Does Anxiety make you feel irrational and not think straight?

[piippy]

Hi I'm a 26 yr old female from the UK who has been taking Cipralex 10mg for 2 weeks. Panic???!?! I can't breathe on occasions and I can't eat properly, my bowels are so loose, I feel sick and its a chore to eat as I'm so anxious. A lot of it is down to my Husband who fibbed to me about a female friend (and she is just a female friend - long story which i wont divulge) but its left me really untrusting of him and everyone else and left me piecing bits of things together coming up with a complete fantasy. If I werent so anxious and feeling sick all the time would I be able to see things clearer and stop thinking so irrationally? I'm really troubled and feel so desperate. I want my Husband to come to the Dr's with me but I think he's struggling himself with my deppression. I've been deppressed on and off for what seems like forever but its about 8-10 years now. I've had councilling in the past but I've never seen any results. I feel so needy and desperate but don't want to push my husband away who is already teetering on the edge of despair with me. I feel so alone and have this continuous pain in my chest. I wish I could think straight. I look around the office and people are laughing joking and getting on with their work. I'm sat here feeling so nervous and anxious and continually checking my mobile for messages from people. I hate being on my own at any time and constantly seek security and reassurance,

Can anyone help or anything? I'm going up to the Dr's tonight and lay it on the line with her as I can't go on like this, you end up feeling suicidal, daft aye?

Many thanks

Lou

[amariahmicheal]

Hi,
Much of what you said is familiar. I tried for a long time to deal with my anxiety without medication but it just didn't work. And even after taking several different meds, it is only recently that I found something that worked. BuSpar is a newer medication that is for anxiety, and it is working out really well for me. It takes several weeks to kick in, but it is the best that I've found. Also, the only side effect I have had is headache, and that is starting to taper off. I also take Effexor XR in conjunction with the BuSpar.
Taking medication, however, is not a cure-all. I have been putting a great deal of effort into changing the way that I think. For instance, I tend to feel enormous amounts of anxiety about events in the far future which will probably never happen and it is completely irrational to believe that they ever will happen. Instead of putting my energy into worrying about the future, I put my energy into reminding myself that RIGHT NOW, TODAY is all that I have. I focus on reality, and what is "true" right now. What are the facts? I try not to think about what the facts 'could' be, but what they are.
I am very aware that for a person who has GAD this is an extremely difficult task. But with the help of medication, it is working for me. It also helps to write out how I feel. Its one of the reasons why I wanted to join a forum.
GAD has been a contributing factor in the demise of more than one of my relationships. I have such a hard time trusting. But the man I that I am currently engaged to is wonderful. I have been able to explain to him the nature of my disorder, and he realizes that my 'distrust' and 'uneasiness' is not his fault. This is the first time that I have ever confided in a significant other about my disorder, and it has made all the difference. Therefore, I think that it is important for people who are in relationships to explain to their partner what and how they feel. You might be surprised at how understanding they can be. I hope this helps.
Amariah

[apple]

You are lucky, my boyfriend it so patent and understanding as well.  You said it right about talking to your spouse. I also talk to my children ( 5 and 10) this way they know mom is not upset or stressed with them, this helps so much. my family is learning and growing with me on my road to recovery...without this open communication in my house, everyone would blame themselves or just think I am irrational.

[piippy]

Well I'm on Cipralex and I've been given Diazepam for when I get a bad attack but I feel rather that they are treating the symptoms and not the cause? Although the cause is a chemical imbalance (I know all that milarky) - Most of my nervousness & Mistrust comes from my husband who lied to me about something it shook me up at how good he was at lying. I find it very difficult to trust and get this terrible knotting feeling when going to work, home from work and generally going out. Once I'm at home I then get terrible attacks wondering about the what ifs........... I would like to talk to my husband when I'm having them but I'm afraid its been like this most of our relationship, I'm a very mistrusting person with big insecurities and would love to know how to gain some bloody confidence and be happy with my lot. Sorry, feeling a bit angry now with myself as when you look at my life I have very very little to be insecure and deppressed about.......... Thanks everyone x

[apple]

Piippy, its apple...did you get my book I emailed you? There is a way to tell your husband that is in letter form, I think it may help?

[piippy]

Pants I havent received it yet :-( Hope it gets here soon! Many thanks Piippster xx

[apple]

I sent it to your 0274 address again...did it come through?

I hope I'll hear from you before I go to the post office this afternoon. if not I could mail it another time.  It's free for me to email but it costs to mail it.

I still don't mind mailing it I'd just like to avoid the cost if I can.

Thanx
Apple