way I could describe it was that I did not feel comfortable in my skin. I was so amped that it felt like every cell in my body was anxious. Then someone on this Wiki board recommended these little videos on overcoming anxiety. There are several, but here is one:



It is so incredibly simple, but I swear, once I started practicing this technique on a regular basis, my anxiety went away. I have not carried Xanex in my purse for years. It is so easy, so simple and yet very effective. I hope it helps.

 

Anxiety and insomnia, two of TMS most frequent symptoms, can be reduced or eliminated by the techniques posted here.
I also like meditation.


Meditation is a time-honored way of relaxing the mind and relieving anxiety, mental stress, headaches, and even physical pain. There are many ways to practice meditation, but many consider the most successful to be a technique called the Relaxation Response (RR).


It is a wonderful way to practice TMS Mindbody Healing because it changes harmful thinking in the subconscious mind which Dr. John Sarno says causes pain in many people.


The RR, practiced daily for a few minutes has a profound positive effect on the subconscious mind, relieving or curing everything from inflammation and pain to headaches, stomach problems, insomnia, high blood pressure, to even aiding in recovery from cancer.


RR is like Transcendental Meditation which is taught by TM specialists who charge hundreds or thousands of dollars. But the RR is free and you can do it yourself.


It is done 20 minutes once or twice a day, before a mealand works best if not practiced within two hours after a meal. I do it in bed before arising in the morning and again in bed before falling sleep. Often, I only do it 5 or 10 minutes and it works to calm me and put me to sleep.


Just sit in a chair (or lie in bed in the morning or at bedtime), close your eyes, don’t listen to any music, and try to avoid outside noises. Let your mind think of a word such as "One " which has no real meaning or association. Or say a calming word such as “Peace,” or add the faith or spiritual element by saying a favorite religious word. Breathe in through the nose, hold the breath for a few seconds, then say the word when you exhale.

Say the word silently over and over. At the end of the 10 to 20 minutes, picture and feel yourself as you were when you felt your best, and in a place where you felt that way.

When distracting thoughts arise during the RR, as they will, just tell yourslf, “Oh, well,” and go back to repeating your chosen word. Transcendental Meditation teachers will charge hundreds of dollars to give practitioners a word, but the word you choose yourself in the RR works just as well.

There are several free videos on Youtube about the Relaxation Response. I especially recommend these two by Dr. Benson:

 

Very good video, Walt. Great to have this man talk you through the first time.

 

I watched this video, tried the technique this morning at 4am ( one of the usual times the anxiety strikes) and it really helped to repeat the words of acceptance "You are mine. I created you. We are in this together." These words of acceptance are really powerful! Thank you for pointing this out. I've had a feeling of generalized anxiety over the last 8 weeks for the first time in my life in my mid forties. Thanks again for sharing. I will also check out the Panic Away program. Did anyone buy it and have success with it? I'm not having panic attacks , just what I would classify as generalized anxiety.

 

I'm having this problem right now as well. I overcame TMS in the form of RSI years ago, but now for years have been having anxiety that has steadily increased. It's probably RSI, but my knowledge of TMS is not enough for the anxiety. I am taking medication because I was in quite a desperate state at the time, but it has not healed me completely though it takes the edge off. I still have anxiety, though I can function. I'm starting the structural education program, and I felt good the first few days but today I was anxious practically all day and I didn't know why.

 

I recently found I had been suffering from low grade Anxiety my whole life and didn't really know it. Always fidgeting with my fingers, had some social anxiety, introverted, constantly bit my lip and picked the skin on my fingers. Had some OCD tendencies, nothing too bad and did fine. But the past few years things have got worse due to massive stress at work/home etc. Things took a dive with my medical issues this year (Low back pain/Sciatica/Neuropathy) and my Anxiety is very ramped up now. Started getting insomnia and severe Anxiety attacks and depression with the worry. Had to go to the ER. I am now taking Ambien and it helps me sleep and also taking Cymbalta and Clonazepam as needed which helps a lot.

Thinking it's all due to stress/anxiety and TMS. I am having some tests done now and hoping they come back normal so I can concentrate on TMS healing...