Is anyone around?

[DueyCheatemAndHow]

I'm feeling such overwhelming anxiety tonight. DH is asleep, and I just feel awful.

Im here but about to go out (australia).
can you put headphones in and watch something on YouTube on your phone? Handhold

Can you make a cup of tea and watch a bit of rubbish telly? Or just keep chatting here

Do you have any idea what's making you anxious?

Sorry to hear that @DueyCheatemAndHow . Things usually seem worse at night. Are you anxious about anything in particular?

First of all put some water in the kettle

Oh poor you
Do the five things grounding
5 things you can see
4 you can hear
3 you can feel
2 you can smell
1 you can taste

Make yourself a hot drink and while the kettle boils stretch, touch you toes, rub your ears and hands. If you’re feeling twitchy run on the spot.

I am here. Anything in particular you are anxious about?

Everything seems so much tonight

1. My son who is 5 is overwhelmingly hard. I start to dread the weekends and worry about after school and bedtime because I just don't know how to handle him

1. I had a great part time job that I had to five up because we moved and the commute was too hard. In my job PT positions are few and far between.

1. Because I'm fucking stupid I managed to delete photos on my phone. I've no idea how many. I'm gutted, there were some great photos of the kids and I've lost them. DH takes shit photos. I need to send one off of me and I can't find a single half reasonable photo. My friends DH is always taking amazing photos of her and their DC and I'm just so upset about all the ones I've lost.

This will pass op. I found this helpful.

Re phone check to see if they're um the recycle bin or been uploaded somewhere?

Can you find pics in the “recently deleted “ folder?
sorry your feeling rubbish

No the pics have gone. I'm gutted.

You could try putting on some cheesy pop type song on the headphones and try to sing out like no one is watching۔ That sometimes helps my anxiety

Sorry. Even I messed up there. Tried to send the message and somehow keyboard went bonkers with different language input.
So took forever to send that message and I see you have replied since.

Children are always hard work, some days more than others. Just pat your self on the back, each day you get through it.

I believe in destiny, so thinking of your job, it is time to start a different path maybe or get something even better. Sometimes you need a change for your life to improve.

As for the deleted photos, sorry cannot help you there but I had that done twice! Once phone broke and could not get fixed and 2nd time similar to you.

I can remember being so upset because I had the phones for a long time so it had the kids photos of them growing up. I cried! But a couple of years later, I get a slight twinge when I remember a certain favourite photo but I am OK now and learned to just make new memories instead (and to print my favourite photos every once in a while!)

So moral of the story, it will all pass.

I have suffered from anxiety most of my life. Have lots of strategies that help me. Will share some with you:

In the “here and now”:

• acknowledge these feelings of discomfort.
• know that you are not alone. Far from it. This is not just a ‘you thing’
• talk kindly and in a comforting way to yourself - give yourself an encouraging, reassuring self talk full of compassion until you start to take on board the messages you are saying to yourself.
• mentally diary in a time when you are going to address any of the situations causing you upset. If they come back into your mind, imagine you are escorting them to a safe and comfortable space and tell them you will get back to them. Keep repeating that as worries are persistent.
• use sensory methods to help reduce anxiety: music, lavender, applying nice body lotion, hugging a pillow, breathing exercises, a cup of tea. Do everything with the backdrop of kind self talk.

Would your husband mind being woken up? Mine wd always rather I unburdened myself.

when you have a chance to explore your anxiety- tomorrow, later in the week, whenever - approach it with curiosity. There will be things you can do which will help you- you possibly know what some of them are already (sleep? Nature? Exercise? Time with friends? Journaling? Making soup? Kitchen disco, meditation…do the things you think work best for you regularly as an ongoing programme of self care). Engage your husband, family or friends to help you or join you if u can.

you might need to work on your anxiety all your life but think how much kindness you will show yourself and what a great thing to model to your child.

you take care ❤️

That's so helpful, thank you. I've looked at some nice photos which has helped a bit xx

Check out anxietyjosh on Instagram he shares loads of great tips!

I’m here if you fancy a chat