[INFJ] What's Your Experience of Anxiety and How do You Cope?

[Sandie33]

No, not often.

My goals are 70-110 fasting, 70-160 2hr post-prandial, and I am hitting those, but sometimes if I don’t eat enough carb at breakfast I’ll get a 60-something reading late morning, and I don’t feel that.

Sulfonylurea + metformin only, no insulin, and I starve my liver so it can’t dump, so that’s why I get in trouble from time to time.

Thanks,
Ian

I see...happy to hear you stay on top of it. I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "starving your liver". I'm assuming you mean it in relation to the glycogen production? And how does it dump? My stomach dumps and I get loss.
I'm sorry to invade the thread with my questions. I'm in what the Endo doc calls late stage AODII diabetes. My pancreas is shutting down, I take four shots of insulin a day (can't do the pump), gastroperisis, my stomach muscle is shutting down and they're talking of putting a gastric pacemaker in. So I'm always looking for new information about diabetes & how others self care. Thank you.

 

[aeon]

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "starving your liver". I'm assuming you mean it in relation to the glycogen production?

Yes, I go very low carb for about five days, and let my blood sugar dip low. The brain freaks out, thinks it is dying, and sends a distress signal to the liver. The liver converts stored glycogen to sugar for the brain. So when this happens, you likely have elevated sugars. That said, after the liver does this, it has no glycogen. Continue to eat measured carbs and the liver never has a chance to ever build up a glycogen store, and can never give you soaring blood sugar. So you keep it “starved.”

I’m not familiar with the term “AODII diabetes,” but you described it well enough. And though I do not have it (thank goodness), I know what gastroparesis is, and @Sandie33, I am so sorry to hear you do.

I’m trying to get my A1C between 5.0% – 5.5%.

Because high blood sugar both causes nerve damage and vascular damage, one of the first casualties of neuropathy in men is the ability to achieve an erection.

I don’t want that, so I am highly motivated to keep my blood glucose on the short leash.

Cheers,
Ian

 

[Sandie33]

Yes, I go very low carb for about five days, and let my blood sugar dip low. The brain freaks out, thinks it is dying, and sends a distress signal to the liver. The liver converts stored glycogen to sugar for the brain. So when this happens, you likely have elevated sugars. That said, after the liver does this, it has no glycogen. Continue to eat measured carbs and the liver never has a chance to ever build up a glycogen store, and can never give you soaring blood sugar. So you keep it “starved.”

I’m not familiar with the term “AODII diabetes,” but you described it well enough. And though I do not have it (thank goodness), I know what gastroparesis is, and @Sandie33, I am so sorry to hear you do.

I’m trying to get my A1C between 5.0% – 5.5%.

Because high blood sugar both causes nerve damage and vascular damage, one of the first casualties of neuropathy in men is the ability to achieve an erection.

I don’t want that, so I am highly motivated to keep my blood glucose on the short leash.

Cheers,
Ian

I hear that loud & clear lol...and I sincerely thank you for the feed back. More knowledge is always helpful...have a wonderful evening

 

[Paradox]

I'm self-assured of my own superiority. That is all.

 

[Milktoast Bandit]

I'm self-assured of my own superiority. That is all.

That's a good technique!

 

[Paradox]

That's a good technique!

Yeah, but it's also a bit nuanced. Is is ad-hoc rationalized arrogance? Well, partly, yes.

But it's really complex. I truly believe there are good people, bad people (in degrees), dumb people, smart people, people of all sorts of characteristics and traits.

But I also tend to be quiet pessimistic in general. Look, here's a good quote I stand by that all you Ni-folks will get.

'Say to yourself in the early morning: I shall meet today inquisitive, ungrateful, violent, treacherous, envious, uncharitable men. All these things have come upon them through ignorance of real good and ill. The nature of man himself who does wrong is akin to my own.' —Marcus Aurelius

 

[Milktoast Bandit]

Say to yourself in the early morning: I shall meet today inquisitive, ungrateful, violent, treacherous, envious, uncharitable men. All these things have come upon them through ignorance of real good and ill. The nature of man himself who does wrong is akin to my own. —Marcus Aurelius

I just ask for the strength to love. Your quote has too many words for morning...

 

[Night Owl]

@Artemisia yus, 23 to be exact, but 24 is basically the same! (You're...33...?). Cheers for the words. You seem to describe quite an intense ordeal. As do some of the others who've posted. In reading such experiences I feel grateful my anxiety is no where near as bad - fortunately it's very manageable and non invasive to my daily life and relationships. It's interesting to hear the views and wisdom gained through the experiences of others like yourself. You're all very accommodating. And although I am able to cope with my anxiety, am not worried and upset about it, but very content in so many ways, you're all very reassuring. Much obliged

 

[James]

Just saw this article and thought it might help people. It's just about breathing techniques

http://bigthink.com/videos/jane-mcgonigal-teaches-a-breathing-hack

 

[Asa]

Today I learned that you cannot be both anxious and angry at the same time. Both anxiety and anger from the amydgala. A classic way (- psychiatrist suggested) people cope with anxiety is to become angry instead.
Ugh.
Replacing my second least favorite feeling with my first least favorite feeling is less than ideal. Anxiety is crippling and anger is not, so in some cases this may be necessary. This concept makes me sad.

 

[Aluni]

I just have social anxiety because I was severely bullied at school (sad to say by my father as well) and now I still am still singled out. I must excrete a bully pheromone. Right now I work with 3 trolls (1 being the boss, who is retiring end of the year ) I literally will be merciless picked on over the smallest mistake, they gang up on me and feed off each other. Its really hard to be around people when you think you're subhuman. I know its not true but deep down thats how they make me feel. (I should really feel sorry for them since they must have some horrible demons inside to tear people apart like that.)
To combat it I've started to smile at everyone (if they deserve it or not) I heard that just the act of it can improve your mood. Smile at people in social environment=better feeling in social environment. Added benefit is when people smile back.

 

[Littlelissa]

I've just had that in my two last work environments. Pretty ironic as I was working with teams of Carers. I also had experienced it before (like you). I think it does somehow come across when you've had those experiences, people pick up on it and react- not necessarily even consciously. I was always conflicted about weather to stand up for myself or not. Usually I just became more distant which I think annoyed them more (I think they thought I thought I was better then them).
I hope that in my next work situation, having been through what I've been through before I will fell more confident in myself and will be less affected by other people. It's hard to relax when your aware of your image and others all the time. I'm hoping I won't have that same bum experience again.

I've been diagnosed with anxiety and depression. I take St.John's wart herbal remedy for depression, and can't seem to live without it. I also use a S.A.D. light box. I don't usually feel that affected. but it goes in cycles and every once in a while I feel more affected and get into a deeper depression.

 

[Littlelissa]

Good post.

Could this be because emotional/psychological pain registers in the same part of the brain as physical pain?

Yes it does, emotional pain triggers the areas in the brain as 'physical' pain. I studied it.

 

[Asa]

I just have social anxiety because I was severely bullied at school (sad to say by my father as well) and now I still am still singled out. I must excrete a bully pheromone. Right now I work with 3 trolls (1 being the boss, who is retiring end of the year ) I literally will be merciless picked on over the smallest mistake, they gang up on me and feed off each other. Its really hard to be around people when you think you're subhuman. I know its not true but deep down thats how they make me feel. (I should really feel sorry for them since they must have some horrible demons inside to tear people apart like that.)
To combat it I've started to smile at everyone (if they deserve it or not) I heard that just the act of it can improve your mood. Smile at people in social environment=better feeling in social environment. Added benefit is when people smile back.

You need to find a new place to work. There are people out there who will treat you well.

 

[Aluni]

You need to find a new place to work. There are people out there who will treat you well.

I'm holding out hope for our new boss, hes someone I know and have a good relationship with. I've said before that our department needs a male figure to stop the hen pecking. I'll see how it plays out before I quit. I do like my job and it has good benefits.

 

[WonkyOracle]

For the majority of my life, I was always relaxed, cool, steady...Horizontal even. But when I got into my early 20's my mother became desperately ill. I chose to be her carer for a number of years which was a struggle seeing her in many an undignified predicament. A few years passed and she died rather unexpectedly despite all her scans, and tests saying she was in the clear and even after the doctors and specialists said she'd be up in running in two weeks.

This sent me head first into a two-year dogfight with Anxiety, Depression, and a severe weight problem. I was no longer sure about the world and my place in it, nor was I confident about the future, as everything seemed pointless and hopeless. One year after my mother's death, I got struck with my first and worst panic attack. Never heard of them, never seen them. Thought I was dying!

Anyways, I crashed out on the sofa ( I was looking after a good friend's flat whilst she was on holiday ) Woke up with her kitten on my chest looking at me. Felt confused and a little scared at what had just happened. So with the passing of time, I just ignored it. Until about 3 months later, then bam! hit me again, this time it was worse than the last. This went on for a full year.

I went to the doctor and she immediately offered me Anti-Anxiety / depression medication. Now let me be clear, as I've told this story before online and got jumped on by a bunch of malcontents for putting words in my mouth. I simply thought to myself, that this was no way to be, at 27. I politely declined the offer and studied the sucker like nothing I'd ever studied before.

First up, was to clean up my diet. Throw out the caffeine and junk food. I come from a long line of amateur athletes so I was ashamed of what I'd done to myself weight-wise.

Did a form of Yoga every single morning without fail that centered around the nervous system and stomach. As that is where I would get tingles before an attack.

And lastly, made a promise to myself that 1, I would start to live again and 2, remove all negativity from my life.

It was a year-long process. Real hard work and inner inspection. Being ruthlessly honest and determined to weed out my weaknesses and insecurities. Very painful experience.

But come the following summer, I made it. I now ( to this day ) only suffer from one panic Attack a year. ( always without fail. on the anniversary of my mother's death. I still get anxious with life , sure. But I believe that is normal anxiety.

I guess, I just got tired of feeling uncomfortable in my own skin. Sick of being scared all the time.

This might seem silly, but I was up late one night and I caught the movie ( The Watchmen ) you know, the comic book ? Had never seen it before, but there is this scene with Daniel Dreiberg explaining how he's tired of being afraid... It's amazing because that was exactly my mindset. I was older, fatter, frightened of myself and just dog tired of it all.

I have a poster in my room of Daniel sitting in his basement looking sorry for himself. It always reminds me of that night, and it makes me smile because I then remember him going on to kick some serious fanny. Strange how life is empowering like that in the most unlikely ways.

I do not wish to suggest or imply that modern medicine is useless in such cases, this is simply not true. But I do believe that taking control yourself and facing up to it is just as important as medication. But please do not mistake this post for me saying I laughed at the doctor's suggestion, walked out, done a bit of yoga and now I'm just dandy.

Not so.

It's been a long journey and I have the deepest sympathy for anyone struggling under those circumstance's, but believe me when I say, you can bounce back. Just takes time.

Oh and one of the things that really helped was remembering that the symptoms I got during an anxiety attack, are exactly the same I get when I've been running for ages. Tight muscles, chest etc etc.. Get those during my morning run. Doesn't make it any nicer, but at least it gives me some sort of context.

Apologies for rambling, but I hope it encourages someone to empower themselves.

Trust yourself

 

[James]

Today I learned that you cannot be both anxious and angry at the same time. Both anxiety and anger from the amydgala. A classic way (- psychiatrist suggested) people cope with anxiety is to become angry instead.
Ugh.
Replacing my second least favorite feeling with my first least favorite feeling is less than ideal. Anxiety is crippling and anger is not, so in some cases this may be necessary. This concept makes me sad.

@Aluni

I think having read these posts, I'd like to add I really don't like A) bullies and B) anger

Having said that I think anger and even anxiety can be an unpleasant, but very powerful motivating source, especially when controlled and dealing with answer A) bullies.

Bullies are mal adapted people, who are insecure and who instead of dealing with their own issues, seek to damage others to make themselves look/feel better. They don't create, they don't build, and they have no real friends. Take courage in dealing with such types. Use your courage, and self control, and chose how and where to deal with them. Once you do it successfully they tend to back off. Stick to it, eventually they learn.

@Asa is right it's impossible to feel fear at the same time as anger, the anger takes over and if well directed in a proportional way, can empower you to deal with others who need to work on their issues.

Wow - I've been triggered as @ruji would say lol. I just really don't like bullies, or seeing anyone get bullied. you probably cant tell lol.

 

[Sandie33]

What if I don't feel anxious...even in a situation that would normally be anxiety inducing?

I think because I have C-PTSD I'm desensitized to much of what goes on around me.

 

[just me]

Keep it inside mostly. Letting it out can cause destruction. Puts me in the bed where I try to shut my mind down or mentally work it out. Try not to ever get angry, because it gets ugly. Sometimes I hold it in for so many years, I can feel the storm coming. The storm calms me. I pray for those in its path.

Next, I get physically drained to where I get sick. Glad that doesn't happen very often. Missed 72 days of school while sick tenth grade, but still passed and didn't die. I simply cannot get angry without repercussions, so I hold it in. Have experimented with letting bits out here and there. Know it is a problem, but?

 

[Flavus Aquila]

My experience of anxiety: a mixture of fate, being out of control, feeling sick, and being mentally stuck on what's causing me angst.

How I deal with it: jump in the deep end and try to bring some closure (good or bad)... And sometimes just having to put up with it.