I’m having bouts of Anxiety – Need advice .

[Captain Disorderly]

 

Over the past few months Ive started to have bouts of ongoing anxiety , where my mind is constantly racing non stop and thinking about many things in my life. I seem to be fixated and continually worrying about things like money / health / martial situation / Visa / daughter / rising cost of living / growing old at 74 / putting on weight / not sleeping well / Etc Etc .

 

It feels like my brain is a glass of water that is full and constantly overflowing over the side of the glass .

 

Ive talked to my Thai wife about my concerns and her answer was to go and see a ‘’ Head Doctor ‘’ 

 

At this stage I’m not really interested in going to see a psychiatrist , who would no doubt prescribe some Antidepressant drugs .

 

I was wondering if any one here has had any anxiety issues and if so what did you take to help the situation .  I was wondering about natural supplements as a possibility .

 

 

Thanks . 

 

.

[radiochaser]

I have PTSD due to service in Vietnam.   I was diagnosed as having PTSD with anxiety reaction.   The Veterans Administration doctors tried to get me on anti-depressants and some other strange drugs.  The only thing that I eventually found that helped me most when I had anxiety attacks was Lorazepam.  Sometimes it helped me get better sleep.   

I don't take it as prescribed.  I take .25 mg to .5 mg which breaks the anxiety cycle and I feel better until a stressful situation causes the anxiety reaction again.   I do not take Lorazepam twice a day as prescribed!  Only as needed.  This medication was prescribed by a doctor at the Veterans Administration hospital.

I did go to a head doctor to talk about issues but he was a psychologist who did not prescribe any medication.   I found this helpful for me, it may or may not be helpful for you.   

I also drink ginseng tea made from ginseng imported from Korea.   I think this helps me too.   It is the only herbal or natural supplement that I use.   
 

[fredwiggy]

My girlfriend sometimes says she is like a glass of water, always full. Over thinking and worrying all the time. This is why.................https://www.osmosis.org/answers/anhedonia

[Ohyesuare]

Try L-theanine, GABA, Ashwaganda as natural supplements. Chamomile tea. You're correct that a doctor would either put you on an anti-depressant or benzodiazepine.

[Chetzee]

catastrophic thinking as you describe , is associated with depression and trauma ....  I have been there myself .....        Talking to a psychologist  ( therapist) was for me the most extraordinary experience , and I can genuinely say , that in the course of 18th months he turned my life around and set it on a much clearer path .....    personally I could not recommend Talking therapy  (CBT )more highly .      

As you say ..... chances are a dr . may want to prescribe an anti depressant for a short period to break the cycle that you sound locked in ......    they take about 6 weeks to work ...... and they do  work !     but they are not the answer to your troubles .... but can help bring to you to a place where you are strong enough and UP enough to talk through your issues .......           hope that helps ..... just a bit  ...... 

[impulse]

30 minutes ago, Ohyesuare said:

You're correct that a doctor would either put you on an anti-depressant or benzodiazepine.

Maybe, but you can always decide not to take them after getting a complete workup.

 

I'd go for the professional help.

 

[Andre0720]

Well, something that you could do, at least during the day.

I attended a full week-end lecture done by Anthony Robbins. One heck of a motivator.

 

And I took notes of what I liked during this lecture.

One goes like this: "Emotion is motion".

 

So when I go for walks, or to shopping malls, I think about raising my shoulders, and throwing my head back a bit, and 'smile'.

Nothing short of amazing of how many people will smile back, just looking at my 'motions', and the resulting good vibration 'emotions' that I display.

And it is not fake. When I smile, it does make me feel good. And people conversely smiling back at me, makes me feel even better. And it makes me think only about that, and no more about worries, that we all have.

And I told my son many times, 'Do not forget to look at the clouds. They are beautiful. And looking at the clouds will generate a 'motion', and again, a resulting 'emotion'.

 

If it does not work, oh well, try one of those medications, as an adjuvant only, of course...

[sungod]

Breathing exercises, google 'Wim Hopf'

 

 

[bkk6060]

Make friends, eat healthy, exercise, and frequent ejaculation can help.

[proton]

Tramadol and whisky helps, but not very day

[scubascuba3]

You need to deal with the problems you have. Write them down on paper, bullet points and how you can tackle them, can take months and years, quicker you start, the better, good luck

[Muzzique]

I suffered terribly from Anxiety. Seeing a therapist and joining a therapy group really helped. It helped discover the cause which related to childhood where I was told I never lived up to expectations. That lead me to over burden myself and set too high expectations. The most important word I learnt was NO. Not to burden myself with others demands. Things will get done even if you don't get involved. You are not the emotional donkey and you have to let others take partial or full responsibility for some the issues that concern you. 

 

I also found that recognising anxiety as not being real helped. It changes nothing and is simply a mental and physical effect that you have to reject as not affecting the outcome of anything. Recognising that the feeling has no relationship to the outcome enables you to reject it. After a while your body calms down and feelings get weaker and less frequent.

 

Deal with things one by one. Approach the easy things first not the hard. Work your way through each one and work out a plan on how to deal with them individually. One item at a time not all together.

[Kinnock]

I suffer from 04:00 am anxiety - major worries about finances, relationships etc, etc.  I've found that regular excercise helps.  I've found a few sports that I enjoy and can do at my age, and if I keep fit the impact of the anxiety is much less.

[ChaiyaTH]

I have the exact same symptoms any time my extensions are due. When i leave thailand to another country, its gone like snow with full sun.

 

why? Because all uncertain and potential issues are due to TH.

 

i know many who have same.

Edited October 9, 2023 by ChaiyaTH

[Bennyl]

44 minutes ago, Kinnock said:

I suffer from 04:00 am anxiety - major worries about finances, relationships etc, etc.  I've found that regular excercise helps.  I've found a few sports that I enjoy and can do at my age, and if I keep fit the impact of the anxiety is much less.

Same to me.

Reguelar work out ????️‍♂️ ????‍♀️ changed my mindset entirely ????.

[IvorBiggun2]

3 hours ago, Captain Disorderly said:

I was wondering if any one here has had any anxiety issues and if so what did you take to help the situation .  

 

I suffer from anxiety/depression. To help with mine I take the minimum dose of Sertraline and cycle 20km 3 times a week age 71. I find keeping active keeps things in check along with talking to my wife how I feel.

[stupidfarang]

I found exercise helped, swim three times a week Monday, Wednesday, Friday. I do 12 laps each time, not much but it helps, have to push myself at first to go but the routine and exercise helps. Also friends, having a meet up for lunch or coffee once a week helps. I find I need to be able to talk with someone in my own language, ideally one from your own country as there is an understanding of where you are from. As you can see from the many replys you have had, you are not alone with these feelings. What part of Thailand are you in?

[Polar Bear]

Find a trained psychologist/therapist that offers cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). It is the single most effective treatment for anxiety, far more so than medication.

Many psychologists have started offering sessions online since COVID, so you aren't restricted to finding someone in Thailand. Most people need weekly sessions for around 2-4 months to start getting anxiety under control. Some people find it helpful to to continue with more general therapy for a longer period after the initial CBT course has finished. 

CBT doesn't 'cure' anxiety, but it teaches you how to control it and stop your thoughts running away from you. 

[Chetzee]

3 hours ago, Chetzee said:

catastrophic thinking as you describe , is associated with depression and trauma ....  I have been there myself .....        Talking to a psychologist  ( therapist) was for me the most extraordinary experience , and I can genuinely say , that in the course of 18th months he turned my life around and set it on a much clearer path .....    personally I could not recommend Talking therapy  (CBT )more highly .      

As you say ..... chances are a dr . may want to prescribe an anti depressant for a short period to break the cycle that you sound locked in ......    they take about 6 weeks to work ...... and they do  work !     but they are not the answer to your troubles .... but can help bring to you to a place where you are strong enough and UP enough to talk through your issues .......           hope that helps ..... just a bit  ...... 

I should add the my therapist reassured me that " things are rarely aver as bad as they seem"  , and that the only things worth worrying about were those things that I had control over ........  

[Lemsta69]

4 hours ago, Captain Disorderly said:

I was wondering if any one here has had any anxiety issues and if so what did you take to help the situation

I had that about twenty years ago so went and saw the doctor who gave me some anti-anxiety pills, forget the name. 

 

Then I went to another doctor and got him to prescribe me antidepressants. 

 

Anxiety and depression was reduced to a dull roar so I chalked it up as a win.

[tkramer]

Vipassana 10-day Meditation retreat.

 

They are all over Thailand. (the more rural the better, trees, birds, nature, clean air).

 

What's 10 days spent compared to all your wasted days of crazy and hardship...?

 

Simple, easy, relax. Place to sit with instruction everyday. Great food, great outdoor environment...and you WILL learn how to control your (useless) thoughts.

 

Who could ask for anything more...

 

You are not the first human to allow your surroundings to get the better of you. It's been going on for century's.

 

It's free. Try the 10 days. If it doesn't fit...simple, just walk away and try something else.

 

Worked for me...!

 

PS Make sure it is the course by SN Goenka...the founder. He is quite a 'kick in the pants'. You will like him.

 

There are several Goenka affiliated locations in Thailand.

 

Hers is one...

 

Vipassana (dhamma.org) 

 

Personal advice...do not take the short course(s). No dipping your toe into the water. Jump in all the way...take the full 10 day course. I guarantee you that it will be one of the most profound experiences of your life...in a good way. There is only an upside to this experience. They will have NO attachment to you, and require you to have no attachment to them.

 

 

it's one of those..."up to you"...situations.

Edited October 9, 2023 by tkramer

[Moonlover]

Have a read of this website. If it ticks a box or two with you and I'm sure it will, get the book. It's defiantly worth a try.

 

https://flowingzen.com/start-here/

[tkramer]

33 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

Have a read of this website. If it ticks a box or two with you and I'm sure it will, get the book. It's defiantly worth a try.

 

https://flowingzen.com/start-here/

In my mind I say...'don't over-think it'. I bought Goenk's book after my first retreat (been 4 times), and I found it did not further me to want to partake. 

 

Like I said...what's 10 days of just sitting and listening with an open mind...

 

caompared to days, months, years of a 'crazy mind'.

 

Experiences are like shoes...some fit my feet and some don't. So I can not walk in these...

 

'next'...!

 

There is never an experience in life...that you do not learn something from. All valuable stuff.

Edited October 9, 2023 by tkramer

[Moonlover]

21 minutes ago, tkramer said:

In my mind I say...'don't over-think it'. I bought Goenk's book after my first retreat (been 4 times), and I found it did not further me to want to partake. 

 

Like I said...what's 10 days of just sitting and listening with an open mind...

 

caompared to days, months, years of a 'crazy mind'.

 

Experiences are like shoes...some fit my feet and some don't. So I can not walk in these...

 

'next'...!

 

There is never an experience in life...that you do not learn something from. All valuable stuff.

I've tried to get into sitting meditation many times over the years, but it never suited me at all. Like you mentioned, 'the shoe doesn't fit'.

 

Qigong, the method I use now is a moving meditation, so I get exercise, breathing and meditation all in one package. It suits me much better. So much so that I've stuck with it for 10 years or more now.

[impulse]

You can go the therapy/ support group/ exercise route, and I encourage that.  They've done me a world of good. 

 

But I'd suggest you first make sure there's no chemical imbalance, vitamin deficiency, sleep problem, or other physical issue.   All the exercise and kumbaya in the world won't treat an underlying physical problem.  Make it better?  Sure.  But you still have the problem.

 

That means a trip to a qualified doc.

[Sheryl]

A psychiatrist would indeed usually prescribe meds but a therapist/psychologist will not. Rather they will offer talk therapy like CB T which can be very heloful.

 

See the pinned mental health thread,  there are some good Western counselors here. 

[mstevens]

Sorry to hear you're having a tough time of things.

 

Regarding natural supplements, here are a few worth trying in the order I'd recommend them:

 

Ashwagandha is an adaptogen and is perhaps the best-known and most effective supplement for those who are suffering from stress and anxiety. Take one capsule / day for a couple of months. It's not a quick fix but within a couple of weeks you should start to feel some relief. If at all possible, try and find the Himalaya brand.

 

5HTP raises serotonin and is very helpful for staying sleep (as opposed to falling asleep), relieving stress and helping with anxiety.

 

GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter. In simple terms, it basically helps you from over-thinking stuff. It also helps with sleep.

 

Now Foods makes good, inexpensive 5HTP and GABA. All of these supplements are available from iHerb, and may be available on Lazada and Shopee.

Edited October 9, 2023 by mstevens

[save the frogs]

15 hours ago, Captain Disorderly said:

Over the past few months Ive started to have bouts of ongoing anxiety , where my mind is constantly racing non stop and thinking about many things in my life. I seem to be fixated and continually worrying about things like money / health / martial situation / Visa / daughter / rising cost of living / growing old at 74 / putting on weight / not sleeping well / Etc Etc .

tackle each problem individually.

 

you are worring about putting on weight? are you? get a treadmill. 

 

growing old ... find some literature to prepare yourself for the inevitable, maybe some buddhist texts ...

 

rising cost of living - be more frugal. read up on minimalism.

 

marital situation - we have some relationship experts on AN.

 

[swm59nj]

If you are having severe anxiety.  Especially if it’s interfering with your daily quality of life.  You wife is on the right track.  You don’t have to see a psychiatrist though . You can see a psychologist.  They treat without medication.  Or you can see a counselor.  Such as a social worker. 

[madisongy]

Indica