Anxiety Question

[Guest chngnwnd]

This morning I had what I could only describe as an anxiety attack - a mild one, but that is the only way I can describe what happened (I am fine now).

I started thinking about the start of the new school year and how I would have to work and live most of my time as male to keep my insurance and income - and how I really did not have a choice in the matter. My body tensed up, my stomach turned itself in knots, and felt like I was going to vomit...

Has anyone else experienced this for a similar reason? If you did... any tips for dealing with it? I am concerned this will happen frequently since the cause of my anxiety is not going to go away anytime soon - I have to do what I have to do in order to provide for my kids and pay for my transition...

hugs

Bobbie

[Guest Donna Jean]

Honey...

I really don't have any really good advice for you here...you are experiencing the dysphoria that we all have to degrees and sometimes the reality of having to remain status-quo can bring on these feelings of being stuck when we really want to move forward...

I truly do understand, though...I have to work in "male mode" too. Right now is not the time for me to come out at work...

But, as Trans people, we're resilient because we've had to be all our lives...

So, we "muddle"..we keep forging ahead in hopes of better times...

And I know that with young ones it's even harder...

We're here for you, Hon....

LOVE

Donna Jean

[Guest Cowboy]

I suffer from GAD (General Anxiety Disorder.)

and go thru my fair share of anxiety attacks for the same reasons.

Although im prescribed meds for my anxiety it takes like 45 mins for them to even work.

So what i do to help is sit or lay down and close my eyes and try to think about absolutely nothing.

dont really force yourself to calm down it only makes it worse.

but if you just try to relax and empty your thoughts, or maybe even walk around for a minute or 2, itll ease its self off.

if you have meds for nerves, or something similar, you can take one, but its gonna be a while before they work and that defeats the purpose.

but just do your best to relax. i find that turning on music and just chillin out with my eyes closed eases mine off.

walkin can help too. especially if its some place quiet.

hope i helped some!

[Guest Jul]

This morning I had what I could only describe as an anxiety attack - a mild one, but that is the only way I can describe what happened (I am fine now).

I started thinking about the start of the new school year and how I would have to work and live most of my time as male to keep my insurance and income - and how I really did not have a choice in the matter. My body tensed up, my stomach turned itself in knots, and felt like I was going to vomit...

Has anyone else experienced this for a similar reason? If you did... any tips for dealing with it? I am concerned this will happen frequently since the cause of my anxiety is not going to go away anytime soon - I have to do what I have to do in order to provide for my kids and pay for my transition...

hugs

Bobbie

The best advice I can give you is to take a deep breath and try to relax, for starters. Don't force it, like Cowboy said. Different things work for different people, figure out what works for you and stick with it.

[Guest NatashaJade]

Bobbie,

My main anxiety comes more from discovery than actually having to present male. After all, I have 40 years of practice being a man (although he slips away from time to time and I have a hard time recalling him...especially during these vacation months when I spend so much time without him). You will be okay, I promise you. Just put on your guy pants one leg at a time and pretend the way you always have until that day, someday, when you don't have to keep the act up.

luv

Gin

[Guest EvenClose]

I suffer from GAD as well. Panick attacks really suck. At work i work by myself 10 hrs a day so i have a lot of time to think and that don't help.

What i try to do is just take a few deep breaths (which i know don't always help much) and try to think about something positive.

Anything that i can think of that is positive that is currently in my life seems to help a little.

A lot of times it seems like the "What If's seem to cause panick attacks. So ive tried to find the tell tale signs of an impending attack and give it a good attempt to head it off before it gets bad. So keep you head up and I sure hope this helps in some way. Good luck and there is a lot of pple here to help if you need it. Just try and relax and know that there is always another chance of success at it.

[Guest Matty J.]

Aww...I'm so sorry to hear about this.

I've never had panic attacks, but an old friend of mine always used to have panic attacks; they were so bad that he thought he was actually having a heart attack when they happened. I remember some advice another old friend of mine gave him when this was happening:

-Sit down

-Take some deep breaths

-Try to concentrate on something that you enjoy or makes you happy

Panic attacks can be caused by myriad things, and can be a chronic issue. The only other thing I can suggest is to speak with a psychologist about these episodes; a psychologist can sometimes offer advice or more specific methods to help with your individual triggers.

I wish you the best!

~Matty J.

[Guest Mooell]

Aww.. I get Anxiety Attacks when people yell at me, just horrible so they are!

What helps me is to just walk for abit, even if its just pacing, it helps me calm abit.

And sorry for the less then great advice!