Overwhelmed and permanently anxious

[annaban]

Hello all!

I'm just looking for some advice / reassurance... In the last 4/6 months I've started feeling terrible anxious and like it's all a bit much. I've bee prone to low level depression over the years but I think this is more than that. Life is very hectic at the moment for various reasons and I'm just feeling a bit rotten and helpless.

Does this sound familiar to anyone, and can you recommend anything to do / try?

Stopping drinking is going to be one thing... I drink roughly 2 nights a week and it's making everything so much worse!

Thanks in advance.

[Bardolino]

Sorry, just found your message now. Yes, what you describe sounds remarkably familiar to me: it's where I was a couple of months ago. I had a bout of depression 12 years ago and recognised some of the symptoms but this time I have anxiety added to the mix. I didn't want to admit that I was struggling again, so I fought it for a while but finally took myself to the GP.

My GP has been really supportive but, to be honest, just allowing myself to admit that I had a problem has helped. I'm back on anti-depressants (same one as last time, because it worked then) and I think I'm starting to feel a difference. I feel calmer anyway which is a huge help. I've also started trying to be kinder to myself, taking time for myself even when I think I need to be busy.

Look after yourself.

[takingstock]

Don't be hard on yourself. Drinking two nights a week is mild for some! My turnaround came when I let go. I realised that life didn't need to be controlled, I didn't have to pull myself together and there was very little I had to do. Once I stopped "trying" I started to realise that I could relax a little. Once I started to relax, my life just slowly got better. I have anxious moments but I practise letting go and the moments pass.