Is Anxiety A Medical Condition?

[HeIsRisen2018]

I just really want to know because I tend to get frustrated and anxious an awful lot when things aren't going the way that I want them to. Do you have any advice that would help me? I know that Yoga has been helping me calm down a bit, the only problem is that I get into such anxious moods that I can't and don't even want to try relaxing. It's sort of hard to explain, but basically I have to be in the proper mindset to want to calm down.

 

[Eugene]

I tend to get frustrated and anxious an awful lot

Since I’m finding many that don’t like scripture, I’ll try to give a concept that appears to deny reason.
Be happy when you have trouble, it will help give the peace you want.

E.g. You ask someone if they know Jesus, they hit you in the mouth, and you say GLORY.

You’re now laid out on your back in the street, and a dude comes along and asks if you’re alright . . huh . . wha ? Oh yes I am, and I got peace resting here.
Okay, see you.

Wait! DO YOU KNOW JESUS?
POW, POW, POW

 

[HeIsRisen2018]

Since I’m finding many that don’t like scripture, I’ll try to give a concept that appears to deny reason.
Be happy when you have trouble, it will help give the peace you want.

E.g. You ask someone if they know Jesus, they hit you in the mouth, and you say GLORY.

You’re now laid out on your back in the street, and a dude comes along and asks if you’re alright . . huh . . wha ? Oh yes I am, and I got peace resting here.
Okay, see you.

Wait! DO YOU KNOW JESUS?
POW, POW, POW

I don't care what people do, they can punch me and kick me or even threaten to shoot me in the head. I will never deny the fact that I know Jesus. Also, just for the record I don't actually have anxiety attacks, I just get nervous an awful lot. Thanks for the advice though!

 

[evenifigoalone]

It can be, I have friends who have anxiety disorders. I don't know if panic attacks are a necessity for it to be classified as a disorder, but it wouldn't hurt to talk to a doctor about it. Also, you can have panic attacks and not realise they are panic attacks, because the symptoms can vary.

 

[Christ_empowered]

--sigh-- i don't know. since i've started praying forgiveness for and genuinely repenting of my spirit of timidity and also started praying for more and more of the perfect love that casteth out all fear...

i've become less fearful and anxious. i do sometimes wonder...with psychiatric stuff....if most people going to shrinks really need to, honestly. i mean, I have the "Bipolar I w/psychotic features," so its kinda like...take a tranquilizer voluntarily, or they'll give you on in a hospital, m'kay? But I see lots of walking wounded people who could probably do w/o the pills and the "experts," etc.

so...maybe? problem is, -all- psych drugs create their own set of problems. im not anti-psych drugs, just sayin'...they suppress symptoms, and that comes at a cost, always. the standard treatment for severe anxiety is still benzodiazepines, and those can be a problem, over the long haul (dependence, dosage increases, anxiety between doses, drug induced depression, cognitive problems, etc.). i could see popping an ativan or a xanax a couple times per month for panic attacks, but daily use...often=trouble.

 

[evenifigoalone]

I have a friend who had an anxiety disorder since she was a very young child. She prefers to manage without medication, but knowing what she's dealing with has been helpful to her. She is also very Christian.
I would say that in some cases medication is the right answer however.

 

[Christ_empowered]

im not trying to sound judgmental, its just...no psych drugs actually "fix" anything. if you're like me, they'll keep you out of a hospital and aid in some degree of "recovery from severe mental illness" (to a point...), but that's about it. if anything, the psych drugs can create "chemical imabalances" by altering brain chemistry. not necessarily a horrible thing, just...taking psych drugs is sort of like taking cough syrup; it suppresses symptoms, but the underlying problem(s) remain.

 

[evenifigoalone]

I would say that in some cases they are helpful and needed in cases where someone is unable to cope with their illness otherwise. Some of my mentally ill friends take medication and some don't. There are people they don't necessarily help though, it depends, and sometimes the dosage needs to be adjusted or another medication tried. But that is also true of medications for serious physical illnesses. Most mental illnesses are chronic and they don't really have a "cure" for them, so the medications do primarily help deal with the symptoms.

 

[HeIsRisen2018]

It can be, I have friends who have anxiety disorders. I don't know if panic attacks are a necessity for it to be classified as a disorder, but it wouldn't hurt to talk to a doctor about it. Also, you can have panic attacks and not realise they are panic attacks, because the symptoms can vary.

Thanks for telling me. I am in the process of my doctor's appointment and I will mention something to her about it. All the symptoms that I really have are freaking out in stressful situations and heavy breathing.

 

[evenifigoalone]

Thanks for telling me. I am in the process of my doctor's appointment and I will mention something to her about it. All the symptoms that I really have are freaking out in stressful situations and heavy breathing.

That does sound like something you should definitely bring up. Sometimes anxiety can be comorbid with other disorders, so if you have another disorder you already know about it could very well be connected to that.

 

[HeIsRisen2018]

That does sound like something you should definitely bring up. Sometimes anxiety can be comorbid with other disorders, so if you have another disorder you already know about it could very well be connected to that.

I have mentioned this before but I have a mental disorder that I was born with which is the reason that I was in special education. I used to get seizures when I was a little kid but I don't have those anymore. If you read the I Need Prayers that I posted, you will find out that all the bullying I got for my mental disabilities almost made me commit suicide.


Oh and I get really anxious in crowds too and I start to sweat.

 

[evenifigoalone]

I have mentioned this before but I have a mental disorder that I was born with which is the reason that I was in special education. I used to get seizures when I was a little kid but I don't have those anymore. If you read the I Need Prayers that I posted, you will find out that all the bullying I got for my mental disabilities almost made me commit suicide.


Oh and I get really anxious in crowds too and I start to sweat.

Yeah, it's very common for mental disorders and disabilities to have other disorders or illnesses along with them. Sometimes they can result from the difficulties of dealing with a mental disability, or sometimes they have been there from the beginning. I've read that it's also common for people with anxiety issues to be extra sensitive to noises and lights, etc to the point they can be overwhelming or contribute to the anxiety.

 

[HeIsRisen2018]

Yeah, it's very common for mental disorders and disabilities to have other disorders or illnesses along with them. Sometimes they can result from the difficulties of dealing with a mental disability, or sometimes they have been there from the beginning. I've read that it's also common for people with anxiety issues to be extra sensitive to noises and lights, etc to the point they can be overwhelming or contribute to the anxiety.

I'm not oversensitive to those things, I am only oversensitive tof people who bully me. I'm trying to work on it though. I am ashamed to admit this but sometimes I forget how much God loves me and that He loves me just the way I am.

 

[evenifigoalone]

I'm not oversensitive to those things, I am only oversensitive tof people who bully me. I'm trying to work on it though. I am ashamed to admit this but sometimes I forget how much God loves me and that He loves me just the way I am.

That's understandable. It's okay to struggle with things sometimes. But God does love you as you are.
Edit: not everyone who has anxiety is sensitive to noise or other sensory input, so if you don't have that it doesn't necessarily mean you don't have anxiety

 

[Papa Zoom]

I have struggled with panic attacks since I was a teen. I didn't know it at the time. Later, when I hit about 50, depression hit me like a brick. It was horrible as I didn't know what was happening. I lost work because of it. Sleepless nights and many, many crying spells. Even at work. I ended up in counseling for about 3 plus years and eventually went to a psych who asked me about my family history. There are 9 of us and all of us have this problem. It manifest itself differently for each one. We're all on a prozac generic. I also take an anxiety/panic attack medication but only when the situation is unbearable. Nothing to be ashamed of and it is what it is. Some people don't have a clue what those of us with these problems go through. I wish I was that stable that this didn't happen to me but it is what it is. Probably genetic. My son struggles too.

 

[HeIsRisen2018]

Thanks guys, I'm glad that you understand. I can get rather ashamed of it sometimes.

 

[HeIsRisen2018]

I forgot to mention that in June I will be tested to see if I can ever drive a car. I sure hope that my anxiety won't cause problems for that because even though I can ride a bus, bike, and or walk, I still want to be able to drive a car someday like everybody else.

 

[GodsGrace]

I just really want to know because I tend to get frustrated and anxious an awful lot when things aren't going the way that I want them to. Do you have any advice that would help me? I know that Yoga has been helping me calm down a bit, the only problem is that I get into such anxious moods that I can't and don't even want to try relaxing. It's sort of hard to explain, but basically I have to be in the proper mindset to want to calm down.

Yes. It's a medical condition.
Take care of it medically. You can't do it on your own.

 

[Tessa]

My daughter suffers from severe panic attacks caused by anxiety. She is on medication for that and also for acute paranoid scizophrenia. If she misses either she is very ill.

When she has one of these terrible panic attacks I get her to take several slow deep breaths, I hug her and talk quietly. It seems to help and she calms down.

Talking to God about this distressing illness I would imagine helps to bring peace back as you focus on Him.

Much love and prayers to anyone who suffers from this cruel illness

 

[GodsGrace]

My daughter suffers from severe panic attacks caused by anxiety. She is on medication for that and also for acute paranoid scizophrenia. If she misses either she is very ill.

When she has one of these terrible panic attacks I get her to take several slow deep breaths, I hug her and talk quietly. It seems to help and she calms down.

Talking to God about this distressing illness I would imagine helps to bring peace back as you focus on Him.

Much love and prayers to anyone who suffers from this cruel illness

I don't suffer from this, but I have had panic attacks and it's very difficult because you can't breath. I remember the first time this happened I kept thinking that if I didn't get my breath back, I'd just die.

What I do now is get a mental picture in my mind of Jesus as soon as I'm a little calm but still within the attack. It helps me a lot.

You're doing the right thing with your daughter. If she sees you calm, it'll help to keep her calm until she starts breathing again. If she believes in our Lord, a picture of Him could be helpful.