To ask what it's like not to have anxiety

[greyskiesandcarpet]

I am 42 and have crippling anxiety around work. I think and worry about it 99.9% of the time! Will I make a massive mistake, am I doing something wrong? I am in a middle management job. Whats it like to not worry about work and to be able to leave it at the door? Did anyone use to have work anxiety and then managed to cure it? I feel like life has a constant cloud over it and I can't enjoy anything 100%. Please can someone give me hope.

Life is too short! Can you change roles?

What have you tried so far?

Are you on HRT?

I ask because it was life changing for me.

@Gettingannoyednow I have been offered medication, but am scared to try!

@Thatsajokeright how does it work? How do I get prescribed?

My mental health plummeted as my oestrogen did. If you're 42 there's a good chance you're in perimenopause. It might be contributing to your anxiety.

Also, anxiety is a known symptom of an underactive thyroid so it might be worth looking online for the symptoms to see if you have any of them. Then you can ask your GP for a blood test.

@Thatsajokeright I've had bloods, nothing came up! I've been through a period is immense stress these past five years. I think it's being in constant fight or flight!

My anxiety levels reached sky high levels during Covid and working 12hr shifts and the constant pressure was awful. Things improved when I changed my role to do 9-5 hrs in a less pressured work environment. I still have a lot of work related anxiety but HRT has definitely helped me

I can honestly say it's very rare I feel anxious about anything so not sure I am able to explain what it's like as to me, it's just normal. I can see why you're hesitant to try drugs as I wouldn't want to take anything mind-altering either.

Have you tried any other ways of dealing with it? Are there any particular things that make it slightly worse/better?

I’ve been suffering terrible anxiety recently, last time I went through a major train station I could barely walk in there but had to do so for work these last few days. I spent the whole journey listening to anxiety help podcasts and a bit of hypnosis stuff at night. I managed the whole trip and am SO proud of myself for not crying or having a panic attack. I’m really working on self help, looking for book recommendations etc but totally agree with the poster who said about perimenopause- I’m certain that’s why I’m like this at the moment (44!)
Good luck and speak to a Dr if it is affecting you that much, but definitely understand where you’re coming from, it’s so debilitating x

https://open.spotify.com/show/3zYMh54e1Wd6hOBqV0vU2W?si=nId6dpP5R0Cbducsz5lVvw really enjoying this

I’m 44 and struggling with anxiety like I never had in my life before. I think it’s a mix of 4 years full on stress through Covid and finished off with perimenopause. I’m on hrt but it’s not doing the trick at the minute. I’ve taken a step back at work right now as the family stress was just too much.

so sorry - no answers! Just solidarity!

I felt like you OP. I started sertraline about 5 years ago now, it took a few months to get things under control and get the dosage right - but oh my goodness life is lovely without that constant overwhelming anxiety ruining it.
Get some help, you don’t have to live like this xx

I'm 52 and perimenopausal. I had bad postnatal anxiety which took a long time to get over. I felt those same feelings coming back about 6 months ago (presumably perimenopause related). I started taking an Ashwagandha supplement and a Well Woman 50+ supplement (ncluding iron - I have a tendencyto anaemia and had been having very heavy periods), and within about a week and a half I honestly felt like a different person. All the work stuff that my anxiety was mostly focused on is still there, but it's like my anxiety about it has just been switched off!

What are your worries about medication?

Already so glad I posted this. Thank you for the helpful posts, the understanding posts and those offering tips and hints. Sending big hugs to those who are going through the same. Swear everyone at work thinks I'm neurotic, when I used to be anything but!

@AllProperTeaIsTheft oh wow! Would you mind posting the links to the supplements, I can see if there is similar for my age.

@AllProperTeaIsTheft also my periods are becoming much heavier and much shorter! Without going into too much detail more clots! I find I have about ten days of hellish anxiety where I feel I'm losing the plot then it's just a gentle whirring anxiety that's always there!

@Apollo365 did you have any bad side effects? That my concern if it getting worse before it gets better!

@WhitegreeNcandle I'm always here if you need a hand hold or to chat! You sound just like me xxx

@StonwEd sending love and solidarity! Sounds like you're taking control of it! I've brought a few self help books but can never get through the first few pages

Working myself up about a work meeting tomorrow as we speak, time for some more of that hypnosis 😅

oh and agree with the periods comments, mine are mental - 14 day cycle, then a 70 day one … so unfair and I spend 3 days before I come on contemplating everything and crying but never realising why 😒

love and solidarity to you too 🧘‍♀️

No problem! The ashwagandha I take is this one on Amazon https://amzn.eu/d/8q89nT6
And the Well Woman one here Vitabiotics Wellwoman 50+, 30 Tablets, Pack of 1 https://amzn.eu/d/hsU13ch

It was honestly like magic. I went from full-on panic mode to a kind of 'Yeah whatevs, everything is fine. What on earth was I getting so wound up about?!'

Obviously I can't guarantee aahwagandha will have quite the same effect on everyone! But I found a proper clinical trial online which found strong evidence that it really does reduce anxiety. It's also good for blood pressure apparently (I have had borderline high bp for years).

I could have written this!

I've started on HRT and it's helped a bit and it's now just about manageable but I still worry far more than I should and work takes up way too much head space for me 😞