SEVERE Anxiety/depression?!?! PLEASE HELP!?

Question by .: SEVERE anxiety/depression?!?! PLEASE HELP!?
Hello, and thanks for reading this.

I suffer from:
-Semi often panic attacks
– Slight depersonalization and mostly derealization
– Anxiety
– Depression

I have been getting this on and off since I was very young, but recently it has flared up again. Nowadays, I’m suffering from constant derealization and a touch of depersonalization, occasional panic attacks, and recurring depression. Nothing I’m doing seems to be helping. I’ve tried a healthy diet, started exercise, and whatnot… it’s not working! These attacks, as any other people who’ve had severe attacks, are terrifying and I obviously want to do something about it right away. I’m going to see a doctor in a couple of weeks, but I’m going to be suffering since then and I want to put an abrupt halt to it. Also, I’m suffering from religious anxiety. I’m a Christian, and we believe that the only true way to get to Heaven is to trust on the Lord Jesus Christ, who died on the cross to save us from our sins thousands of years ago. Please people, don’t complain about this. Either way, because me/my surroundings don’t feel existent, I don’t feel like I believe anything or that there was a past (it doesn’t feel like there was/is anything). So, along with the above four or so symptoms in that list, I’m terrified sick I’m going to not go to Heaven when I die. Please understand this, people – my religion is NOT CAUSING THIS- it’s just that I’m now doubting salvation, which seriously adds to the depression/depersonalization/derealization/depression/anxiety thing. At points I feel suicidal, but I won’t be able to bring myself to that – it just feels that way sometimes. I’m not ACTUALLY suicidal. Please, people, if you’ve read this far and are ready to answer a poor nearly-crazy person, please answer SERIOUSLY. Also, PLEASE don’t mention the religion in any negative way. Getting rid of my Christianity WON’T HELP AT ALL. Sorry if I sound mean or something – I’m being driven into a frenzy. I want peace. I don’t want jokes or anything, just good solid advice. What should I do that would help? I’d especially appreciate it if it’s from fellow panickers who have found solutions. I’ve found online things, but I want home remedies until I go to the doctor.

Thank you SO much!
Oh, and I haven’t been doing anything that has been traumitizing. I’m trying to get back on a good sleep schedule and all that, but before I’d have semi-bad habits and nothing would happen.

Best answer:

Answer by gardensallday
anxiety responds to therapy better than it does to medication. the effective medications for anxiety don’t work for very long and are very addictive, and withdrawal is hell. antidepressants do not work very well, recent research shows – no better than placebo for most patients. there are many christian oriented therapists, so consider one of those.

Generic anxiety tips (print them out):

Try turning the heat up in the house or dressing more warmly. It is hard to feel anxiety when you are too warm Hot baths work, and at work/school, you can try running hot water over your hands.

Avoid caffeine; it increases anxiety. Also, some cold remedies & other drugs can cause anxiety. Look for the “agitation in children” warning on the box. Adults can get problems too. For me, antidepressants caused agitation and panic attacks, and that is listed as a common side effect. Birth control & blood pressure pills & others often cause depression.

Try meditation tapes like progressive muscle relaxation or guided imagery. Try The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook; check the library. There are guided imageries in there, you could make a recording or get a friend to do it. I read mine into the computer using a program called Audacity (free) and digitally altered my voice so it doesn’t bug me. Free 15 minute guided imagery download at healthjourneys.com.

Go out with friends, and if you don’t have any, find a club to join and MAKE yourself go until you actually look forward to it. A little laughing helps reduce anxiety.

Exercise at least 1/2 hour a day, and anytime you feel really hyper or depressed. Exercise is a great mood stabilizer and cuts down on anxiety, research shows. Don’t do it a couple hours before bed, though, or you will be too hyped up.

Here are “sleep hygiene” tips. Go to bed and get up about the same time each day, even weekends. Don’t use your bedroom to watch TV and read and use the computer -just use the room as a bedroom Don’t do stuff that pumps you up right before bed, like exercising and using the computer. Wind down, instead – take a bath ? The light from the computer screen or TV wakes you up if you use them right before bed. Make the bedroom really dark, cover up the clock, even. Use a noise generator (makes wave sounds etc.) to cover up disturbing sounds. Try soundsleeping.com for free relaxing sounds downloads. Avoid caffeine in the afternoon and evening.

Put colorful happy things around the house, and let the sun in. Make a list of things that make you happy. Part of my list: A basket full of fluffy kittens, bread fresh from the oven, Fireworks popping on a warm summer evening, The first fireflies of the season, the scent of Jergen’s cherry almond lotion, The crisp sound of a saltine cracker breaking, fresh sheets on the bed, flicking a topwater plug out onto the still surface of a summer lake, etc. Use all your senses and read that list when you are breaking down. I also use familiar scents, like Jergens lotion, or vanilla or cloves. Scent can be comforting.

Work on time management if overwhelmed. Cut back on other responsibilities temporarily so you can spend more restorative time with friends and family. Ask for help. If there are people or situations that stress you , identify them and reduce them as much as possible.

Learn to breathe. Put your hand on your belly. Now breathe deep, and feel your belly move up in down. That is the right way to breathe. You are probably breathing up in your chest area, and that makes you more anxious. Now breathe slowly. Do a mantra in your head innnnnnnnnnn ouuuuuuuuuuut innnnnnnnnnnn ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut slowly breathing. Focus on whatever 2 words you want as you breathe slowly.

Look at an object, and observe everything about it for 5 minutes, then stretch that to 10, then 15 min as your gain experience. That’s a form of meditation.

Finally, are you catastrophising, always thinking of the WORST thing that could happen? Try to catch yourself doing this, then change your thinking to, what is the MOST LIKELY thing to happen – hardly ever is the worst going to happen. You can’t die of a panic attack, either.

Cognitive Behavioral therapy is the most effective kind of counseling. Try free computerized CBT at moodgym.anu.edu.au. Computerized therapy appears to be almost as effective as counseling, research shows.

All the best!!

Answer by Rob Z
Talk to your Pastor, Preacher or Church leader first. If that does’nt work you need professional help from a therapist.

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