FearfulInMA
Super Moderator
Staff member
- Joined
- Jun 14, 2012
- Messages
- 2,150
- Location
- Massachusetts, USA
well... i'm back after a hiatus. i hope you all aren't sick of me .
i'm wondering how any of you with severe anxiety leading up to your appts cope with this. i may be one of those weird people who is actually more anxious in the days leading up to an appt than i am (for the most part) when i am actually in the chair. don't get me wrong, i'm anything but anxiety-free in the chair, but it's nothing compared to the profoundly debilitating anxiety i feel in the days leading up to an appt.
i have an appt for a cleaning (i know, no biggie) on thursday and i've been a wreck since yesterday. the only way i can describe how i feel is to say that it's what it must feel like the second before you are about to jump out of a plane (i've never done this, but can only imagine). the problem is, i have this feeling from the moment i wake up until i'm finally able to get myself to sleep at night. i get headaches, feel like i can't breathe, and have horrible stomach issues. i can't focus at work (i have a rather technical job and, yesterday, my boss asked me if i wanted to do some data entry to just try to calm down), i don't want to eat anything b/c my stomach is such a mess, i have trouble sleeping. part of what makes it worse for me is that there is not anything in particular that i'm worried about. so i can't even tell myself that it's going to be ok b/c i'm not really worried about anything (except this time i'm worried that my appt may get cancelled b/c we are supposed to get snow and then i would have to go through all of this anxiety all over again). i've been going to the same dentist for 6 yrs and the hygienist there now has been there for a couple of years. i like them both and they are both very good at helping me to manage my anxiety while i'm there. i've thought about calling to see if they have any cancellations for today or tomorrow so that i don't have to prolong my anxiety, but then i worry that they will think that i really am crazy.
sorry to ramble on like this, but i'm just not sure what to do. have any of you successfully managed to cope with anxiety that seemingly has no cause? i've tried exercise to try to get some of the energy out (what friends suggested), but that only seemed to make things worse (giving me more energy)... i also know that, when the anxiety is at its worst, exercise is out of the question b/c it's so difficult to breathe. Others have suggested yoga/meditation, but there is no way i can quiet myself for that (even under the best of circumstances) any other thoughts?
i would be so grateful for any suggestions/support you can provide over the next couple of days.
i'm wondering how any of you with severe anxiety leading up to your appts cope with this. i may be one of those weird people who is actually more anxious in the days leading up to an appt than i am (for the most part) when i am actually in the chair. don't get me wrong, i'm anything but anxiety-free in the chair, but it's nothing compared to the profoundly debilitating anxiety i feel in the days leading up to an appt.
i have an appt for a cleaning (i know, no biggie) on thursday and i've been a wreck since yesterday. the only way i can describe how i feel is to say that it's what it must feel like the second before you are about to jump out of a plane (i've never done this, but can only imagine). the problem is, i have this feeling from the moment i wake up until i'm finally able to get myself to sleep at night. i get headaches, feel like i can't breathe, and have horrible stomach issues. i can't focus at work (i have a rather technical job and, yesterday, my boss asked me if i wanted to do some data entry to just try to calm down), i don't want to eat anything b/c my stomach is such a mess, i have trouble sleeping. part of what makes it worse for me is that there is not anything in particular that i'm worried about. so i can't even tell myself that it's going to be ok b/c i'm not really worried about anything (except this time i'm worried that my appt may get cancelled b/c we are supposed to get snow and then i would have to go through all of this anxiety all over again). i've been going to the same dentist for 6 yrs and the hygienist there now has been there for a couple of years. i like them both and they are both very good at helping me to manage my anxiety while i'm there. i've thought about calling to see if they have any cancellations for today or tomorrow so that i don't have to prolong my anxiety, but then i worry that they will think that i really am crazy.
sorry to ramble on like this, but i'm just not sure what to do. have any of you successfully managed to cope with anxiety that seemingly has no cause? i've tried exercise to try to get some of the energy out (what friends suggested), but that only seemed to make things worse (giving me more energy)... i also know that, when the anxiety is at its worst, exercise is out of the question b/c it's so difficult to breathe. Others have suggested yoga/meditation, but there is no way i can quiet myself for that (even under the best of circumstances) any other thoughts?
i would be so grateful for any suggestions/support you can provide over the next couple of days.