OT: - Moving Anxiety | Page 2 | The Boneyard

OT: Moving Anxiety

This is a job move? I know many things are cheaper in Mexico, you can get house cleaners and people to cook at prices that are not possible in US. Sounds like a nice opportunity but you gotta get the games…….
 
I stay in pretty good shape. Mostly a runner. My running goes up and down. Sometimes more sometimes less. The past few months have been my best stretch of running since pre-covid. Im definitely aware of how diet and exercise improve your mental health.

One of my issues is anxiety can interfere with my ability to run. Last Sat I was running 5. Stopped on 3.5. I wasn't particularly tired. Just mentally distracted. I walked the rest of the way.

My thought is. talk to a Dr.. Get some prescribed meds. Try them out in the US before I go. See how i feel. If they seem to work ill have them ready and available when I actually move.

I've taken some pills for depression in the past. 15 years ago. I forget what it was. something super mild. I took them for about 3 weeks and stopped. They didn't seem to be doing a ton. And I put some time and distance between myself and the life events that caused the depression
 
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FairwayFlyer said:
Flush the meds and go to the gym. Clean up your diet, too.
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100% agree with this before slamming pills. If you want to shatter your perspective toward health and wellness, reading 10% Human by Allana Collen is the book. It effectively links our gut/skin biome to essentially all of our modern day maladys, anxiety included. It's fascinating.

Also, make sure you are getting enough sun and exercise. And remember, winter in the upper midwest is just around the corner...and you are escaping it!
 
Dove said:
And just not move to Mexico.
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Don't listen to this. I lived in Monterrey for a year, it's a nice city. Affordable, good food, lots of museums, hiking opportunities just outside the city and a few cute small towns to visit an hour or less from the city.
 
storrsroars said:
I'd feel exactly the opposite!
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I know right? Lots of sun in monterrey and most of Mexico, friendly people, some of the neighborhoods were so colorful with all sorts of wonderful fruit. I enjoyed my year in Monterrey a lot. Most people were very warm, welcoming.
 
I don’t understand some of this advice, unless people are convinced that their situation applies to all or they’re being deliberately provocative. “Slamming pills” in the midst of a physical or mental health crisis can literally be life saving. Everything is a balance, and no one can no anyone’s exact situation unless they are the treating doctor or psychologist/social worker/counselor. But, people in crisis don’t need pseudoscience or to be shamed for accessing treatment that works for them. How are we still at this point?
 
FWIW.. Was on a path to being a clinical psychologist (at one time) and was employed as a counselor at a renowned private psychiatric hospital with a significant history of research in leading edge modalities for psychiatric issues/challenges. They had a two year study comparing the effectiveness of a psychotropic drug regiment (meds) vs transcendental meditation as a primary regimented behavior for stress relief (TM-twice a day) and to document and quantify its efficacy. The target group was a limited but closely monitored group of patients and were measured by the medical staff. It was a resounding success in concluding that TM could be/can be viable.

It works for individuals who are interested in alternative paths to a healthy lifestyle and a clear mind.. And its a practice you can use and benefit from for the rest of your life. Good luck with finding a solution that works for you.
 
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NDakotaHusky said:
I stay in pretty good shape. Mostly a runner. My running goes up and down. Sometimes more sometimes less. The past few months have been my best stretch of running since pre-covid. Im definitely aware of how diet and exercise improve your mental health.

One of my issues is anxiety can interfere with my ability to run. Last Sat I was running 5. Stopped on 3.5. I wasn't particularly tired. Just mentally distracted. I walked the rest of the way.

My thought is. talk to a Dr.. Get some prescribed meds. Try them out in the US before I go. See how i feel. If they seem to work ill have them ready and available when I actually move.

I've taken some pills for depression in the past. 15 years ago. I forget what it was. something super mild. I took them for about 3 weeks and stopped. They didn't seem to be doing a ton. And I put some time and distance between myself and the life events that caused the depression
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Alot of meds used for anxiety/depression can take 3-4 weeks before you start feeling relief
 
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Umami Zen said:
FWIW.. Was on a path to being a clinical psychologist (at one time) and was employed as a counselor at a renowned private psychiatric hospital with a significant history of research in leading edge modalities for psychiatric issues/challenges. They had a two year study comparing the effectiveness of a psychotropic drug regiment (meds) vs transcendental meditation as a primary regimented behavior for stress relief (twice a day) and to document and quantify its efficacy. The target group was limited but closely monitored and measured by the medical staff. It was a resounding success.

It works for individuals who are interested in alternative paths to a healthy lifestyle and a clear mind..
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Not so sure of that last sentence, as it’s more than just “wanting it.” The critiques in literature reviews often highlight the issues with the sample. To date, they have been limited in selection and not randomized. Until it’s repeatable, it‘s just interesting. I think it has been found to be most helpful for people with substance use disorders. Results are not consistent for other conditions, including depression. It’s also generally recommended that people with some conditions, like depersonalization, approach such techniques very cautiously. I am all for treatment plans that bring people relief and keeps them here with us. What that looks like specifically is not my business unless I am part of the treating team or doing an anonymous lit review.

Personally, I enjoy meditation, practice it daily, and have been known to do the whole retreat thing with it. I think it’s something people should attempt if they think it sounds interesting or helpful. I also understand its limitations, especially in isolation.
 
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I take a very small dose of lexapro every day and I feel completely normal. Haven’t had any anxiety issues in years.

Do not take Klonopin or any of those ultra strong anxiety meds. They will make you feel like you are semi-drunk and even if you only take them for a couple weeks, the withdrawal symptoms are terrible. My doctor prescribed it to me years ago before I switched to the lexapro. Never again!
 
As someone who lives with a spouse on anxiety medicine. It can help you and have have a positive affect on those around you.
 
NJHoops said:
Not so sure of that last sentence, as it’s more than just “wanting it.” The critiques in literature reviews often highlight the issues with the sample. To date, they have been limited in selection and not randomized. Until it’s repeatable, it‘s just interesting. I think it has been found to be most helpful for people with substance use disorders. Results are not consistent for other conditions, including depression. It’s also generally recommended that people with some conditions, like depersonalization, approach such techniques very cautiously. I am all for treatment plans that bring people relief and keeps them here with us. What that looks like specifically is not my business unless I am part of the treating team or doing an anonymous lit review.

Personally, I enjoy meditation, practice it daily, and have been known to do the whole retreat thing with it. I think it’s something people should attempt if they think it sounds interesting or helpful. I also understand its limitations, especially in isolation.
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In its simplest form..TM is a relaxation method that helps relieve anxiety and stress and improves the psychological well-being of the person using it. I am only relaying an idea to @NDakotaHusky that he may want to research based on the limited (and personal) information he has shared. I will leave my comments at that and not debate on the myriad of psychological challenges different people have and whether its a fit.. If you seek out advice and input from the medical professional of your choice.. Of course it makes sense to weigh their opinion re: your situation.

I enjoy meditation daily and have also done the whole retreat thing with it. Not sure about limitations in isolation comment but I am hopeful @NDakotaHusky finds a solution that allows him peace and comfort.
 
husky429 said:
First of all--tons of respect for coming on here and asking. People hide mental health stuff too much.

I think you'll be surprised by how much a counselor can help. After getting food poisoning an hour into an 18-hour flight last summer and needing to be hospitalized, I had HORRIBLE anxiety about traveling. I was throwing up just thinking about going to South America for a few weeks this summer and nearly canceled the trip around March. My wife forced me to go to a therapist and after a couple of months, I was feeling no physical symptoms at all.

Anxiety can really take a toll on you physically, so please stay in touch with your MD/DO (and dear heavens, don't go to a DNP if they're allowed to practice independently in your state for any psych meds if you can help it).

Whatever happens, I would expect to have to try a few different meds/doses before you find the right one if you opt for meds. I'm mostly dealing with teenagers with anxiety, but just about everyone takes a few tries to get the right pharmacological mix for them.

Is weed legal in Mexico?
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Absolutely agree. Many people will try different anxiety meds and can take a few weeks to see the impact.
Go to your primary dr.
Good starting point...
 
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Pick up some Spanish language skills too- might make you feel more confident in new situation
 
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I have found that humans love routines and hate change.

Think about a baby. They need to eat at a certain time every day. They take a nap at the same time every day. You throw a baby's routine out for a day and what happens? They're miserable and scream and cry.....until they fall back into their safe routine.

As adults, we're the same. We take the same route to work. Sit in the same spot. Take our coffee the same way. Your routine is being disrupted and it's making you uncomfortable....until you find your new safe routine.

You'll be fine and Mexico sounds way, way better than North Dakota IMO.
 
Deepster said:
I have found that humans love routines and hate change.

Think about a baby. They need to eat at a certain time every day. They take a nap at the same time every day. You throw a baby's routine out for a day and what happens? They're miserable and scream and cry.....until they fall back into their safe routine.

As adults, we're the same. We take the same route to work. Sit in the same spot. Take our coffee the same way. Your routine is being disrupted and it's making you uncomfortable....until you find your new safe routine.

You'll be fine and Mexico sounds way, way better than North Dakota IMO.
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Speak for yourself. Except the last sentence which I'm inclined to believe very true (unless you're talking Juarez or TJ).

I laughed at the 'same route to work' thing. When I lived in Bridgeport and had to commute to my job in Stamford and later Norwalk, I probably knew - and used - a dozen different routes to avoid the daily standstill on the Merritt. The town planners did not make those alternatives easy. But if it didn't save me time - and probably worked only 40% of the time - at least I felt I was moving.
 
The lives of many people in my family (and me!) are profoundly better off for taking medication, specifically SSRIs to support a genetic predisposition towards anxiety and depression. These medications don't change who you are, but they allow you to access a baseline to actually be who you are.

We're still in the stone ages with our understanding of them, though. It can take weeks to see if a particular drug and its dosage works for you, and there are a lot of doctors who simply have no idea what they're doing.

We've got a really long way to go, though some of the next generation pharmaceutical approaches are promising (i.e., these work more as "coaches" vis-a-vis your synapses rather than specific "players" with specific roles). We've also come a long way, though, with the destigmatization of these medicines that has been occurring among the older generation. I say older because younger people couldn't give a **** if they or their friends are taking, as my kid calls it, "her serotonin." It's a better coping strategy than white-knuckling things and getting blackout drunk, which our culture has known a thing or two about in the past.

In sum, see a pro, take it slow, and keep your expectations in check. Just think of it as a means to access your baseline. It'll work out.
 
First, I think it's great that you're open to discussion about this. Mental health goes hand in hand with physical health.

I am not an expert in anything. One thing that concerns me is that you seem to be leaning towards medication for your first step. Medications certainly have their place, but I wouldn't go there first. First thing, start with your doctor. Review your physical health situation. Based off the results of that, maybe the next step could be some sort of therapy. I really think most people can benefit from talking with an impartial person about many different issues they are dealing with. It seems that it might be better to deal with what is causing your anxiety. Making a move like you are planning is definitely a stressful thing. Talking through the thoughts you have and taking steps to deal with them might help greatly. Are you most worried about being away from family, or not having friends, or not knowing the language, etc... There are some actions that you can take to help deal with all of these things that might help you feel much better.

Then, after trying to deal with the root cause of the anxiety, if you feel you need medication then go that route. Good luck with the move. Feel proud of yourself for trying something new. A large percentage of Americans would never be brave enough to give it a try.
 
It's somewhat surprising that so many are advising you to get on meds right away without any knowledge of your situation and what it is about the move that's causing so much anxiety.

My recommendation would be for you to figure out what has you so concerned about what I understand to be a job related move.

Fear of the unknown? Never traveled to a foreign country? No one going with you? Is this a promotion or a demotion?

My personal experience with a move to Japan at the age of 24 (courtesy of the US Air Force) was life changing. It opened my eyes to opportunities I'd never considered in my short life experience to that point and introduced me to new friends with whom we still have reunions decades later.

If you're obsessing about the unknown, and this is a job related move, you're overlooking all the advantages that come with a move to a place where you'll have instant access to a cadre of people that will welcome you and want to help you get situated.

You'll have co-workers to socialize with who will help you with all the little details about such a move. Finding a place to live, where to shop, where to travel, where to find a doctor and dentist and on and on.

Think about the positives, the potential to broaden your life experience and advance your career while meeting many new people and experiencing a new culture. And every time some negative thoughts enter your mind focus on what you believe can be a positive.
 
Scrutiner said:
If you're obsessing about the unknown, and this is a job related move, you're overlooking all the advantages that come with a move to a place where you'll have instant access to a cadre of people that will welcome you and want to help you get situated.

You'll have co-workers to socialize with who will help you with all the little details about such a move. Finding a place to live, where to shop, where to travel, where to find a doctor and dentist and on and on.

Think about the positives, the potential to broaden your life experience and advance your career while meeting many new people and experiencing a new culture. And every time some negative thoughts enter your mind focus on what you believe can be a positive.
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Here's a tip on how to ease into Monterrey life:

 
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Drugs work but they do work better for some than others. Most are addictive so you might think of it as a bridge father than a way of life.
Google mindfulness techniques or relaxation techniques for simple aids. Yoga and meditation have already been mentioned.
Anxiety is through the roof, keep talking.
Not a. big deal but I am a licensed therapist with decades of experience.
 
Deepster said:
I have found that humans love routines and hate change.

Think about a baby. They need to eat at a certain time every day. They take a nap at the same time every day. You throw a baby's routine out for a day and what happens? They're miserable and scream and cry.....until they fall back into their safe routine.

As adults, we're the same. We take the same route to work. Sit in the same spot. Take our coffee the same way. Your routine is being disrupted and it's making you uncomfortable....until you find your new safe routine.

You'll be fine and Mexico sounds way, way better than North Dakota IMO.
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lol babies and toddlers have to be on set schedules because of their (lack of) cognitive development and behavioral self-management. School age kids, adolescents, and adults are typically expected to become more cognitively flexible to deal with what can be a fairly unpredictable world. The only adults who really need some strict routine are those on the autism spectrum
 
NDakotaHusky said:
I'm a few months away from a move to Monterrey Mexico for 2 years... from North Dakota. I've been hit pretty hard with anxiety in the past week. I have an appointment with a counselor next Tuesday. In the meantime I know we have some medical professionals. I'm definitely leaning towards getting some medication. Any thoughts. Does anxiety medication work? Any other thoughts would be helpful.
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Medication or not, I recommend online CBT. It’s cheap (cost of a copay) and will help you work through and understand more of why you’re feeling a certain way.

I’ve been on CBT three separate periods, most recently this year after a post-trauma need after an injury. Still do it once every two weeks. Online is great: flexible timing, more access to doctors, etc.

I’ve never been medicated, however, but I used to deal with occasional panic attacks in my mid-20s ten years ago.

I can emphasize as we speak: I’m waiting for a flight and I deal with general travel anxiety. I don’t fly enough to “train my brain” fully, but I’ve learned healthy ways to cope (mints, music, meditation, overpacking water/snacks).

Feel free to PM if you have any specific questions re: online CBT.
 
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Rocktheworld said:
lol babies and toddlers have to be on set schedules because of their (lack of) cognitive development and behavioral self-management. School age kids, adolescents, and adults are typically expected to become more cognitively flexible to deal with what can be a fairly unpredictable world. The only adults who really need some strict routine are those on the autism spectrum
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LOL. I have been in corporate america for three decades and dealt with change management on a grand scale. Merging organizations together, implementing massive process change, etc.

Adults have a general difficulty with change. Even something as ridiculous as removing the comments section from a case folder.
 
Deepster said:
LOL. I have been in corporate america for three decades and dealt with change management on a grand scale. Merging organizations together, implementing massive process change, etc.

Adults have a general difficulty with change. Even something as ridiculous as removing the comments section from a case folder.
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How many books/shows/movies have been about men ditching the monotony of their boring, repetitive lives in search of adventure?

How many books/shows/movies have been about men wishing they could have a predicable, repetitive life?

There is plenty of neuro research that shows that humans love novelty.
 
Umami Zen said:
Don't know if you're an athlete or not.. Activities/exercise that kick in endorphins and exhaust the extra energy (anxiety) that you might have are excellent outlets.. Yoga/transcendental meditation can also create a natural calmness that can be extremely helpful.. Make a friend of change.. You got this
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I can vouch for this. My wife got her yoga teaching certificate a few years ago and teaches at an amazing studio.

There’s different forms, but I go to her yin flow class, less up and down and more floor work for flexibility and core. After the meditation at the end, I’m super chill.

When she started teaching her I only went to support her, but I go every week now.

I do daily meditations too: I use the Calm app, which is ok, some if their daily meditations are duds, but most are really good.
 
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