2 years ago I had had a break down. I started having panic attacks and I would grind my teeth a bit. Eventually I shattered a tooth. Two years later and a root canal that tooth is causing issues due to an infection. I have a check up on it in a month. It’s not really painful, but it’s a grim reminder of all the issues I had.
I am a significant amount better than before. Meds and therapy helped a lot. But this tooth reminds me of a time where I was a wreck. It’s not a fun feeling. And I don’t know what happens next. I never got a tooth pulled for example, I don’t know what to expect.
Has anyone beaten anxiety issues? Will I be like this forever?
Edit: Went to my dentist, they looked at it, they are sending me to a specialist tomorrow. Wish me luck.
Edit 2: got scheduled for surgery today, they think they can save the tooth.
Edit 3: Surgery was not that bad.
Anxiety isn’t necessarily bad. Its a form of energy to get through tough times. The thing is, it’s supposed to be temporary, and it’s not easy to determine the best action for tough situations. I have also gone through some pretty anxious times, also teeth grinding and meds. Please, be kind to yourself. You made it through and are still going! Look into getting night guards, if you can afford it to to an orthodontist for them and maybe fix any other issues that grinding caused. I’m not sure what meds you have but I would advise panic meds rather than longer term anxiety meds, but maybe sure they are not addictive (some doctors still prescribe xanax, which isn’t a class of drug you want). Take panic meds before you go in for dental work, maybe the day before too depending on how you feel. I don’t know what life has thrown you, but if you have the option, stop a few times a day and try and listen to your body and what you need. Sometimes it’s food, sleep, rest (mental or physical), time to process what life has given you, a shower or bath, etc.
I take a low dose of Klonopin which works. I’m pretty afraid to take them; I had friends tell me they are addictive. So my prescription bottle I think is from January for a month’s worth. My doctor was actually happy to hear that I don’t take them often; so they kept me on them (they were for as needed). I’m willing to try better alternatives. I was on an antidepressant zoloft, but it made me not feel great. I felt kind of like a robot after a while. It’s what I meeded at the time, but I got off of them a year ago.
I have no shame in admitting this stuff. As a friend once said, talking about it takes it’s power away.
Check out propranolol, gabapentin, and maybe go back and ask specifically about non addictive options. You deserve to not worry about taking anxiety meds.
Klonopin is a type of benzodiazepine which are a class of drugs that kinda make you out of it, a little high even, or can knock you out. They are ok if you take them a couple times a month and shouldn’t be addictive but might not help you perform higher functions (text taking) and are better for social panic or generalized panic where you would otherwise be immobile with fear.
Propanol is a beta-blocker which is a class of drug used to treat high blood pressure. This is not addictive in any way, but will lose effectiveness if taken too frequently. I actually have lower blood pressure most of the time but this still works for me. When I panic I’ll have disproportionate reaction from my body, and this calms all the unnecessary reaction. An example is, if someone startles me by walking quietly and then talking to me, I’ll have a panic attack. I’m not anxious in the situation and nothing is scary, but I have a very immediate and extensive reaction regardless.
Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant which is a class of drug used to treat unnecessary excitement in the brain. I haven’t used this but it’s also a good non addictive option.
I’ve also found that I personally have a large capacity for energy, and anxiety was my body’s way of releasing it. I’ve been able to decrease my anxiety proportional to the amount of cardio I do, up to about an hour and 15 minutes of moderate to intense cardio. Any more cardio and I don’t notice a difference in my anxiety levels, any less and I do notice my anxiety more. I’ll note that mild cardio doesn’t work nearly as well. I usually aim for 400 kcal/hour minimum to get my desired results. Just be sure to have complex carbohydrates in your diet so you can get through the whole thing.
Much appreciated. What kind of cardio?
I’ve found some ellipticals at the gym work best for me. I like running outside too but I’m picky about the weather. Indoor biking works for me too sometimes. You should find something you can tolerate though. It’s more important to find something that works for you that you are ok with than anything else. If you are more social you can try kickboxing or dance. Rowing machines and swimming are also pretty good workouts. A lot of it depends on what you have available to you, the climate you live in, and what you like.
Well, it’s cold right now. But cold doesn’t bother me much