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Avatar universal

Will my constant anxiety ever ease off

Hi all

First time using this forum, despite reading all the comments over the past few months.  I have generalised anxiety and it is totally controlling and ruining my life.  It all started out of the blue about 3 years ago and before it struck, I was a happy, confident, care free person who never took life too seriously......now I have no life and apart from ruining my life, its got to be affecting my families too (although they are very supportive).
Don't want to bore you with my long list of anxiety symptoms, but my latest addition to the long list is ectopic heartbeats and boy do they scare me.  I can handle the little flutters, but sometimes it feels like my heart stops for about 5 seconds, I get the strangest sensation wash over me and feel like am about to pass out (which I haven't).  This then throws me into a huge panic attack, then back to my normal anxious state, dreading it happening again.  I couldn't take it any more, so off I went to see my GP who has prescribed me with Sertraline (in addition to the propranolol I have been on for 3 years).  My initial dose was 50mg, but the side effects were that bad (diarrhoea, dizziness, headache, anxiety through the roof) we decided to start on the 25mg and am pleased to say the side effects on this dose were no where near as bad.  I've been taking them for 2 weeks now, due to increase to the 50mg tomorrow in the hope that I will eventually get some form of relief from this constant anxiety, which is getting me so down.  At present I am terrified to go anywhere on my own, for fear of my heart stopping and going into cardiac arrest.  I couldn't face work for 2 weeks but was determined to try and get through this, convincing myself that there is light at the end of the tunnel and it will get better.  I came back to work yesterday and have been in constant anxious mode, ectopic heartbeats are beating away and I feel totally drained.  Please someone tell me that what I am experiencing is normal for generalized anxiety and that one day I will get my life back???  Forgot to say that I am attending a psychologist on a weekly/fortnightly basis and also had my first week of mindfulness meditation.  I am determined to beat this for my families sake as well as my own, but need reassurance that I can do it.......and one day I will be 'me' again!  Thanks for listening to me.
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Avatar universal
Hello! I will share with you what has helped me on my journey. I have been on xanax 3 x 1 mg a day since 20 years, I have recently strt coming down and am no on 0.25 not long to go! whoop whoop, I really had benefit by something which is called the Sedona method in coming down it helped me to release a lot of emtions, trauma, thoughts, beliefs etc. Give it ago  maybe I downloaded it the movie which is called letting go -sedona method and also the audiobook and workbook, it allows me to not identify with my thoughts. Much Love Nat
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Avatar universal
I have palpitations - PVC's specifically - and I also have anxiety and I really wanted meds to get both under control but the medicine that cardiologists prescribed for the PVCs slows your heart down and makes me feel like I can't breathe or will pass out and the "anxiety" meds are even worse and can cause palpitations as one of their side effects in fact. I think it may be similar to what you are taking. I have stopped all medicines. Even ibuprofen! I am convinced that the medicines have not been helping but only making it worse because of the backlash affects. You may not want to hear this but my best suggestion is to go to the gym every day for at least an hour and work out. Sit in a sauna too if you can find a gym with one. Take your blood pressure afterwards and see if it is going down. Mine ALWAYS is lower after I work out than before so I am convinced this means the exercise is helping with my anxiety. All the meds do is make some company rich - they are not good for anything but the trash.
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Arlington, VA
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Arlington, WA
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