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Totally overwhelmed with anxiety

MiraLuv

MiraLuv

Greenlighter
Joined
Jun 11, 2012
Messages
40
Hi guys I'm having some bad anxiety and I feel totally overwhelmed. I had crazy dreams last night like me and my friend were going into walgreens and bombs started going off like blowing up a place next door. What the heck? I soo want to feel better. Please tell me it will
 
I remember in rehab a few years back I kept complaining to the nurse that "I feel so anxious," and she just kept saying "that's right, you FEEL..." It pissed me off at the time, but the lady was right. Heroin numbs it all out, and when we quit we get the entire emotional spectrum back. Anxiety, bad dreams, and so on, well they are all facts of life. Everyone deals with these things. Some folks bitch around the watercooler and are okay. Others shoot up hard drugs to make it go away. Unfortunately, the latter doesn't turn out so well, and you need to try some other stuff out.

Here is what works for me:

- limited caffeine
- exercise
- music
- meditation
- doing something I am good at
- ample sleep
- no greasy food
- drinking water
- being in sunshine
- a vitamin/supplement regime

The sleep thing is unfortunately the last physical symptom to go away. But it will. Anxiety is a function of sleep withdrawal for a lot of people.

OTC-wise, L-Thenine, skullcap, hops, passionflower, kava kava, valerian root...none are dangerous really and have positive effects on anxiety for many.

[Mods can merge my two posts...mobile difficulties]
 
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Another technique many people find super helpful is mindfulness.

In mindfulness-based therapy, the person focuses on the bodily sensations that arise when he or she is anxious. Instead of avoiding or withdrawing from these feelings, he or she remains present and fully experiences the symptoms of anxiety. Instead of avoiding distressing thoughts, he or she opens up to them in an effort to realize and acknowledge that they are not literally true.
Click to expand...

Taken from here.

RL's tips are also very helpful.

<3
 
LOL.
I saw the post/username and got totally weirded out... Like shit, did I make a new account and post while fucked up forever ago and forgot?
Then I saw you just posted, phew. My name is also Mira :!

On a serious note, anxiety is common after quitting opiates.
A year ago when I quit Oxycontin CT I had severe insomnia and panic attacks and seldom left the house due to anxiety.
I relapsed and ended up on heroin because I'd broke things off with a supplier when I quit the Oxy. Even before getting physically dependent on dope I had really bad anxiety on the days I didn't use and wouldn't sleep till the next time I got high.

The only real solution is going to be time. However, there are some things you can do to take the edge off. For sleep, melatonin and valerian are both effective sleep aids that also relax you. Take them at least an hour before bed and make sure to have set bed time routine to get yourself mentally and physically ready to sleep. Take a shower, drink some chamomile tea, read a book.. no TV or computer before bed. When it's time for bed, turn off all the lights. You need to sleep in a room completely dark with no sound. As for anxiety during the day, exercise is key. I remember reading that anxiety can be related to the old "fight or flight" instincts that humans have but seldom use anymore. Running and other cardio really helps with this. Yoga and meditation can help relax your body and mind. Kava Kava and 5HTP help with relaxation and positive mood.

If none of the above helps and it's severely impacting your quality of life, you can talk to your doctor about being prescribed a benzo. However..... You really don't want to be on it long as it's all too easy to switch one addiction for another. And being dope sick is awful enough, you don't want to have a seizure because you became dependent on benzos and stopped taking them.

Best of luck! Opiate addiction has been a battle for me.. and sometimes I think I'm fighting for my life. I've been on methadone almost 6 months now though, and that's another good option for people unable to stay clean or who work and can't afford to be sick.

Edited to clarify.
 
I take seroquel for sleep which helps but still have anxiety that came as the psychical sx went away. I can not take benzos on a regular basis. I was addicted to those at a high dose and had Dts when I stopped. I called my dad and asked him to baby sit so I can get to a meeting. He does not know about my relapse and only having 8 days but I told him I was so overwhelmed and anxious.
 
Good for you for recognizing that you cannot take a substance.
Try the suggestions I typed before that, you can find all of other supplements I suggested at a health food store, they're all plant based.
 
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