Is this anxiety and treatment options

Lately, my general stress tolerance has been declining. I have been
seeing a psychologist for about 8 months now doing CBT. The trigger has
been some personal family issues that seemed to come to the surface.
It's almost like I suffer from PTSD.

My anxiety has been so debilitating that I have been off work for a
year. My [private employer] insurance company is pressuring me to drop
my psychologist and to be under the care of a psychiatrist. I have been
on several anti-anxiety meds and all of them had bad side effects that
only went away after many many months of tapering the dosage that have
already been low.

My psychologist says that I have deep routed traumas (or many small
traumas over my life) that is causing me considerable the anxiety,
however, I don't know one way or another. The other day, I had a family
member stay with me and I almost had a nervous breakdown. I am really
unable to speak to people as I tend to hyperventilate. I get
physically ill when I become irritated or stressed. I get all anxious
when I hear my voice and up until now, have been ok with hearing others
speaking. Now, it really depends on who's talking, their pitch, and
volume level. I have sleep apnoea that's being treated with Continuous
Postive Air Pressure. Apparently, many people who suffer from sleep
disordered breathing also have anxiety and/or depression. Does any of
this hit home for any one?

What are my options? Excerise isn't doing much. I haven't tried Yoga or
meditation. My sleep doc says I should try this as my heart rate is very
high. I do want to return to work [drug free] but in the past I have
had a great deal of issues with psych meds while working and my job
requires paying attention to detail.

Thanks

On 24 Apr, 06:59, "Newb" <h...@huh.com> wrote:
> Lately, my general stress tolerance has been declining. I have been
> seeing a psychologist for about 8 months now doing CBT. The trigger has
> been some personal family issues that seemed to come to the surface.
> It's almost like I suffer from PTSD.
>
> My anxiety has been so debilitating that I have been off work for a
> year. My [private employer] insurance company is pressuring me to drop
> my psychologist and to be under the care of a psychiatrist. I have been
> on several anti-anxiety meds and all of them had bad side effects that
> only went away after many many months of tapering the dosage that have
> already been low.
>
> My psychologist says that I have deep routed traumas (or many small
> traumas over my life) that is causing me considerable the anxiety,
> however, I don't know one way or another. The other day, I had a family
> member stay with me and I almost had a nervous breakdown. I am really
> unable to speak to people as I tend to hyperventilate. I get
> physically ill when I become irritated or stressed. I get all anxious
> when I hear my voice and up until now, have been ok with hearing others
> speaking. Now, it really depends on who's talking, their pitch, and
> volume level. I have sleep apnoea that's being treated with Continuous
> Postive Air Pressure. Apparently, many people who suffer from sleep
> disordered breathing also have anxiety and/or depression. Does any of
> this hit home for any one?
>
> What are my options? Excerise isn't doing much. I haven't tried Yoga or
> meditation. My sleep doc says I should try this as my heart rate is very
> high. I do want to return to work [drug free] but in the past I have
> had a great deal of issues with psych meds while working and my job
> requires paying attention to detail.
>
> Thanks

OK, welcome Newb.

Regarding you heart rate, how high are we talking?

I say this because you could be eligable for beta blockers from your
Dr to help. Beta blockers don't make you sleepy.

I know nothing about sleep apnoea (my girlfriend has it but she had an
operation) so I'm no use to you in that department. But I can offer
you a great link to a post on some nice
deep breathing exercises you can try:

http://groups.google.co.uk/group/alt...b4855d22880819

As for PTSD, I have to say that the possiblity is remote.

-Joe

Newb, wrote:

> I have been seeing a psychologist for about 8 months now doing CBT.

<snip>

>My psychologist says that I have deep routed traumas (or many small
>traumas over my life) that is causing me considerable the anxiety,
>however, I don't know one way or another.

If that's the focus, then this psychologist hasn't been teaching you CBT. It's
not about the why, but CBT is about what and how to deal with today. Not
tomorrow, but today.

See if you can find a 'real' therapist who teaches CBT. You just might find,
that with work, you can gain the benefits it has to offer.

I'm not familiar with the sleep aspects. That's another kettle-o-fish.

E...

On 24 Apr, 17:35, Bear <Bear993...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Newb, wrote:
> > I have been seeing a psychologist for about 8 months now doing CBT.
>
> <snip>
>
> >My psychologist says that I have deep routed traumas (or many small
> >traumas over my life) that is causing me considerable the anxiety,
> >however, I don't know one way or another.
>
> If that's the focus, then this psychologist hasn't been teaching you CBT. It's
> not about the why, but CBT is about what and how to deal with today. Not
> tomorrow, but today.
>
> See if you can find a 'real' therapist who teaches CBT. You just might find,
> that with work, you can gain the benefits it has to offer.
>
> I'm not familiar with the sleep aspects. That's another kettle-o-fish.
>
> E...

Great advice Bear, but I would also like to add that it's not about
yesterday also.

Just my 2 cents :-)

-Joe

welcome :-)

first, i would talk to your therapist about CBT therapy. i had this
for years, and it was extremely helpful! i would also ask about some
different medication to use as well. if you don't do well on SSRI's,
there are other types. definitely benzos will do the trick. any good
doc will be on top of this. if you aren't happy with the doc, find
another one.

i know well about sleep apnea. my dad had it, i have it, my husband
has it. i do not treat mine (although i should). sleep apnea can
cause many things...some to include depression, anxiety, weight gain,
etc. if you are using a CPAP though, it should control that part of
it.

another avenue many don't pursue is hypnotherapy. i had some really
good results from hypnotherapy. i went for six weeks, and i learned
some wonderful tools that i use on a regular basis.

hope this helps. stick around. you have understanding here!

gigglz





On Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:59:28 GMT, "Newb" <huh@huh.com> wrote:

>Lately, my general stress tolerance has been declining. I have been
>seeing a psychologist for about 8 months now doing CBT. The trigger has
>been some personal family issues that seemed to come to the surface.
>It's almost like I suffer from PTSD.
>
>My anxiety has been so debilitating that I have been off work for a
>year. My [private employer] insurance company is pressuring me to drop
>my psychologist and to be under the care of a psychiatrist. I have been
>on several anti-anxiety meds and all of them had bad side effects that
>only went away after many many months of tapering the dosage that have
>already been low.
>
>My psychologist says that I have deep routed traumas (or many small
>traumas over my life) that is causing me considerable the anxiety,
>however, I don't know one way or another. The other day, I had a family
>member stay with me and I almost had a nervous breakdown. I am really
>unable to speak to people as I tend to hyperventilate. I get
>physically ill when I become irritated or stressed. I get all anxious
>when I hear my voice and up until now, have been ok with hearing others
>speaking. Now, it really depends on who's talking, their pitch, and
>volume level. I have sleep apnoea that's being treated with Continuous
>Postive Air Pressure. Apparently, many people who suffer from sleep
>disordered breathing also have anxiety and/or depression. Does any of
>this hit home for any one?
>
>What are my options? Excerise isn't doing much. I haven't tried Yoga or
>meditation. My sleep doc says I should try this as my heart rate is very
>high. I do want to return to work [drug free] but in the past I have
>had a great deal of issues with psych meds while working and my job
>requires paying attention to detail.
>
>Thanks
>

Gigglz, wrote:

> definitely benzos will do the trick.

nah. When it comes to medications - Nothing is definite other than the fact
that nothing is definite.

Joe.P.Mannion@googlemail.com, wrote:
>
>On 24 Apr, 17:35, Bear <Bear993...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> Newb, wrote:
>> > I have been seeing a psychologist for about 8 months now doing CBT.
>>
>> <snip>
>>
>> >My psychologist says that I have deep routed traumas (or many small
>> >traumas over my life) that is causing me considerable the anxiety,
>> >however, I don't know one way or another.
>>
>>If that's the focus, then this psychologist hasn't been teaching you CBT. It's
>> not about the why, but CBT is about what and how to deal with today. Not
>> tomorrow, but today.
>>
>> See if you can find a 'real' therapist who teaches CBT. You just might find,
>> that with work, you can gain the benefits it has to offer.
>>
>> I'm not familiar with the sleep aspects. That's another kettle-o-fish.
>>
>> E...
>
>Great advice Bear, but I would also like to add that it's not about
>yesterday also.

Yesterday is covered in the 'why' area. CBT isn't about why (or yesterday, as
you put it). It's about today. Live today and in the moment.

>Just my 2 cents :-)

Used wisely, your 2¢ worth can be worth a fortune to others.

E...

Gigglz wrote:
: welcome :-)
:
: first, i would talk to your therapist about CBT therapy. i had this
: for years, and it was extremely helpful! i would also ask about some
: different medication to use as well. if you don't do well on SSRI's,
: there are other types. definitely benzos will do the trick. any good
: doc will be on top of this. if you aren't happy with the doc, find
: another one.

The problem with benzos is that they can interfere with sleep apnea. I
was on Ativan for a little while and it didn't really help much unless I
took a higher dosage. Docs don't want to prescribe them long-term
because you become addicted to them. However, from what I read, your
body also gets used to SSRI's tricyclates, and MOAI's (the latter I
could never take due to dietary restrictions). SSRI's are nasty in
terms of sleep apnea and can cause or exasperate all sorts of uglies
like restless leg and periodic limb movements in those who are
predisposed to them.

: another avenue many don't pursue is hypnotherapy. i had some really
: good results from hypnotherapy. i went for six weeks, and i learned
: some wonderful tools that i use on a regular basis.

Can you provide and example of hypnotherapy?
:
: hope this helps. stick around. you have understanding here!

Thanks, I need a lot of understanding as nobody seems to understand what
I am going through.

Joe.P.Mannion@googlemail.com wrote:
>> On 24 Apr, 06:59, "Newb" <h...@huh.com> wrote:
>>
>> Regarding you heart rate, how high are we talking?

120 bpm when speaking to anyone or around 100 bpm when watching
televisin

>> I say this because you could be eligable for beta blockers from your
>> Dr to help. Beta blockers don't make you sleepy.

My doctor had me on Atinol and after a few days I became very, very cold
at very low dose.

>> But I can offer you a great link to a post on some nicedeep breathing
>> exercises you can try:
>
>> http://groups.google.co.uk/group/alt...b4855d22880819

Thanks for the link. I'll take a look at it.

Bear wrote:

:: My psychologist says that I have deep routed traumas (or many small
:: traumas over my life) that is causing me considerable the anxiety,
:: however, I don't know one way or another.
:
: If that's the focus, then this psychologist hasn't been teaching you
: CBT. It's not about the why, but CBT is about what and how to deal
: with today. Not tomorrow, but today.
:
: See if you can find a 'real' therapist who teaches CBT. You just
: might find, that with work, you can gain the benefits it has to offer.

Ok, thanks. I guess I am still confused then what CBT really is then.
In my situation, if I bang my toe I would get angry but that's the
extent of it. That's a different kind of stress, but if I become
irritated, say, someone tells me to do something that I don't want, I
start to "boil" uncontrollably. Intensities would vary of course. It's
these kinds of stressful situations that I can't deal with it or in
otherwords, my body can't tolerate this particular kind of stimuli. One
of the biggest issues I think that is contributing to my anxiety is that
I tend to be a shallow breather. I sometimes catch myself failing to
breath. I just hold my breath. I know others around me notice that all
the time about me.

On Apr 23, 10:59*pm, "Newb" <h...@huh.com> wrote:
> Lately, my general stress tolerance has been declining. I have been
> seeing a psychologist for about 8 months now doing CBT. *The trigger has
> been some personal family issues that seemed to come to the surface.
> It's almost like I suffer from PTSD.
>
> My anxiety has been so debilitating that I have been off work for a
> year. *My [private employer] insurance company is pressuring me to drop
> my psychologist and to be under the care of a psychiatrist. *I have been
> on several anti-anxiety meds and all of them had bad side effects that
> only went away after many many months of tapering the dosage that have
> already been low.
>
> My psychologist says that I have deep routed traumas (or many small
> traumas over my life) that is causing me considerable the anxiety,
> however, I don't know one way or another. *The other day, I had a family
> member stay with me and I almost had a nervous breakdown. I am really
> unable to speak to people as I tend to *hyperventilate. *I get
> physically ill when I become irritated or stressed. I get all anxious
> when I hear my voice and up until now, have been ok with hearing others
> speaking. *Now, it really depends on who's talking, their pitch, and
> volume level. * I have sleep apnoea that's being treated with Continuous
> Postive Air Pressure. *Apparently, many people who suffer from sleep
> disordered breathing also have anxiety and/or depression. *Does any of
> this hit home for any one?
>
> What are my options? Excerise isn't doing much. I haven't tried Yoga or
> meditation. My sleep doc says I should try this as my heart rate is very
> high. *I do want to return to work [drug free] but in the past I have
> had a great deal of issues with psych meds while working and my job
> requires paying attention to detail.
>
> Thanks

Sucks that the meds didn't work out for you.
Do you think perhaps the types you tried or the dosage you took were
just not right?
I tell you, most of us spend a good long time figuring out what works
for us.

Honestly I am not trying to push meds on you. We all would love to be
able to not have to take anything, but you got to do what you got to
do. (That's the dialog I try and run in my head every now and
then:-).

Also, sometimes thinking that "no med will work for me" kind of makes
the anxiety blast out in all directions. That feeling is way scary.

My standard advice is to take one moment at a time. Make a plan
towards the next things you can or want to do to help yourself,
because having a direction feels powerful and hopeful, and know you
are not alone.

Best,
Vickie

On 25 Apr, 01:17, "Newb" <h...@huh.com> wrote:
> Joe.P.Mann...@googlemail.com wrote:
> >> On 24 Apr, 06:59, "Newb" <h...@huh.com> wrote:
>
> >> Regarding you heart rate, how high are we talking?
>
> 120 bpm when speaking to anyone or around 100 bpm when watching
> televisin
>
> >> I say this because you could be eligable for beta blockers from your
> >> Dr to help. Beta blockers don't make you sleepy.
>
> My doctor had me on Atinol and after a few days I became very, very cold
> at very low dose.
>
> >> But I can offer you a great link to a post on some nicedeep breathing
> >> exercises you can try:
>
> >>http://groups.google.co.uk/group/alt...nic.moderated/...
>
> Thanks for the link. I'll take a look at it.

Yes, that is one of the more common side-effects.

Your heart rate seems to me a little high. You need to ask your doctor
about trying some different types of beta blockers. There are loads of
different ones, so shop around.

-Joe

Newb, wrote:

>Bear wrote:
>
>:: My psychologist says that I have deep routed traumas (or many small
>:: traumas over my life) that is causing me considerable the anxiety,
>:: however, I don't know one way or another.
>:
>: If that's the focus, then this psychologist hasn't been teaching you
>: CBT. It's not about the why, but CBT is about what and how to deal
>: with today. Not tomorrow, but today.
>:
>: See if you can find a 'real' therapist who teaches CBT. You just
>: might find, that with work, you can gain the benefits it has to offer.
>
>Ok, thanks. I guess I am still confused then what CBT really is then.

See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cogniti...vioral_therapy

For the cognitive approach, I recommend reading:
Burns, David D. Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy. Revised Edition. Avon, 1999.
ISBN 0-380-81033-6


I don't think there's any substitute for a good teacher. By checking the site
and reading the book, you'll know exactly what to be looking for (in my view).
If the teacher isn't following the text, it would be my suggestion to dump and
look someone else.

E...

Bear, but wouldn't a person have to deal or identify the trauma(s) of the
past in order to deal with today and forward? I've never had CBT training,
but it seems reasonable that some validity, if remembered, would be
recognized and expressed as part of the treatment. Just asking. Nanny
"Bear" <Bear993not@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:219132748.00011c00.032.0001@drn.newsguy.com.. .
> Newb, wrote:
>
>>Bear wrote:
>>
>>:: My psychologist says that I have deep routed traumas (or many small
>>:: traumas over my life) that is causing me considerable the anxiety,
>>:: however, I don't know one way or another.
>>:
>>: If that's the focus, then this psychologist hasn't been teaching you
>>: CBT. It's not about the why, but CBT is about what and how to deal
>>: with today. Not tomorrow, but today.
>>:
>>: See if you can find a 'real' therapist who teaches CBT. You just
>>: might find, that with work, you can gain the benefits it has to offer.
>>
>>Ok, thanks. I guess I am still confused then what CBT really is then.
>
> See:
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cogniti...vioral_therapy
>
> For the cognitive approach, I recommend reading:
> Burns, David D. Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy. Revised Edition. Avon,
> 1999.
> ISBN 0-380-81033-6
>
>
> I don't think there's any substitute for a good teacher. By checking the
> site
> and reading the book, you'll know exactly what to be looking for (in my
> view).
> If the teacher isn't following the text, it would be my suggestion to dump
> and
> look someone else.
>
> E...
>

nanny, wrote:
>
>Bear, but wouldn't a person have to deal or identify the trauma(s) of the
>past in order to deal with today and forward? I've never had CBT training,
>but it seems reasonable that some validity, if remembered, would be
>recognized and expressed as part of the treatment. Just asking. Nanny
>"Bear" <Bear993not@yahoo.com> wrote in message

For some people, knowing just what a trauma was can help the healing process -
and/or learning to confront a specific fear or fears - or however it may
manifest itself.

The idea of CBT, however, doesn't go that route. Psychotherapy - Jungian,
Freudian and the like, goes into the why. If that's necessary (and it is for
some people) - fine.

The question was about CBT, however. CBT is about now, today - the present. It's
not that the two can't go together, in that one may learn what fucks 'em up, and
then learn just how to deal with it.

The 'dealing' with it, however, is best done in my view by learning to recognize
and challenge negative thoughts. Just to be clear, it's not about 'happy'
thoughts or anything of that sort. It's a very serious learning process to see
just how our thoughts can lead us in different directions - and learn how to
view thoughts in a way that is more...... well.... balanced, for lack of a
better term.

E...

>news:219132748.00011c00.032.0001@drn.newsguy.com. ..
>> Newb, wrote:
>>
>>>Bear wrote:
>>>
>>>:: My psychologist says that I have deep routed traumas (or many small
>>>:: traumas over my life) that is causing me considerable the anxiety,
>>>:: however, I don't know one way or another.
>>>:
>>>: If that's the focus, then this psychologist hasn't been teaching you
>>>: CBT. It's not about the why, but CBT is about what and how to deal
>>>: with today. Not tomorrow, but today.
>>>:
>>>: See if you can find a 'real' therapist who teaches CBT. You just
>>>: might find, that with work, you can gain the benefits it has to offer.
>>>
>>>Ok, thanks. I guess I am still confused then what CBT really is then.
>>
>> See:
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cogniti...vioral_therapy
>>
>> For the cognitive approach, I recommend reading:
>> Burns, David D. Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy. Revised Edition. Avon,
>> 1999.
>> ISBN 0-380-81033-6
>>
>>
>> I don't think there's any substitute for a good teacher. By checking the
>> site
>> and reading the book, you'll know exactly what to be looking for (in my
>> view).
>> If the teacher isn't following the text, it would be my suggestion to dump
>> and
>> look someone else.
>>
>> E...
>>
>
>

> If the teacher isn't following the text, it would be my suggestion to dump and
> look someone else.
>
> E...
>

I never thought you'd be such a stricty hehe

Bear schreef:
> Gigglz, wrote:
>
>> definitely benzos will do the trick.
>
> nah. When it comes to medications - Nothing is definite other than the fact
> that nothing is definite.
>
Hail to that !

Anna wrote:
> Bear schreef:
>> Gigglz, wrote:
>>
>>> definitely benzos will do the trick.
>>
>> nah. When it comes to medications - Nothing is definite other than
>> the fact
>> that nothing is definite.
>>
> Hail to that !
True

Bear <Bear993not@yahoo.com> wrote in
news:219069951.0000d2ba.051.0001@drn.newsguy.com:

> Gigglz, wrote:
>
>> definitely benzos will do the trick.
>
> nah. When it comes to medications - Nothing is definite other than
> the fact that nothing is definite.
>
>

I'm going to put that on a tshirt.

--
////
(O O)
--------oOO----(_)---------------
From The Desk
Of
Joe P. Mannion
----------------------oOO--------
I__I__I
II II
ooO Ooo

Okay, thanks for the info. Nanny
"Bear" <Bear993not@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:219152276.000037ce.077.0001@drn.newsguy.com.. .
> nanny, wrote:
>>
>>Bear, but wouldn't a person have to deal or identify the trauma(s) of the
>>past in order to deal with today and forward? I've never had CBT
>>training,
>>but it seems reasonable that some validity, if remembered, would be
>>recognized and expressed as part of the treatment. Just asking. Nanny
>>"Bear" <Bear993not@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>
> For some people, knowing just what a trauma was can help the healing
> process -
> and/or learning to confront a specific fear or fears - or however it may
> manifest itself.
>
> The idea of CBT, however, doesn't go that route. Psychotherapy - Jungian,
> Freudian and the like, goes into the why. If that's necessary (and it is
> for
> some people) - fine.
>
> The question was about CBT, however. CBT is about now, today - the
> present. It's
> not that the two can't go together, in that one may learn what fucks 'em
> up, and
> then learn just how to deal with it.
>
> The 'dealing' with it, however, is best done in my view by learning to
> recognize
> and challenge negative thoughts. Just to be clear, it's not about 'happy'
> thoughts or anything of that sort. It's a very serious learning process to
> see
> just how our thoughts can lead us in different directions - and learn how
> to
> view thoughts in a way that is more...... well.... balanced, for lack of a
> better term.
>
> E...
>
>>news:219132748.00011c00.032.0001@drn.newsguy.com ...
>>> Newb, wrote:
>>>
>>>>Bear wrote:
>>>>
>>>>:: My psychologist says that I have deep routed traumas (or many small
>>>>:: traumas over my life) that is causing me considerable the anxiety,
>>>>:: however, I don't know one way or another.
>>>>:
>>>>: If that's the focus, then this psychologist hasn't been teaching you
>>>>: CBT. It's not about the why, but CBT is about what and how to deal
>>>>: with today. Not tomorrow, but today.
>>>>:
>>>>: See if you can find a 'real' therapist who teaches CBT. You just
>>>>: might find, that with work, you can gain the benefits it has to offer.
>>>>
>>>>Ok, thanks. I guess I am still confused then what CBT really is then.
>>>
>>> See:
>>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cogniti...vioral_therapy
>>>
>>> For the cognitive approach, I recommend reading:
>>> Burns, David D. Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy. Revised Edition.
>>> Avon,
>>> 1999.
>>> ISBN 0-380-81033-6
>>>
>>>
>>> I don't think there's any substitute for a good teacher. By checking
>>> the
>>> site
>>> and reading the book, you'll know exactly what to be looking for (in my
>>> view).
>>> If the teacher isn't following the text, it would be my suggestion to
>>> dump
>>> and
>>> look someone else.
>>>
>>> E...
>>>
>>
>>
>

On 26 Apr 2008 16:06:26 GMT, Joe Mannion <Joe.P.Mannion@Gmail.com>
wrote:

>Bear <Bear993not@yahoo.com> wrote in
>news:219069951.0000d2ba.051.0001@drn.newsguy.co m:
>
>> Gigglz, wrote:
>>
>>> definitely benzos will do the trick.
>>
>> nah. When it comes to medications - Nothing is definite other than
>> the fact that nothing is definite.
>>
>>
>
>I'm going to put that on a tshirt.


will you make me a copy? :-)

giggz

On 24 Apr 2008 13:45:51 -0700, Bear <Bear993not@yahoo.com> wrote:

>Gigglz, wrote:
>
>> definitely benzos will do the trick.
>
>nah. When it comes to medications - Nothing is definite other than the fact
>that nothing is definite.

guess when it comes to anything, nothing is.
i'm finding that out more and more these days.
<groan>

gigglz