A legitimate question

[michellep426]

First off.... I love this site.  I have found it wonderful to connect, share, help, and recieve help from others!  That being said... one thing concerns me.  I was so excited when I seen a success story category... I wanted to see how others had done it!  But to my dismay, there aren't many success stories !  Most are about how they are still working on becoming anxiety free or how they have just accepted their anxiety.  I feel like my light at the end of the tunnel has been taken away.  I was hoping to see something like, oh I finally stuck through the side effects of (insert med name here) and I haven't had an attack since!  I want so desperately to live a normal life again.  If I had one wish, that would be it!  Does anyone else feel this way?  Are there no real cures out there? I've been dealing with this for over 10 years, and its getting to be too big a burden to bear mentally anymore.

[evagisele]

I love this site, too! I had a bad relapse of anxiety over my recent vacation (too much time off). I hadn't really had a bad flare-up since 2005. I think it's important to realize that there will ALWAYS be uncertainty in life and that everyone experiences some form of anxiety and worry throughout their lives. My problem lately was that I was burning the candle at both ends for months and not taking time for myself, which led to an anxiety flare-up (I've since calmed down a bit). Everyone in life has some cross to bear; for us, anxiety is one of them and it's something that we have to work on to keep in check. On the flip side, I've had many moments where I've realized that my anxiety has been a blessing, too. It has made me much less judgmental and patient with others.

You mentioned meds and side effects. My Dad had panic attacks and actually participated in a study about them. He was given pills and cognitive therapy. At the end of the study, his anxiety was very much in check. Turned out that he was getting the placebo for a "med." It was the cognitive therapy and better diet and exercise that really helped him turn around. He had taken some anti-anxiety meds years before and the side effects actually made his anxiety worse. I'm a big believer in using natural methods to alleviate anxiety whenever possible. Take care!

[kcg13]

We all want to hear the "i'm cured" stories, but I am not sure they totally exist (and I am not trying to be negative).  I think a lot of people on here who have lower levels of anxiety disappear for a while, without sharing there story.  There are some hero members who do stick around who share their knowledge.  So don't be discouraged.  I know we all want a pill that, once we push through the side effects, will take this all away, but that doesn't do it in the long run.  I've found that anxiety needs to be combated with different tactics on a daily basis.  Maybe meds is a part of it but that alone is not the answer.  Our thoughts dicate our emotions and must be dealt - if we don't change the way we think, we won't change the way we feel.  I know my anxiety has been improving and I have not posted any success stories.  But to help me, i have to consiously change negative thinking.  I intensely exercise as many days a week as possible.  I.try to sleep well.  I see a medical massotherapist for neck/shoulder tension and this has helped a lot. I don't Google. I don't read every post on AZ. I try to lose my mind in books & writing when I can.  And most importantly, I nurture my faith.  As you can see, I have no 'one thing'. And I still think anxious thoughts at times.  But I try not to let it rule my life.  It really is a thinking disorder.  Please please don't be discouraged.  I know it may seem hopeless but it is not.  I know I found a lot of positive, helpful, healing advice on this site that was posted to others even. 

What are you doing for your anxiety?

[floridaguy65]

kcg13 - that was a wonderful reply:)

To Michelle - I wish you well in your journey towards lasting peace. Anxiety Disorder(s) tend to wax and wane throughout our lives. To me, looking for a 'cure', so to speak, isn't that productive in our trials. Maybe it's just semantics, anyway, but 'cure', to me, implies never again distressed or interacting with anxiety issues. IMHO, it is best to embrace acceptance and learn how to best live alongside, in better accord with, our anxiety challenges. Acceptance is NEVER resignation - I assure you. At its core, acceptance is a tenet that we need to hold onto as it moves us into understanding that there will, likely, be actions and habits and mindsets that we must embrace in order for us to live well despite having ADs. If we live in denial that our anxiety issues can create definite and serious lifeflow interruptions and we ask "why me?' too often and we fight tooth and nail against our makeup, then we are typically left battered and drained and, even, more anxious. Meds, alone, rarely get an anxiety peeps where they want to be in their longterm interactions with anxiety. There should be a comprehensive plan that involves many avenues. But, that said, it doesn't have to be the HUGE, GINORMOUS, 'I have to change EVERYTHING in my life, kinda deal:) Through our self-help and, perhaps, with the help of others, we can get to where our actions and habits (and inturn mindests) become much more natural and they can begin to flow with not a tremendous amount of cognizance...it just happens, in a sense:) Anxiety doesn't have to define us....it can, though. Anxiety does not have to be dominate in our lives....but it can be. We can be the overall major definer of our own well-being...but anxiety can take that role, too.

Acceptance is NEVER resignation....this can't be said enough:)

As asked, what's going on in your own anxiety help...previously and currently?

Peace and Feel Well:)

[Mythreegirls]

Michelle,

I like to think of Anxiety/Panic like alcoholism or maybe even cancer. Lots of alcoholics quit drinking and are sober the rest of their lives, but they are still alcoholics. Lots of people survive cancer and are in remission the rest of their lives even though they are aware of their disease.

I can honestly say I have beaten SEVERE panic twice. The first time I beat it I thought it was a condition I just matured and medicated out of because my wild ways in college were a major contributor. When it happened a second time it was so much worse because I had the realization that this would be with me forever. BUT. The big BUT...I am so thankful that I went through it again (now in my mid 30's.) I decided to adopt a healthy lifestyle. I went from drinking 30 beers a week to a 6 pack a week. I went from couch potato to running 20 miles a week, playing basketball, tennis, etc...

Am I scared that I will go through it again? Maybe a little, somewhere in the deep recesses of my brain. But whereas every second of my life was consumed with the dread of when my next panic attack would be, now panic is just another word in the dictionary to me. I would say that a full recovery is possible. In my opinion managing / living with anxiety is another way of saying - figure out how to change your life. My best advice...exercise, exercise, exercise. It's the best place to start.

-MTG

[kcg13]

Thanks floridaguy  - I am workin' on it!   

MTG - you have an inspiring story (i read your other post too about hope).  I wish you well.  And I will agree about exercise as with you too - regular, intense exercise does wonders for anxiety.  I can totally tell if I go too long between days.  It really does help rewire the brain.

[michellep426]

So... I found something... and all my hope is back... TENFOLD :))))  There is a book called the anxiety & phobia workbook.... just started... and AMAZING.  Check it out!  I will update how it helps for me

[LivingLife]

Personally I'm not a success story...yet, but I have improved. Buy my mom's boss spoke to me after my mom told her I had my first panic attack 4 months ago. She's in her 50's and said she hasn't had a panic attack in over 10 years but knows what I'm going through, she lost her job and her husband because of her anxiety and would constantly go to the ER. She said the way she did it is through her faith in Christianity, a bunch of self help books mostly by Echkart Tolle, and meditating every morning for at least half an hr before she starts her day, and learning to live in the moment. Now she's a department manager and says her life has made a complete 180