To overachievers with anxiety disorders...?

I know there have to be some good old fashioned overachiever types who also battle with pathological anxiety! Any advice on treatments/strategies that worked particularly well or badly?

I have generalized anxiety and panic disorder and for some (retrospectively) insane reason I decided to enter a competitive PhD program. So, a lot of self-imposed pressure and I'm basically trying to figure out how to manage it all without driving myself completely nuts.

I've been treated on and off for anxiety depending on how much it is impacting my day to day life. Right now I'm in the first few weeks of a Prozac regime (40 mg/day) because I don't tolerate Lexapro or Citalopram very well. My doctor also gave me an Rx for Klonopin, but I think he intends to wean me from it when the Prozac kicks in. The Klonopin has been working fantastically for the last few weeks, but since he probably won't keep me on it forever, I'd love some tips on how to balance anxiety with a heavy work load. Thanks!

Hey,
I suffer from generalised anxiety disorder as well. I am not an overachiever though, but I might have some tips for you anyway. First of all, if you're not allready in therapy, try it! It can help a lot by giving you usefull tips on how to control your anxiety.Since you are allready on medication, I won't give any advice to that. What might help, is making schedules. For example, weekly schedules of all the work you have to do that week, then divide it into days, then into hours. Also schedule in some time to relax. This is very important, since it is hard to relax when you have anxiety disorder and a heavy courseload. What works wonders for me is to go jogging every other day. Not only does it clear my head, it also seems to prevent some of the panic attacks from happening. Also, when you make those schedules, make sure you set goals that are achievable, maybe even below what you could do. That way, you reach your goals easier, making you feel better about yourself. Device a little 'rewardsystem', for example, if I work through 7 pages every hour, I can go shopping for an hour after 4 hours of work. It sounds over-simple and a bit silly, but I assure you it works! It also makes the amount of work you have to do a little more manageable; it doesn't seem like one giant heap anymore, but like small, bite-sized chunks you can handle. This really takes the pressure of and thereby helps you to relax more and get the better of your anxiety.
Good luck, I really hope this helps (if only a little), because I know how horrible such a disorder is.
love

I HAVE SUFFERED FROM GENERAL ANXIETY/PANIC ATTACKS FOR YEARS. I TAKE ZOLOFT ONCE DAILY AND I TAKE XANAX UP TO 3 TIMES DAILY. THE XANAX IS AWESOME FOR CALMING ME DOWN IMMEDIATELY WHEN A PANIC ATTACK STARTS. MY SISTER IS ON LEXAPRO AND KLONIPIN AND THAT WORKS GOOD FOR HER, IF YOUR GOING TO BE TAKEN OFF OF A MEDICATION, AND YOUR DISORDER PERSISTS GO BACK TO YOUR DOCTOR AND EXPLAIN HE MAY TRY SOMETHING ELSE.

THATS a tuff one. I use PRAYER. ITS how i cope. I stopped the chemicals. I went to a more spiritual approach.I found a group of Ladies at a local methodist church. I pray 4 them, they pray 4 me. AND i pray 4 others with the same anxietys.Now i dont feel like i am going nuts 24 hours a day.AND i have helped others cope too. PLUS the chemicals+ pills are not messing with me physically now. ANY way i wish you the best. THIS is how i cope.STAR

supplement with TwinLab Daily One Caps or a multivitamin with equal or greater quality. Take enough calcium/magnesium/zinc/D to bring intake up to around USRDA. Take flax oil and fish oil.

Eat a high protein, low saturated fat, high fiber, varied and nutritious diet that not overrefined, overcooked, or overloaded with additives and presevatives. Don't use caffeine, or if you do, only once a day.

Learn the fundamental yoga and t'ai chi warmups

Sunlight on face often if you can. consider tanning salon if you think lack of light may be a problem.

almost daily vigorous cardiovascular exercise.

consider trying ginseng pills if you ever get off of all of that medication.

you might try one of my personal favorite things to do... take a hot shower, then turn it on as cold as it'll go, or as you can take it, for like a minute, during which you can swear or sing or whatever feels right. I do this every time I shower. Good for the glands, says I.

If none of that helps, try driving yourself partially nuts ahead of the main nuts, like they do with forest fires. A funny hat will help. You can make one from a box. You'll need some eyeholes. Remember to get help with scissors.

Just remember the panic is only as big as you allow it to become .... If you choose to be the master of your mind, anxiety will not master you. Though it takes a lot of discipline to shut the anxiety down the very instant it begins... and it must be done consistently... it gets easier with practice. I suggest finding something that you can divert your attention with... Art, Reading, A Punching Bag, I also recommend reading "Positive Magic- Occult Self Help" by Marion Weinstein... Check for it at Walmart? Excellent book. changed the way I perceive everything.... I don't have panic attacks anymore. They were brutal . It was hard to breath and I'd feel hot and cold at the same time and there was this roaring sound in my ears and I'd get spots filling in around the edges of my vision untill it was like looking down a tunnel and i felt light headed....scary stuff and super intense! Thankfully it's in the Past (In)-tense! And If it is your will to replace your anxiety and panic with calm and tranquility, the power to do so is within you. Just, trust and believe in it. And so mote it be.

P.S. Occult means "hidden" and yes, I believe in magic!

Please be careful of klonopin, it is highly addictive. If you have two or more antidepressant failures, you may have a mood disorder such as Bipolar disorder. I was told for 9 years that I had Generalized anxiety disorder. I got hooked on klonopin while different shrinks were trying to find the right antidepressant for me. There wasn't one because SSRI's put bipolars into a manic phase. Your story reminded me of myself 9 years ago and if only they had diagnosed me correctly and put me on mood stabilizers for the anxiety, I wouldn't have went through the hell of weaning off of klonopin. If antidepressants continue to not work or the side effects are too much, give them up and get an opinion about a mood disorder diagnosis. Good luck!

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