One of my patients at the unit used to struggle with acute anxiety and restlessness. The kind that keeps you up two nights in a row.
Every time I saw him, his legs are tweaking.
He tells me, “All kinds of weird thoughts are racing through my head boss.” “I don’t feel like my medications are helping.”
As his clinician, I explain that the medication is not a miracle cure; at most, it will do 50–60% of the work; similar to how they say contraceptives don’t work 100% of the time.
But yea, while the Zoloft or Lexapro may reduce the intensity or frequency of the negative thoughts, you have to have a number of toolkits, or “coping skills” that you can count on for optimal symptom management.
Typically, I start with some deep breathing exercises, meditation, box breathing, etc. The patient gives up after a few days.
“I can’t focus long enough.”
Next, I introduce him to the 5 senses grounding techniques. They do it for a while, but two weeks pass, and they have a reason why they had to stop.
And here is where I finally say, “Okay, have you tried journaling?”
“You mean like writing stuff down?”
“Yea, writing down your thoughts and feelings over a period of time. I recommend you do this in the morning and before you go to bed at night.”
Two weeks pass, three weeks pass, a month.
“Wow, I haven’t slept this good in a long time!”
“Can I get more writing material?”
Two months pass, three…
“My anxiety is gone. I feel so much better.” “Thank you so much, sir.”
“Hey give yourself some credit man, you did all the work. I just pointed you in the right direction.”