Do you ever just feel riddled with anxiety...almost a guilty feeling. Not an anxiety attack, per se, but just VERY overwhelmed, not knowing where to begin......kind of like when I was a kid afraid I was going to get into trouble. It doesn't happen to me very often, but it's happening right now!

How can I make this knot in my stomach go away?

Funny you should mention this, misclee. I'm going through some "things" right now, and this is a very common feeling (unfortunately). For ADDers this may be easier to handle than non-ADDers. I find that if I allow myself to get distracted for a while, something that is time or effort consuming, I am able to temporarily "manage" the anxiety.

Also, breathing/relaxation exercises, or physical exercise works well too.

Lastly, if you find that this is a common occurance, you might want to talk to your doctor about anti-anxiety meds.

Yeah, I think I'll go distract myself by spending money I don't have!

Misclee, did it help to start a thread here? I think problems shared are half answered! Yes...anxiety.... have it about once per week...find I can't make it go away....must go away on its own....but I do trace it back to childhood, no doubt about that...when feelings of helplessness were much more acute.

Journally sometimes helps....but I guess forums is like a minijournal, right? Sometimes it helps to ask myself if the anxiety is based on anything real? Anything real to be afraid of? Anything I'm doing in my life I shouldn't be doing (by my own values, morals, etc.) OR anything I'm NOT doing that I SHOULD be doing.....in everyday life....what should I be taking care of?? For me my case study for school I should be taking care of but I'm not so anxiety riddles me all the time....So what's happening right NOW for you? I don't think anxiety is based on nothing....it has to be telling us something....

Yes, Joan, I think it's absolutely based on things I "should" be doing. That word in and of itself gives me massive anxiety.

oops sorry...didn't mean to use that word Misclee...as they say "shoulding" on ourselves...therefore may I change the word to COULD be doing???? based on things I COULD be doing to imply a choice....:)

:) I'm feeling a little better now that my daughter is home from her sleepover and I have someone other than myself to focus on!

See, that's why I need a husband and preferably one with a child...the ONLY person I ever think about is ME....24/7...and that can't be good for my mental health....I need others to focus on...:) okay it will be soon enough....

you are too funny, joan! But it's true...I think I would be institutionalized if I didn't have my daughter to keep me sane!

:)

well there IS an institution down the street, should I ever need one....:) THANK GOD....and here I thought children needed parents to keep them sane...liittle did i know that sometimes it was the other way around:) um, does your daughter know this?? better not tell her!

No, she thinks I'm Wonder Woman.....little does she know I'm just a little girl underneath my superhero exterior....

:) thought so....um....so how's the anxiety Misclee??:)

It morphed into a terrible grouchy mood. I had to run some errands and wanted to murdelize everyone in my path! I'm a little better at the moment, though:)

"murdelize" -- now THERE'S a good word one of us might use in "word association" thread...so you went from anxious to grouchy...well at least anxiety is gone:) but glad you're better at moment...

I've actually been dignosed with some form of anxiety. we're not sure of the exact type, but it could be linked to taking ritalin and dexedrine.
I must go sleep. and tkae the paxil... anyone been on that one? i just started it recently...

I didn't realize there were different types of anxiety?

I was struggling for a long time, over the last 4 years... my grades kept getting worse and worse... and I went to get an LD assessment. The people assessed me said that I should get checked for anxiety, and I found out I do have it. I didn't even realize that I was so anxious all the time... I'm on meds and it feels like I'm slowly being "freed" from all the doubts and invisible barriers that kept me from doing a lot of stuff.

It's also helping me to remember things, and learn easier because I'm more relaxed about stuff.

I encourage you get checked out for an anxiety disorder, I'm taking meds for both ADD and anxiety and it works out OK... better than having ADD and not knowing where to start. I have an easier time getting started now, and don't fret as much about letting some things slide b/c I don't have the time immediately (prioritization).
Anyway, good luck :)
~M

I take Clonazepam for anxiety and Seraquel for insomnia.

MIsclee - I was originally diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder last summer. Shortly after that, I was diagnosed with ADD. I'm not completely sure how separate the anxiety is from the ADD, but I definitely have anxiety issues. Sometimes related to a particular topic (relationship issues, things I SHOULD be doing, how to prioritize, feeling overwhelmed, making decisions....I could go on - I think sometimes I have perpetual anxiety ;) ). Sometimes, the anxiety's NOT related to anything I can pin point precisely. That's when it's difficult, because I can't fix it if I can't find a problem, you know?

I have been taking Zoloft for the anxiety since last Sept. I have to say, it's been QUITE a difference for me. It's really helped reduce the anxiety a lot. I am much freer & in instances where I AM feeling anxious, I don't "lose it" - I'm usually able to talk myself through it & at least see if I can pinpoint the reason. And if I can't find a reason, I tell myself that there ISN'T anything to be anxious about, everything will be fine, the feeling will pass....I have to talk myself out of losing my calm and getting carried away. The meds have definitely helped! (Ask anyone!)

As far as whoever asked about the different types of anxiety disorders - there's General Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety D., and there are Phobias, Panic Disorders, things like that, mostly. Hope that helps.

Good luck misclee. BTW, are you taking any ADD meds? because they could be causing anxiety as a side-effect. That can happen. That's why some people (like me) take an extra anti-anxiety med too. Okay, I rambled enough ;)

Hi, I have anxiety too so can relate to the knot in the stomach!
I accidently found out that ridalin actually takes a good chunck of my anxiety off my mental plate. Only problem is that when its night time or I don't have my meds there is that anxiety. Frustrating isn't it?!

Originally posted by Cait
I'm not completely sure how separate the anxiety is from the ADD, but I definitely have anxiety issues. Sometimes related to a particular topic (relationship issues, things I SHOULD be doing, how to prioritize, feeling overwhelmed, making decisions....I could go on - I think sometimes I have perpetual anxiety ;) ). Sometimes, the anxiety's NOT related to anything I can pin point precisely. That's when it's difficult, because I can't fix it if I can't find a problem, you know?

...I'm usually able to talk myself through it & at least see if I can pinpoint the reason. And if I can't find a reason, I tell myself that there ISN'T anything to be anxious about, everything will be fine, the feeling will pass....I have to talk myself out of losing my calm and getting carried away....

These words could've come right out of my mouth! I started taking clonazepam last month, but I don't think I have the dosage right. Works sometimes, sometimes not. Seeing the doc this Thursday, so we'll see.... Also started Zoloft again last month. Had been on it before being diagnosed, went off to see how Adderall worked..... Anyway, my point is that sometimes I seem unable to "talk myself down"--I feel like a baby who hasn't learned how to comfort herself and calm herself down....

I am taking Paxil for anxiety and ritalin... I got off the habit of taking it though, when my boyfriend went away and my routine got disrupted. I`ve got a good routine going on now, so I am trying my best to take it faithfully.

I`m not sure, but I *think* the anxiety did come back when I was off it... it`s odd, but I can`t really tell. I do know that I felt a lot more productive when I was on it, but then again, that was in the summer when I didn`t have that much to do.

What is really bugging me right now is not having the house organized. I am still learning what works best for me in terms of organization. My boyfriend and I just moved into a place together for the first time, and so we are slowly trying to gather the furniture I need. Also I have never had a system for storing all my stuff, so it is stressfull trying to cope with it all and trying to find the best way...at the same time!

Anyone else have issues with this?
Decisions are another hardship I face. Decisions about ANYTHING. I have gotten better about just trying something and telling myself that if it doesn`t work, I`ll just try something else.

I have a question - I think I might have a bit of anxiety problem, but I am afraid to even look into it. I am anxious (ha,ha) about taking anxiety meds and having sexual side effects.:eek: Do any of you who take the meds have this problem?

-Diane