Anita,

Wow, that is fascinating, the difference between real and imagined danger. That gives me a lot to think about (I may even print it out).
I will try to place myself in the OP as you call it. I think it sounds difficult to do, but I will try.

As for the Benzos, I don’t think (or I hope) I’m not addicted to them, even though this seems to be a time when I’ve needed them more often than before.

I have had a prescription for a very long time, over 20 years, but don’t recall having difficulty getting off of them. In fact I can recall times when I was feeling good and saw them in the medicine cabinet, and couldn’t remember for a moment why I was taking them.

Seeing my Psychologist next week and I’m sure she’ll have more medication adjustments. She’s trying to get me down to just 1 pill.

Thanks so much.

[quote quote=424997]Dear Mr. Ritz: Welcome back, good to read from you again! “I still want to find the root cause of my anxiety if possible“- what about what we discussed May 2016- Dec 2022 in your previous six threads, in regard to the cause root of your anxiety? anita[/quote]

Hi Anita,

I’ll read through the old threads.

I will say that the anticipation about the heart surgery is at the front of the issues. The local hospital lost the Dr. That does this procedure, so we have to drive an hour and a half to another hospital.

It’s supposed to be very successful, but can give you some arrhythmia as it heals, but he has medicine I’m going to be on for a few months to hopefully prevent that.

My psychiatrist said she thinks I have a chemical imbalance while the psychologist says I need to figure out my triggers and all the drugs in the world won’t cure it. I guess that’s no surprise.

[quote quote=418199]You mentioned you’ll start seeing a new psychiatrist. Is she also offering counseling/psychotherapy? Because I guess that’s what you’d need if you want to address childhood issues.[/quote]

I am unsure but it said visits were 60-90 minutes. Any other Psy I have dealt with was 15-20 min.

[quote quote=418178]My untrained guess is that the unconscious issue that you would prefer not to make conscious is something to do with the notion of death.  If so facing your fear and concept of death,  making that conscious should help reduce the number and or  intensity of future anxiety attacks.[/quote]

That may be close to the truth. I thought I’d made my peace with death, but maybe not 🙁 Our group of friends as well as us are all past 60, so it’s probably on my mind more than before.
Getting a new Psychiatrist so I’ll bring that up to her.

[quote quote=418179]Well, it can happen to anyone, however I believe there are still reasons. They don’t always have to be physical, such as high cholesterol, but there can be psychological reasons too, such as stress. And I believe that suppressing emotions can actually contribute to stress and cardiovascular problems… Anyway, I don’t think it’s that random. But that’s just my opinion, I tend to believe in the mind-body connection and a holistic view of disease…[/quote]

That also should be true. This friend is one of the most relaxed mellow guys I know, but his wife is pretty intense. He may suppress some anger, but I’ve never seen him let it out.

Again last night!
A friend discovered a 90% blockage in his LAD and had 2 stents installed. 5 years ago I had an 80% blockage in the same artery and had a stent installed.
They call this one “The Widowmaker” because it can be fatal if completely blocked.
Anyhow, he’s fine now.

I was sound asleep, but got up to use the bathroom last night and realized my heart was beating fast and uneven, and I was hot and sweaty. I took a Xanax to make sure it wasn’t due to the cough medicine I took before bed, and sure enough, within the next hour, my heart began to slow down and beat normally again.

Sounds like I’m some type of empath that absorbs the problems of other people that I know? Why would I be so affected?
Can anyone shine a light on this?

“do you often or regularly doubt your choices after the fact?”

Of course I do. Lots of buyers remorse on this house for example.

Wow, thanks for checking up on me. It’s really nice to have an e mail from a real person and not a mailing list for once 🙂

The basement insulation/studs are done. I just need to finish insulating around the top of the wall (Rim Joist). Unfortunately my next material order delivery is about a month away.
I could start building the interior walls, but am still unsure how to approach it. Wish I had some help.

My anxiety is still bad, usually worse in the morning. I’m going to try switching my antidepressant to bedtime as the upset stomach it causes is getting worse (or I’m noticing it more) and that just makes me feel worse.

Had my 1st appointment with new councilor. Since we moved I had to find a new one. I must have seen 7-8 in the past several years. A couple were good, some weren’t. No one has ever really gotten to the bottom of my issues.

Also got a new dog.
She is great, still needs a lot of work outside on the leash and she really doesn’t like other dogs so walks have to be planned carefully around houses with dogs outside.
I was hoping she’d make me feel better and in a way she does, but now I have the responsibility of a pet on my hands. Maybe it was a little too early for me to get her? I feel like maybe I should have had the house finished first? But she does ease the loneliness.

Just a regular old Midwest thunderstorm. Power is back now.

As for hobbies, I was glad to have a house with a basement, so that I could have a small workshop. Once it’s at least insulated, I can start getting my shop put back together.