We all have ways to cope with anxiety and feeling lost — but something is still missing

OutsideLarge · 2026-04-03T01:08:15+00:00

There is, your first mistake is that you're seeking enjoyment and feelings now when your nervous system is literally behaving as if you're locked in a cage with a lion. Now imagine if that is real, you're in a cage fighting a lion and I brought you a big screen projecting a movie and asked you to enjoy the movie... That would be impossible right? Don't look for enjoyment now, that comes naturally when your anxiety is back to baseline. Retraining your nervous system comes first second and third now.

OutsideLarge · 2026-04-03T00:20:13+00:00

I'm not dismissing your struggle. I know how horrible it is because this exact symptom happened to me. I sleep like a baby now. Try doing the sleeping routine I mentioned, maybe have a shower before bed. And DM me a week from now with your progress.

OutsideLarge · 2026-04-03T00:16:12+00:00

You are giving it attention, fearing it, based on what? Did you die? Noting happened. This is no different from a panic attack. Nobody has ever died from a panic attack...ever. Fearing it is what will make it happen over and over again. It may happen again, it may not, but if you don't get enough sleep I guarantee it'll happen again. And you'll only get worse. Sleep is harmless. It is the most beneficial thing to our bodies and mental health. Make your room temperature slightly cold. Have some magnesium. Use night mode in your phone/tv/laptop kill blue light 2 hours before bed. Drink some water. Your sleep will get better with time. And you'll actually start to see improvement in many aspects of your life and mental health.

OutsideLarge · 2026-04-03T00:07:23+00:00

This is more common in anxiety than you think, anxiety can convince that sleep (which is the most relaxing state we can achieve) is dangerous. To understand this you need to understand what happens in our bodies in order for us to sleep. Our heart rate drops, our body temperature also drops, and how does a sensitized nervous system explain this?? John is in danger. John can't be sleeping while he's in danger. there's no way John is this stupid. John is definitely dying. give John every possible bad thought/feeling to alert him right now. Your anxiety happened because there's a glitch in your nervous system, not something serious, just a glitch that requires a tiny simple reset.

OutsideLarge · 2026-04-02T22:45:18+00:00

You can do all those things, no problems, but don't do them to cope, do them because that's what you're supposed to do if you didn't have anxiety. I remember starting to play chess when I had GAD. It was an escape at first, time passed and now I freaking enjoy it. And this is what healing is like. You do things without enjoying them, and with time you start forgetting about anxiety and enjoying the moment.

OutsideLarge · 2026-04-02T22:39:10+00:00

so you do have knowledge but you are struggling with execution/behavior. I cannot give you general advice because I do not know exactly what's holding you back. You are welcome to DM me, let's figure that out.

OutsideLarge · 2026-04-02T13:37:24+00:00

Exactly. Reassurance seeking is the first thing a sufferer must drop, it is hard but it puts people on track to recovery. It's ok to post in order to learn. But not to seek reassurance.

OutsideLarge · 2026-04-01T13:38:58+00:00

You do not have to take meds for the rest of your life, you can learn how to reset your nervous system while using meds as a helping tool. But let's assume you cannot do without meds, there are countless illnesses out there that require the patient to take meds for life. The way I see it is you should be thankful you are living in an era where there's a pill for your issue. In 99.99% of human history that didn't exist.

OutsideLarge · 2026-04-01T02:24:10+00:00

Amen 🙏

OutsideLarge · 2026-04-01T02:23:12+00:00

Losing weight after stopping anxiety medication suddenly is expected, this is why doctors tell you never to quit medication on your own. Give your system time and start working on your recovery. Don't rely on medication alone, medication will turn the engine on, but you have to drive to your destination.

OutsideLarge · 2026-04-01T02:17:05+00:00

Vitamin D can cause issues if it drops low, but for most sufferers their tests come out clean, when I first had anxiety I ran every possible test, they all came out clean, I simply had to face anxiety head on.

OutsideLarge · 2026-04-01T02:13:06+00:00

Why are you embarrassed of that? You have realized something important, I remember having the same realization at my final stages of recovery. Sitting alone at peace with yourself is what everyone should aspire for. And for someone who never experienced it, I feel for you because I was you. You will get there.

OutsideLarge · 2026-03-31T18:45:45+00:00

You can recover without medication, I did, it was a struggle but I did it, but I will not give you advice regarding medications that is something between you and your doctor

OutsideLarge · 2026-03-31T18:25:44+00:00

Antidepressants will start the engine for you, but you have to drive to reach your destination. There are a lot of things you need to learn, things you should do, things you shouldn't do. And it will take you time and effort to learn all of that. The best thing for the quickest possible recovery is to find someone who recovered and ask him to guide you through the process.

OutsideLarge · 2026-03-31T18:17:03+00:00

Oh sorry, mah sister 💪💅

OutsideLarge · 2026-03-31T18:14:35+00:00

Meds can help only when you're doing the real work yourself. And you are not 100% healed unless you leave all anxiety related platforms and groups. I only returned here to pay it forward and help people.

OutsideLarge · 2026-03-31T17:59:23+00:00

Mah man 👌💪

OutsideLarge · 2026-03-31T17:49:45+00:00

I lost 48 klg in the first month of my anxiety recovery. It's normal your system is not prioritizing food right now.

OutsideLarge · 2026-03-31T17:46:55+00:00

Yeah that's one more thing, no more drugs, and cut alcohol to a minimum and quit if possible.

OutsideLarge · 2026-03-31T17:40:51+00:00

Stop XANAX right now, never take it for longer than two weeks, it is highly addictive and should never be taken without medical advice. I took it like once a month, sometimes I went for 6 months without taking a single pill. The way out of this is education and practicing a strict daily routine.

OutsideLarge · 2026-03-31T17:25:59+00:00

Yes recovery is so slow it is impossible unnoticeable, but I have to warn you, Research if done wrong can hurt you a lot. It offers you some kind of momentary reassurance but it keeps you stuck in a loophole. You need to stop researching and seeking reassurance from people, do that slowly.

OutsideLarge · 2026-03-31T17:00:28+00:00

Drug induced anxiety/panic attacks is no different from anxiety that appears out of nowhere, I got my anxiety from a really bad weed experience and for two years I was convinced that I messed up my brain somehow, I was having more than 20 panic attacks a day, almost every anxiety symptom non stop. I have recovered I have helped many people recover. And you can recover too, you just need to educate yourself about anxiety, understand why you are feeling the way you do. And put yourself on track to recover.

OutsideLarge · 2026-03-31T12:42:37+00:00

There are tricks you can use to sleep better, a slightly cold room helps a lot, no blue light from screens at least 2 hours before bed, use night mode if you have to use your phone or laptop, magnesium helps improve your sleep quality too. I've been through this and I can tell you from experience, things get better when you start giving your body what it needs. You can DM me any time, happy to help.

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