Hello, my name is Daniel and I suffer from anxiety. I have realized that from a young age I have been prone to worry excessively, often expecting the worst to happen. Here is my experience…

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

I have probably been struggling with generalized anxiety disorder for much of my teenage years and young adult life. I have recognized that I regularly experience the following anxiety symptoms:

* Feelings of sadness, worthlessness and guilt
* Depression
* Recurring thoughts of death and suicide
* Poor concentration
* Chronic fatigue
* Getting easily exhausted
* Restlessness and irritability
* Insomnia or excessive sleeping
* Gastrointestinal discomfort
* Substance abuse (nicotine and caffeine)
* Losing motivation and interest in life
* Persistent worrying

General anxiety disorder may be described as excessive, unrealistic and continuous worrying about everyday things persisting for at least 6 months. In my experience I am mostly anxious about money, job security, past failures and future concerns, my character flaws, how much I smoke, how I will die, if I am good enough, the end of the world, loneliness and disease.

Anxiety Attacks

I recently realized that I experienced a few anxiety attacks when I was still a young boy. I was probably 6 or 7 years old at the time. I experienced these terrible attacks quite a few times in the dead of night. I would wake up with my heart racing, in the grip of an overwhelming fear. I would call out to my mother and she would come and light a candle for me. I eventually went back to sleep.

Why was this an anxiety attack? Well, because there was no imminent danger. I did not wake up with a racing heartbeat and a feeling of overwhelming fear because a burglar was standing next to my bed with a raised knife. Neither was the house on fire or the roof caving in. I cannot remember waking up because of a bad dream either. Fact is, these were most probably anxiety attacks. Eventually it stopped and I forgot about them.

Years later, when I was in my early twenties and working, I started to experience anxiety attacks again. I would experience a racing heartbeat, sweating palms, dizziness and tingling sensations in my neck and arms. I was afraid that I was having a minor heart attack or something. I made an appointment with a doctor who examined me, drew some blood for tests and asked me a few questions. The blood tests did not show anything out of the ordinary. I did not have heart problems or some terrible disease. These attacks eventually stopped and I forgot about them for the most part.

A few years later I had a few more anxiety attacks. I eventually stopped fearing them when I started accepting the fact that panic attacks do not harm you.

Well, not physically anyway. It does however have a serious impact upon your emotional, business and social life. I may experience more anxiety attacks in the future, but at least I now know that I will not die from it.

Anxiety Treatment

I am currently using the anxiety medication Venlafaxine as prescribed by my doctor for my generalized anxiety disorder and depression. It has helped me in some ways, although I am now realizing that just taking anxiety medication is not going to cure me. I have to look into other forms of supplemental treatment such as:

* Learn and practice balanced thinking and unlearn negative thought patterns.
* Do physical exercises at least 3 times per week.
* Maintain a healthy diet with sufficient vitamin B6, B12, C, zinc, selenium and magnesium.
* Do deep breathing exercises on a daily basis.
* Listen to hypnosis recordings for overcoming anxiety attacks, relaxation and better breathing.
* Limit or stop my use of caffeine and nicotine.

I may also consider exploring herbal anxiety treatments, although I should probably not start using any herbal products while I am still on anxiety medication.

Chamomile tea: has a mild calming effect, helps with sleep and minimizes inflammation in the skin and mucous membranes.

St. John’s Wort: useful for depression and anxiety disorders, helps with insomnia and restless sleep. Do not use while on anti-depressants.

Ginko Biloba: increases cerebral blood flow and oxygenation, helps with depression and anxiety.

Ginseng: boosts the immune system, helps with fatigue and increases stamina.

I do experience withdrawal symptoms such as nausea and headaches when I forget to take my anxiety medication.

Will To Live

The will to live is the most basic instinct that keeps us going in the face of real or perceived danger. The intensity of this instinct varies from person to person. My will and ability to live is weakened by the constant fear and anxiety that I experience. In order to survive, I must practice and increase my desire to never give up, regardless of the situations I anticipate or face.

I thank you for taking the time to read my story.

Towards more calmness,

Daniel
Anxiety Sufferer