how do I deal with Anxiety - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

Rhonda6409 · 09-25-2009, 08:03 PM

I have been sober 4 months now, I'm going to meetings, working with my sponsor ,doing step work, praying, all the things I think I should be doing but I just started having anxiety attacks about 3 weeks ago. I have an apt. with a Dr. but cannot get in till Oct 12. I feel like I am going to lose it or relasp. I have been taking benadryl to calm me down but I am open to sugestion. Thanks

**Astro** · 09-25-2009, 10:23 PM

Hi Rhonda, welcome to SR! It's still pretty hot in Phoenix, wish I lived in Prescott

I hope you'll continue to share on the forums here, I'm sure your experience will benefit so many others.

Please remember that drinking will not improve any situation, I hope you won't consider it an option. If necessary, call your doctor and let them know you need to get in sooner. Hopefully they'll respond to the urgency. In early sobriety, I was prescribed an SSRI to help with anxiety. It took awhile to find one that worked and then it took more time for me to fully adapt to it.

It's been a few years since I've had to take anything, but everyone will require different measures. I agree that it sounds like you're doing very well in your program. Sharing my experience, when anxiety creeps back in, it helps me immensely to work with others and be of service, it takes the focus off my issues until I reach a point of comfort again.

NewBeginning010 · 09-25-2009, 11:42 PM

Hi Rhonda,

There are some good posts as well as an audio program listed in this thread that you might find helpful.

http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...ml#post2344626 (Coping with anxiety and panic disorders)

I hope that you are able to work through your anxiety attacks, I know how tough it can be.

Take Care,

NB

tigers13 · 09-26-2009, 05:29 PM

Hi Rhonda and welcome. Astro has some good suggestions for you. Instead of waiting to see your regular doctor, especially if they can't understand your urgency, have you tried to get into a psychiatrist who is probably more apt and qualified to diagnois your anxiety? They know the symptoms much better and know which meds help most with your issues. I've been dealing with anxiety for years and I feel your pain and confusion.

4 months is very good!!! Keep up the good work, it seems to be working for you!!

ElegantlyWasted · 09-26-2009, 05:33 PM

This may tide you over and be a great resource.... Google the "meditation podcast". There are about 10 different guided meditations with different themes. Among my favorites is "addiction". Good Luck.... You'll make it!

advena · 09-27-2009, 09:22 PM

Hi Rhonda, Congrats on six(edit four) months. When I was early in recovery the first time, I suffered from anxiety and agitation. A dear friend in the program asked me "can you handle this feeling for just this second" and I realized I could. Each moment, in and of itself, was all I had to experience. I didn't have to worry that I felt anxious yesterday or that I might feel anxious tomorrow or even whether the anxiety would ever end. Also, it helps me to tell myself "its just a feeling" and not connected with any external events.
sometimes i work the program one minute at a time instead of one day at a time.
I agree with meditation tapes and easy yoga DVDs.

Thank you for sharing.

Kristin:praying

09-25-2009, 08:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
Rhonda6409 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Prescott, az Posts: 1	how do I deal with Anxiety I have been sober 4 months now, I'm going to meetings, working with my sponsor ,doing step work, praying, all the things I think I should be doing but I just started having anxiety attacks about 3 weeks ago. I have an apt. with a Dr. but cannot get in till Oct 12. I feel like I am going to lose it or relasp. I have been taking benadryl to calm me down but I am open to sugestion. Thanks

09-25-2009, 10:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
Astro Forum Leader Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Scottsdale, AZ, one big happy dysfunctional family! Posts: 11,833	Hi Rhonda, welcome to SR! It's still pretty hot in Phoenix, wish I lived in Prescott I hope you'll continue to share on the forums here, I'm sure your experience will benefit so many others. Please remember that drinking will not improve any situation, I hope you won't consider it an option. If necessary, call your doctor and let them know you need to get in sooner. Hopefully they'll respond to the urgency. In early sobriety, I was prescribed an SSRI to help with anxiety. It took awhile to find one that worked and then it took more time for me to fully adapt to it. It's been a few years since I've had to take anything, but everyone will require different measures. I agree that it sounds like you're doing very well in your program. Sharing my experience, when anxiety creeps back in, it helps me immensely to work with others and be of service, it takes the focus off my issues until I reach a point of comfort again. __________________ "Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty, and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming---WOW-What a ride!"

09-25-2009, 11:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
NewBeginning010 Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,923	Hi Rhonda, There are some good posts as well as an audio program listed in this thread that you might find helpful. http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...ml#post2344626 (Coping with anxiety and panic disorders) I hope that you are able to work through your anxiety attacks, I know how tough it can be. Take Care, NB __________________ "Today is the first day of the rest of your life"

09-26-2009, 05:33 PM	#5 (permalink)
ElegantlyWasted Excellence... not Perfection Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: AZ Posts: 1,190 Blog Entries: 8	This may tide you over and be a great resource.... Google the "meditation podcast". There are about 10 different guided meditations with different themes. Among my favorites is "addiction". Good Luck.... You'll make it! __________________ "We're all told at some point in time that we can no longer play the children's game, we just don't...we don't know when that's gonna be. Some of us are told at eighteen, some of us are told at forty, but we're all told."

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09-26-2009, 05:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
tigers13 Love my puppies Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: lala land Posts: 150	Hi Rhonda and welcome. Astro has some good suggestions for you. Instead of waiting to see your regular doctor, especially if they can't understand your urgency, have you tried to get into a psychiatrist who is probably more apt and qualified to diagnois your anxiety? They know the symptoms much better and know which meds help most with your issues. I've been dealing with anxiety for years and I feel your pain and confusion. 4 months is very good!!! Keep up the good work, it seems to be working for you!!

09-27-2009, 09:22 PM	#6 (permalink)
advena Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: northern virginia Posts: 6	Hi Rhonda, Congrats on six(edit four) months. When I was early in recovery the first time, I suffered from anxiety and agitation. A dear friend in the program asked me "can you handle this feeling for just this second" and I realized I could. Each moment, in and of itself, was all I had to experience. I didn't have to worry that I felt anxious yesterday or that I might feel anxious tomorrow or even whether the anxiety would ever end. Also, it helps me to tell myself "its just a feeling" and not connected with any external events. sometimes i work the program one minute at a time instead of one day at a time. I agree with meditation tapes and easy yoga DVDs. Thank you for sharing. Kristin:praying

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