New here, by sueb (9 replies) (Nov 19, 2000) [Archive]

Kelly

5th February, 2006, 09:18 PM

Topic Title: New here
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sueb </td><td align=right> </td></tr></table></td><td width="74%" bgcolor=#dddedd> <IMG SRC="/forums/graphics/icons/posticon.gif"> "New here" , Sun 19 Nov 04:45<HR SIZE=1> Hi every one Just a bit of background, I am 47 and going through menopause with all the associated symtoms, tried HRT but did nothing for the depression and major anxiety so went to see a herbalist some 7 weeks ago, started taking the recommended medicine and have noticed an improvement .Went to visit him two weeks ago and asked him what herbs he had prescribed and low and behold SJW was one of them . I would never have said I was a depressed person and the anxiety really does a number on me , does anyone else experience the feeling of not being REAL and feeling as if you are in a dream state???? Not wanting to go out and only feeling comfortable in my own home??? I am from the Uk and like most of you have experienced pressure from my GP to go on anti depressants. Thanks for listening.
 SueB
<HR SIZE=1>Posts: 0 | | Registered: Sun 19 Nov 2000 4:26</td></tr></table> </TD></TR><TR><TD bgcolor=></TD></TR><TR><TD bgcolor= >
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Jenny1 </td><td align=right> </td></tr></table></td><td width="74%" bgcolor=#dddedd> <IMG SRC="/forums/graphics/icons/theweb.gif"> "Re(1):New here" , Sun 19 Nov 09:15<HR SIZE=1> Hi Sue, I just wanted to tell you that I know what it is like to feel comfortable only in your own home. The anxiety will do that to you. This is a pretty new thing to me since my anxiety level has skyrocketed only in the last month or so.I have had it all my life, but never this bad. Has your anxiety/depression appeared only during menopause? And the dream state you talk about, for me its like everything and everyone around me is like a peripheral blur. In the center is me and my racing mind, THAT is the reality. SO! Thats my story. I just wanted to tell you because I know its comforting to know that someone else knows what you are feeling.

<HR SIZE=1>Posts: 18 | | Registered: Sat 21 Oct 2000 2:3</td></tr></table>
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sueb </td><td align=right> </td></tr></table></td><td width="74%" bgcolor=#eeeeee> <IMG SRC="/forums/graphics/icons/posticon.gif"> "Re(2):New here" , Tue 21 Nov 03:50<HR SIZE=1> Hi Jenny You describe the feelings very well, almost like watching a film of yourself. I have to say that the Herbal concoction I am taking does seem to working but I guess it takes time to get a grip. It does help knowing there are other people out there with similar symptoms. Mine started approx 2 years ago although I did not recognise it as Menopause , we had been through some pretty traumatic times, I had been made redundant then my husband also then my mother was seriously ill and then my dad so I just put it down to stress. Then in February this year I had two weeks off work , I just kept crying and did not feel like myself anymore. Went on HRT as the Dr said the depression was likely to be estrogen deficiency based, I took that for 8 months and still felt extremely anxious and didn't want to go out anywhere so I went to see a herbalist and the rest is history. What about you ?
 SueB
<HR SIZE=1>Posts: 1 | | Registered: Sun 19 Nov 2000 4:26</td></tr></table>
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Jenny1 </td><td align=right> </td></tr></table></td><td width="74%" bgcolor=#dddedd> <IMG SRC="/forums/graphics/icons/posticon.gif"> "Re(3):New here" , Tue 21 Nov 23:27<HR SIZE=1> Hi Sue, I cannot pin point exactly when my anxiety/depression began. I believe I have had it all my life. Only upto a month ago I had no name for what I was feeling. I just thought I was a shy, nervous person. Now I know it has a title, Social Aniety disorder. As wonderful as it is to know you have a "condition" it actually helps to define it and know there are steps to take to overcome it. Despite this personality flaw I seemed to have lived a pretty damn good life full of wonderful family, friends and experiences. It only became unbearable after returning a few months ago from Israel where I had been living for the year. I was thrown back into a situation where I didnt know what I wanted to do with my life and basically very lost. Because I am no longer in school (I am 23) and no longer volunteering (Israel) I lost my identity thus the onset of servere depression and unbearable anxiety. I am feeling much better now as far as the depression goes and Im wondering if it has anything to do with the SJW or if Im just having a good week. The anxiety has not changed much though. Though it is excellent not to be crying all the time and having REAL laughing fits at least twice a day! I struggle very much with getting myself out and socializing and putting on a fake cheery face. I think the key is to have a good balance between a social life and alone time and not drugging yourself with reality altering medications that all the prescription drugs seem to do. They all make me feel drunk. How is one supposed to work, drive, WALK! basically have a normal life when under such sedation?

<HR SIZE=1>Posts: 21 | | Registered: Sat 21 Oct 2000 2:3</td></tr></table>
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sueb </td><td align=right> </td></tr></table></td><td width="74%" bgcolor=#dddedd> <IMG SRC="/forums/graphics/icons/posticon.gif"> "Re(4):New here" , Wed 22 Nov 03:49<HR SIZE=1> Hi Jenny I can identify with what you say about loss of ones own identity, after holding down a very successful position for over ten years and then being made redundant I felt a terrible sense of "who am I" still do although I have a daughter 26 and a son 24 and a beautiful 4 year old grandaughter and a new baby on the way I still feel this awful sense of loss. Is this depression , I seem to have this image of depression as being someone sitting crying all day and I am sure that it must manifest itself in many ways and perhaps the anxiety is all part of it. I would just like to feel "myself" again and not have all these racing thoughts that I can not seem to bring into order. I have a full time job as a Call Centre Manager for our local Authority and whilst I enjoy it it does not stretch me , perhaps that is a problem in itself that I have always had a stressful job and this is not the case anymore. Self analysis seems to be part of my problem I am constantly looking for answers and I cant find them. Anyway Its nice to talk to you where are you ? I presume you are in the USA? Kind regards Sue
 SueB
<HR SIZE=1>Posts: 2 | | Registered: Sun 19 Nov 2000 4:26</td></tr></table>
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KellyK </td><td align=right> </td></tr></table></td><td width="74%" bgcolor=#eeeeee> <IMG SRC="/forums/graphics/icons/posticon.gif"> "Re(5):New here" , Sun 26 Nov 10:17<HR SIZE=1> I just read your posts and wanted to let you both know that what you are experiencing is more common then you realize. There are so many different disorder names given to the symptoms you describe. I started having anxiety/panic attacks during a very stressful time in my life when I was 19 years old. I'm just about to turn 33. I'm still not sure exactly how this came about, but I have a good idea that it had to do with my body's reaction to a stress. It basically said..."okay now...I can't handle this anymore." I do know that a lot of what you are experiencing has to do with how you react to the feelings (symptoms) you are feeling. When you start feeling "strange" you think "Oh no...here it comes again," adding fear to fear. In a way it kind of empowers the fearful feeling you are having. Does this make sense? I think if I was to give you any advice, and I'm not a doctor, just a fellow sufferer, it would be to find a really good psychologist who specializes with anxiety disorders. I'm telling you...it's well worth it. Sue...please don't try to analyze yourself or try to figure out why, or how this is happening. I did that for YEARS. It's such a waste of time and all it does is hurt your self-esteem. Just love yourself and...the hardest thing at first...except what you are going through. This is just another stage in your life. Think of it as nothing more then that. Surround yourself with postive situations. Don't run away from fearful situations...realize that it's just a feeling and nothing more then that. Nothing crazy is going to happen and people don't realize how scared you are inside, only you know. The more you practice it, the easier it will get. I went through cognitive behavioral therapy. It works. I found out that there was a max or lid on the anxiety you feel. My doctor taught me to welcome the feelings and let them soar. Sounds scarry, but it's super empowering for you. I learned that your body, (an amazing machine, I might add), naturally brings you back to a normal level. When you max yourself at in an anxiety state, basically your body let's you go at that level for a very short period of time then it brings you back down. Ever notice how relaxed you are after an anxiety attack? It's truely how you react to how you feel. I expected my doctor to come up with some great, simple remedy, but honestly, it really was up to me. Boy was that a tough one for me! I don't think I'll ever be the exact same person I was 12 years ago, and I have finally quit worrying about that. I want to have a good life, that's all I know. I work hard to better myself, love myself and EXCEPT WHO I AM. That's the best prescription I could have given myself ever! In doing that, I've gotten back to a more "normal" state. Of course, I've learned there really isn't a true normal state! Everyone has their problems! I'd hate to see you or anyone else suffer as I did unreasonably. Please know that this experience will make you a stronger person. I hope you feel better soon! Kelly K.

<HR SIZE=1>Posts: 0 | | Registered: Sun 26 Nov 2000 9:48</td></tr></table>
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Chrisishere </td><td align=right> </td></tr></table></td><td width="74%" bgcolor=#dddedd> <IMG SRC="http://www.sjwinfo.org/forums/graphics/icons/posticon.gif"> "Re(6):New here" , Mon 1 Oct 13:37<HR SIZE=1> Kelly, I seem to have the same problem that you did, or at least similar. Right now I am 19 and a soph in college. This past summer I became really sick (throwing up before work and feeling bad) so I lost a lot of weight and lost all forms of an appetite. Now I feel as if there is something in my throat although doctors say nothing there. Anyhow, I just wanted to respond to what you wrote and tell you that it would be great to talk to you on IM or something to hear about what happened to you and how things have been for you lately.

<HR SIZE=1>Posts: 0 | | Registered: Mon 1 Oct 2001 13:27</td></tr></table>
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sueb </td><td align=right> </td></tr></table></td><td width="74%" bgcolor=#dddedd> <IMG SRC="/forums/graphics/icons/posticon.gif"> "Re(6):New here" , Sat 2 Dec 02:36<HR SIZE=1> Hi Kelly Thank you so much for your reply , it does help knowing that you have some insight into how we feel.
 SueB
<HR SIZE=1>Posts: 3 | | Registered: Sun 19 Nov 2000 4:26</td></tr></table>
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Kellyk </td><td align=right> </td></tr></table></td><td width="74%" bgcolor=#eeeeee> <IMG SRC="http://www.sjwinfo.org/forums/graphics/icons/smile.gif"> "Re(7):New here" , Mon 1 Oct 14:36<HR SIZE=1> Hi Sueb, I never did say, "You're welcome!" I just got a new post and hadn't realized you had responded. I hope things are going, much better for you. I hope that my words have helped some. Take care, Kelly

<HR SIZE=1>Posts: 1 | | Registered: Sun 26 Nov 2000 9:48</td></tr></table>
<table width=100% cellspacing="1" cellpadding="5" border="0"><tr> <td bgcolor="" width="14%"> </td><td width="12%" bgcolor=#dddedd valign=top> <table width=100% cellspacing=0 cellpading=0 border=0><tr valign=top><td align=left> lmno <IMG SRC="/forums/graphics/faces/Bert.gif" border="1" width="32" height ="32" ></td><td align=right> </td></tr></table></td><td width="74%" bgcolor=#dddedd> <IMG SRC="/forums/graphics/icons/thumbup.gif"> "Re(6):New here" , Tue 28 Nov 19:13<HR SIZE=1> Thanks KellyK, for some very insightful and helpful advice to anyone having anxiety problems.

<HR SIZE=1>Posts: 10 | | Registered: Sun 5 Nov 2000 18:34</td></tr></table>
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