anxiety hasn't gotten better

[NovaStarwind]

I started going to a counselor at my school's Health Center, because my anxiety problems were getting to the point of where I couldn't function. Ended up in a group therapy thing designed to help with accepting anxiety, rather than fighting it. Problem is, it hasn't helped me at ALL. How am I supposed to just passively view my "experience" when my heart rate is so fast, my hands so sweaty, my stomach twisting into knots, and the need to get the fuck out of wherever I am is so strong? I had to leave a party this weekend because of it, and tried to go to my 9AM class TWICE this morning, walking to the building and back both times.

Once the physical sensations are there, I am extremely lucky to make myself calm down without having to leave or avoid any situation. Accepting my anxiety, so far, has meant not going to class if I feel anxious, ditching my friends when I can't deal with social situations, and trying to anticipate every little problem before it happens so I can possibly avoid the anxiety. I'm really tired of this, but I don't know what my counselor will say when I tell him that accepting my anxiety hasn't helped it at all. Group therapy has made me feel less guilty for having it, though. Has anyone had any type of acceptance therapy, and how did it work for you? I want to see if there are other options, or if I really should be on meds. I'll talk to the counselor at my next appointment about all of this, and hopefully it will bring about some change for the better.

~Nova

[spooner]

Look at Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

[tuesdayafternoon]

I have experienced these same feelings. I am now overcoming it(which I thought I would never be able to do) I was prescribed anti-anxiety meds when I was 20 but didnt really take them( not big on taking meds) Now that I am almost 23, the anxiety had lessoned, mainly because I stopped caring about what I was worried about and started caring on what I must do. Live life the way YOU feel comfortable, thats all I have to say.
GL

[tuesdayafternoon]

Oh, and as far as social situations go, when you feel that everyone is looking at you differently, or because you feel out of place, you are.... not in a bad way though, in a respectful way... thats what I have found out, you might feel that you are the one intimidated by others, but it is the others that are intimidated by your intellect... in most cases

[interval_illusion]

i hate to recommend medication but you had a point- when your PHYSICAL symptoms are that bad, its REALLY hard to work on mental stuff... mental is the key but sometimes if things are seriously bad you have to control the physical first.

you could look into two things- first if its really that bad... ask for a two week supply of something like xanax so you can practice the breathing excercises and yes, there are ways to deal with the underlying issues of anxiety though they dont often seem apparent. if you were gonna go that route with the meds., id seriously only say a two week supply because its easy to get used to popping a pill when you feel like that and you dont want that... that just gets worse...

second- have you looked into any herbals? i found when my anxiety was very high if i did breathing excercises, self talk (cheesy it sounds but it can help) and if i took kava kava, valerian root or drank a tea with both of them and lavender, nettle, etc. it can really help.

i wish you luck as anxiety is horrible but its really just a feeling (that is one of the keys to getting over it)

[Lemongait]

I'm the same way. My dad's making me get another job (just lost my old one) so I can pay the rent... and I've told him that I've dropped off all the resumes he's printed off the computer for me, but I really have a stack of about 100 of them in my room... and it's not like I can go without a job, as I'm almost out of money, but I'm just too scared to go out.
But enough about me.
I'm sorry to hear you're feeling this way. Perhaps medication is the way to go (I'm thinking about trying some new meds, I hated my old ones and quit them almost a year ago). The group therapy sounds sort of interesting, although I can certainly understand how you feel about it.
Anyhow, I'm wishing you luck, and if you want to talk, feel free to PM me.

love