woke up this morning feeling like crap...

[Sid]

hey guys. do you ever wake up in the morning feeling like when is all of your suffering is going to end?this morning i woke up feeling like my upper chest,shoulder and back is tight... ive been working so hard at work lately and i hardly get any sleep...i keep fearing that i have asthma and my mom just wants to kill me. she thinks that im just tense and that i need to just relax my musles...but thats the problem since i dont know how. i have an appointment with my gp within a month and a half...and im starting to think i wanna go on anti-depressants but im so scared to use them because of their horrible side effects.i also have a small cough and thats freaking me out even more. the weather in ny has been all over the place and my mom thinks i just caught a cold? do u think i shud take meds?
does it help you guys?

[harv]

Sid, for the muscle tension, try this article:

http://lessonsforliving.com/progressive_muscle_relaxation.htm

I do this and it works really well.  It also helps to listen to mellow music while doing it.   The challenge is finding the time because once you do this its really helpful if you can just lay there and relax for a while.


As far as waking up and feeling like crap, that is most likely depression, which is frequently associated with anxiety.  I would see what your gp says about meds, and consider therapy, which seem to be the routes to take for anxiety and depression.  I don't have any experience with meds besides xanax.  I'm doing therepy which is helping, but its gradual.  The good news is that it can get better.

[Xalatimo]

In your case Sid, I think medication would be a good option.  I would also pick up a couple books and maybe even try some therapy.  Hey, if you want to beat this thing it wouldn't hurt to go all out.

[AnxiouSteve]

Do you have an Rx for meds?  I wouldn't advise you to take anything without a Dr.'s supervision.

A month and a half is a long time to see a doctor...  Perhaps you could try Saint John's Wort in the mean time (assuming you haven't been prescribed antidepressants).

To answer you question:
The only med I know really helps is Xanax, but that is only for the short term. 

My doc gave me beta-blockers to control the physical symptoms last week, and they seem to do that.  The physical symptoms never bothered me directly, but indirectly I'm pretty sure that having them under control staves off the bad thoughts.

I'm taking all kinds of other stuff (herbals, supplements) so I can't be sure how well the Seroquel has worked (other than facilitating sleep when the time comes).

Kava Kava seems to help somewhat in the short term.

[Kayteecatt]

Sid, I refuse to tell anyone that they should go on meds.  It's not my call to make ya know....anyway, all I can tell you is how the effects have been in my situation.

Now you know I'm a heart worrier, and I think I've told you before that I checked my blood pressure 10 or more times a day.  I was afraid to get out of bed because I thought that any activity would make me have a heart attack and die right there on the spot.

Since I started taking the Lexapro I've only taken my blood pressure twice and I don't lay around in bed and cry anymore.  I got my life back.  I also haven't had any real side effects from the meds.  My only complaint about the Lex is occasional night sweats but they're really not that bad.

[wowthisismetoaT]

Another Lexapro lover here!  I have been fighting OCD/GAD/HA for over 20 years and nothing brings me peace more than the drugs.  I have tried literally EVERYTHING and really, taking Lexapro is what always helps me.  I hate it - I hate having to take it and knowing I HAVE to take it, but I like living my life and enjoying being alive (because I can finally tell myself I am NOT dying any faster than anyone esle!!)!

[Sid]

thank you for all of your responses..but the thing is that im scared of taking meds because of their horrible side effects. ive seen on the news how many celebrities die from overdoes on !anti-depressents! and thats why im so scared about taking them.