Having a bad day with anxiety

[CatswithAnxiety]

What can I do to feel less anxious?

[CatswithAnxiety]

DD won't let me have any alone time and DS is doing what he can to wind up/annoy me.

[amillionyears]

Have you been to GP?
Would you like to say what you are anxious about?

[amillionyears]

We cross posted.
How old are DD and DS?

[CatswithAnxiety]

I can't pin it on one thing in particular. I am on my 3rd week of fluoxetine so maybe it's side effects. DD is driving me up the wall!

[CatswithAnxiety]

DD is 3. DS is 8.

[amillionyears]

I will do my best to help.Im probably not the best one to answer things as I know nothing about fluoxetine.If I post then others might see it and join in.
And maybe it will help you to talk.
Are you able to safely go outside with them
The fresh air may help you all, and they could run around if it is safe?

[CatswithAnxiety]

I have got dd to do some drawing which will be o.k. till she gets bored. DS has stopped tapping everything (like a drum). I just need to try and calm myself. DH will be home soon.

[amillionyears]

I can understand why continous tapping can be annoying!
Take some deep breaths.
Opening a window slightly and looking outside may be calming.
Glad DH will be home soon.

[Dalliard]

Agree with amillion that taking deep breaths can help. It may feel forced but slow and deep breaths from the diaphram will help. I find this helps me with a bad stress-induced crampy thing I get, but it isn't instant and you need to focus, which can be hard.

When DD gets fed up with the drawing could you let them watch a DVD they like, so you could maybe lie down nearby and try to consiously relax every part of your body.

I know all this is so simple to say from here, and very hard to do when you're the one in the middle of it all.

[Dalliard]

In the longer term, it might be worth learning some deep breathing/meditation techniques. If you're able to do them regularly they'll have a cumulative effect and you'll also be able to use them as a tool for when things get very bad and you need something fast.

[cupcake78]

Fluoxetine did increase my anxiety for a few weeks (i think) its so hard to know for sure. I'm on week 6 from tomorrow and I think side effects are starting to settle down (I hope). Listening to calm music, controlling your breathing, read a book to the kids. It's so hard when children demand all your head space and theirs none left for you.

Think about what nice things you can do when dh comes home, even if it's just locking yourself in the bathroom for 10 mins