Can anything be done about anxiety?

[kickingking]

Posting this here as it seemed like the best place, sorry if I've misjudged that.

I'm under a lot of stress/pressure at work at the moment - well, have been for months, but it's all coming to a head. (School in SM, key inspection coming up, working all hours, threats being made, etc.)

Obviously, I'm anxious but the physical effects of that have become more severe recently and they are scaring me a bit - racing heart, chest pains, breathlessness, shaking hands, haven't had a full night's sleep in weeks.

I don't want to be signed off. It would probably finish my career. Can my GP prescribe me anything? I read about some of the medicines used to treat anxiety and it said they can make you drowsy. I need to be firing on all cylinders, but not feeling like I'm about to have a heart attack. Is it worth going to my GP at all?

I have such a sense of dread all the time, I don't think I can get through the next month.

[cornsilks]

who is making threats? I've worked in a school in SM and there were no threats banded about at all. How awful for you.

[kickingking]

Staff have been threatened with formal proceedings if they do not get 'good' lessons observations.

I can't be arsed to think about how unreasonable it all is anymore, I can't do anything about it.

[cornsilks]

kicking king that is awful - have you spoken to your union? You can do something about it - it's bullying. When I worked in a school in SM (and it was absolute chaos to begin with) there were no threats at all - just support.

[Chocattack]

Yes, lots can be done. GPs can prescribe (eg anti-depressants, betablockers and diazepam etc) or you could try an over-the-counter product like Kalms. Also, with the pressure you're under at work, relaxation and breathing techniques (ie learning to manage the stress) may be very beneficial. Many gps have relaxation CDs etc at the surgery which you can borrow/have. Yes meds can make you drowsy - whenever I've complained about that I've always been told "well it's difficult to treat the anxiety without making you drowsy". I don't know how true that is.

I'd make an appointment with your gp.

[kickingking]

I haven't but I will be.

There is just nothing that can be done about it quick enough though, the final inspection is going to be within the next month.

I just want to be able to get through the next month without collapsing!

[DioneTheDiabolist]

KickingKing, I am so sorry to hear that you are having such a terrible time.
Yes something can be done about your anxiety. See your GP. See HR and see if your employers or union can get you free access to counselling.

[kickingking]

Thank you, Chocattack.

I was prescribed beta-blockers many years ago for driving test nerves, and I wondered if they would do the trick. I cannot be drowsy though - I'm working 15 hour days!

[cornsilks]

kicking king that's terrible. If you can't get through it then it won'tbe your fault at all. Whoever decided to load extra pressure and stress on top will be at fault. Just do what you can and nothing more. There are other schools.

[kickingking]

Supposedly there is a free support line provided by the local authority. When we had a Wellbeing counsellor in school, nobody went because they were all to busy and/or scared!

Don't feel in need of counselling though, really, I just need to get through this.

[kickingking]

I'm actually so frightened of being given an inadequate grading that the other day I found myself hoping I would have an injury and be signed off for that! Madness.

[OnEdge]

Yes, it is possible to manage it, there is help out there. I have suffered really badly for years. I had to keep changing my anti anxiety medications due to being pregnant etc. Finally I had a consultation with a psychiatrist and she changed my tablets to Sertraline 100mg. I can't believe that its all over. Its almost gone. I have a touch of it at times now, but it is about 3 % of what it was. It has taken a few years of trying different things.

Unfortunately, if you do manage to get the right medication for you, it takes 6 weeks for them to fully work (well it can do, and did for me) and the real pisser is that during this 6 weeks, they can make your anxiety worse. If you can make it through this time they can really really change your life.

I really really wish you the best of luck. Anxiety is a bully !

[kickingking]

OnEdge, I'm glad you found something that worked for you.

I need something that works straight away, as it is specific to a situation. Do you know of anything that works quickly?

[dearprudence]

Yes, go to your GP. I was prescribed beta blockers first, and given counselling through the GP. The BBs didn't make me drowsy, and you can use them 'as and when' rather than having to take the full dose every day. I still like to have them as a bit of a safety net, although I hardly ever take them.

Later on, I was given anti-depressants, which really helped. Have had these twice now but not on anything just now.

The work situation sounds horrendous. So sorry.

[OnEdge]

When I was a student nurse years ago, I remember on night duty looking at a fire alarm (break glass) and being tempted to set it off, I was sooo desperate to cause a diversion for this bastard of a sister who made my life a total misery. I used to be terrified of spending 12 long lonely frightening hours with her

[phdlife]

I know that exact feeling, kickingking.

I think counselling might actually be helpful (certainly it helped me to go and simply cry a lot at someone) BUT you really do have to find a counsellor you can get along with. Do NOT keep going to one who makes you feel worse!

I also bought a book on relaxation exercises (one of Paul Wilson's 'Calm' series, iirc) that was helpful. I don't remember any of the exercises being helpful, but buying the book and reading it at least made me feel like I was exerting some control over my bad head.

good luck. sounds like a sucky situation.

[OnEdge]

If you nee something that works quickly, there is Valium. Your GP wont like to give it to you because it can be addictive, but you can buy it on line of you want to self medicate. Just be very careful.

[OnEdge]

i once had to wait for a biopsy result and went to the GP. She prescribed me about 5 diazepam tablets 5mgs - it did fuck all.

[kickingking]

The idea of Valium scares me! I don't know why really.

[kickingking]

Oh, I can relate to the fire alarm idea! I have wished for all sorts of things to happen to put a stop to the situation at work.

[LowLevelWhiiingeing]

Physical effects can be treated with beta blockers. They lessen or stop the racing heart, sweats etc. I had them for a while but symptoms eventually got worse (after improving at first).

Other tablets do more to treat the psychological symptoms, eg, citalopram, fluoxetine. Side effects are different for everyone, but for me, I was only vaguely lightheaded for a couple of days. You could try taking them initially on a Friday night so that you have a couple of days to see how you feel.

Don't underestimate the value of other stuff like counselling and exercise too.

[OnEdge]

I wanted to see Paul Mckenna for some serious hypnosis. He doesn't see people, but he did recommend two others who are meant to be very good. They cost about £350. If my meds had not kicked in and sorted it out, I would have gone to them. I think they might give you a quick fix. You will need to drive to London I think, but I reckon they will help you get through it.

[Chocattack]

It sounds like the fear of failure is making you extremely anxious. You have to keep telling yourself that you are great and that you won't fail, and even if you did it really doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. Think of ways that you like to relax and then try to do them when you can. At weekends (or whenever it's your time off work) don't work - or if you have to, be really strict with yourself and limit it to a specific time and stick to it. Everytime your mind strays to thinking about it, tell yourself you're not to think about it now. Plan in times in the day when you allow yourself to think about it and at other times distract yourself.

[kickingking]

Thank you everyone for the suggestions. I seriously have no time for excercise or meditation at the moment though! All I do is work :(

Off to bed now.

[kickingking]

Just to update - I saw my GP, he was sympathetic and prescribed me beta-blockers. Which I hope will do the trick!

[dearprudence]

Hope you feel better soon. Thanks for the update.