This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

I am curious: How do you deal with bouts of anxiety? I do not mean petty anxiety but real anxiety where you feel overwhelmed? I know there are professionals but isn't it normal to feel like this when you're going through a hard time?

beyondms

I try to control it before it gets out of control. I mean, if I feel some stress coming on and it is becoming annoying, I try to decrease it right away by finding either a solution to the problem, talking it over with people I trust, doing things to relax me (reading or watching a good movie) and sleeping over it. I try not to let fatigue paint a darker picture of the situation for me.
Just my thoughts on it... Carole

Thanks Carolew,

I have gone through my share of difficulties over the last few months. I am searching for employment, my marriage is crumbling (wife is finding it difficult to deal wit my MS), and my health seems to be deteriorating (not sure depending on the day).

So much pressure and I am praying for the day where a new chapter begins and this can be a distant memory. Family and friends told me to go speak to someone neutral - ie., a psychotherapist. I have hesitated to do this. I am not sure how it will help to vent my frustrations to a total stranger. It's almost easier to do it here where I know people have gone through their own struggles with this disease.

I have been reading on breathing techniques and meditation to deal with anxiety. Everyone here has dealt with anxiety one way or another. I hope this thread can be positive for so many who are struggling with the psychological aspects of MS.

Sincerely,

beyondms

Wow, beyondms, I now see how much stress you have to handle....Your health, I'm sure, is responding to your stressors.
I don't know if you two have been to the marriage counselor. They could help your wife and you focus on the important things and on both of your expectations.
As for employment, this is a big one too, financial security is tough to achieve. You certainly need to handle all these at once and that is not easy at all. Time to call up your friends who can help you find a job. Time to put down your ego and ask anyone and everyone for help. It is so hard.
Don't give up, we are all rooting for you.
Good luck, Carole

Beyond,

One thing that I absolutely need to do to deal with my anxiety is to get back in the mix. I don't mean anything unusual, but when I start to get overwhelmed, a social situation is usually what I need. I don't know your particulars, but when I'm feeling that way it is almost always out of fear; usually of the unknown (and unknowable). It helps me to get together with friends and just not stay focused on my disease. Beer usually helps this , but just being with my buddies and playing cards or any social setting helps me out immensely. I imagine it's because it gets me out of my little world and reminds me that there is more to life than just MS.

My $0.02, but that's what usually works for me. Yesterday was a perfect example. I haven't been feeling good and my self confidence has been low. I had paid to play in a golf scramble months ago and was absolutely dreading it since my physical self has not been able to get it going. It was hot and I was scared I would just crumble and get further down in the dumps. I did all I could to stay cool and lo and behold by the end of the day, I was out of my funk. It was a huge self esteem booster since I just forgot about my troubles for a while, had fun with my freinds and I actully played well! It has been a long time since I've hit the ball well at all and I left the course feeling like I was on cloud 9. If you would have asked me what I was getting into an hour before we teed off, I probably would have tried to get out of it I was so down and so sure I was just going to be awful and feel horrible.

We didn't talk about my condition, we just hung out. For me anyway, that is what I need to do. It gets me out of the dumps better than anything. I am not dealing with the major life issues like you are right now; I was just depressed. I hope you don't think I'm comparing the magnitude of my pity party to your employment woes and marriage issues. I'm not, but it all leads back to being blue and depressed and that's how I can get out of it better than anything. I hope this helps.

Lew

beyond ms,
You sound like you have plenty of reasons for anxiety but I've always found it curious that before my wife was diagnosed....before we had any reason to suspect that she has MS, she was having panic attacks and went to doctors and the emergency room several times because of it.

She was eventually diagnosed with (sp?) supraventriculartackycardia. I was never sure if they gave her that diagnosis to ease her mind or if there was real evidence, but there is medicine for it and it might be an MS factor.

Bob

beyondms;

I think I know where you are coming from. Anxiety can really throw a monkey wrench into daily living and it usually strikes at the most inoportune moment of the day.

After going through this for several weeks I spoke to my GP. He put me on Effexor. I spent a little over a year and a half on the stuff before I was able to drop it (one year is the suggested minimum). It did the trick.

I still suffer from bad moments but only when the external stress levels are very high but I no longer need that chemical help to get through each day. Glad to have ahd it to get over the hump though.

The one thing you must not do is ignore the anxiety - it will not just go away - and it does tend to feed on itself making bad situations seem worse, leading to more stress which leads to more anxiety - and the circle goes round nad round.

Good luck

_________________
Carpe Diem

Hi BeyondMS
I don't know if this will help but last year when I went through 3 surgeries, one with a complication and then my first major MS relapse, my GP had me take clonazepam on a regular basis, rather than on the as needed basis that I had been taking it for muscle twitching. He felt that as long as I took it for a short term it would help and I found that it did. It just helped by taking the edge off and giving me some relief. I never felt like a zombie, which I was afraid would happen if I took something. It just helped me by allowing me to 1) get some sleep and 2)think more clearly. I will say, though, that you should make sure you are clear to your doc about what you are experiencing. If you feel this is anxiety you need to make it that clear it is that. It has been my experience (and only mine) that docs are quick to give a depression diagnosis. And that would be treated with different drugs. So just make sure you are being treated for what you think you should be.

I wish you the best of luck and things will get better!

Lori

It's a bit of an emotional roller coaster isn't it. You will find a way, it's either that or die so. Everybody finds their own way no matter how bad it is or what the circumstances.
I know it feels like it's just you but we will all feel the same feelings as you. They may not be exactly the same but in one way or another they are. MS will takes it's toll. Well i'm on the clock according to the king so... You will find something to feel better.

_________________
Had ms for over 19 years now.

I highly suggest therapy. It has helped me so much. You may want to check with your local MS Society for a good therapist.

Also, check with your GP about possible anti-anxiety meds. Your MS is worse when you have too much stress!

Take care, missvicki

Hiii everyone...I would say that there the best way to feel less stress would be to do SPORTS....to go out with friends...to do things that will make you feel good like YOGA...

I thank all of you for your encouraging advice. I keep telling myself, one day at a time. Things will get better. I also pray a lot more these days. I am not religious but it calms me and God always listens to my troubles.

Sincerely,

beyondms

Oh, that was so us in the Autumn/Winter of 2005. The worst time of our lives (so far). My husband has the MS and had the anxiety and depression and it definitely gets worse if you leave it...one does consider splitting up, because the pressure is full on and you just can't take any more at some point. Fortunately by the Spring things were getting better. A mixture of CBT(cognitive behavioural therapy), fluoxetine (prozac), Paul McKenna's Self-Confidence book/CD, and getting into a routine, all helped start him on the road to recovery. (By the way, he had a very bad experience with taking effexor and I wouldn't recommend that drug).
He was also out of work...try not to dwell on this, but think of it as a challenge. He did lots of different things for a while, which wasn't very focused, but did get him thinking about other stuff rather than his problems.
All I can say is, you try your best (attempt to get better) and ask her to wait a bit...even people without MS have gone through times like these and it can get better even though that seems unlikely. And remember that you do not know better than her, and that she does understand....