To think about anxiety is utterly shit?

[ItalianRedParka]

Lifelong sufferer. Its been made worse by things that have happened. Im on ADs and paying for private counselling. I remember being anxious as a child and feeling like I was going to pass out alot. I will be having a good time then suddenly anxiety starts and it's shit

Thanks @KarlaKK Solidarity
Wishing some peace to all who're suffering.

Thanks Anxietydisorderisshit - yes, I hope whoever suffers finds some peace. Even the odd hour here and there.

I hope you're ok ItalianRedParka as you've disappeared.

My son’s girlfriend has anxiety and I don’t think I had appreciated how difficult it is for her. I thought I was being supportive and understanding but, having read this thread I realise I hadn’t understood quite how debilitating living with it can be so thank you all for that. Sending calmness and hugs to all of you living with anxiety.

Hello. Im still here. Its crap isn't it. I ask my mate if she thinks about all these scenarios and she just looks at me like I'm mad.

Yes, it's crap. Surely everyone has it to some extent? Maybe not though. I'm constantly thinking I'm doing something wrong in life and the police will come and knock my door. I don't actually do anything wrong. If I'm in the supermarket and have to get my glasses out to read the packaging I'm careful to make sure no one thinks I'm stealing anything. It's almost like I think they've got a camera on me. It's like I'm waiting for something bad to happen. Exhausting.

Its like I think its normal to think my child is going to predecease me or the plane is going to crash when there is turbulence !!

My adult DC has had it since childhood. She only manages a zero hours contract job because she so often gets overwhelmed. Is there any hope of it getting better?

I know ItalianRedParka. I worry about the same as I know my life would be over. He's all I've got. I'd never recover. He's 27 and I'm still telling him to be careful.

Zaza - perhaps your daughter could speak to a GP. I wish I'd sorted things out a bit more when younger. Wishing her all the best. It's a mental health issue and can be debilitating. In some ways mine is.

Thanks Karla. She's been on a high dose of Sertraline for 5 years. It helps her function - without it she was unable to leave the house. She's tried counselling 4 different times and CBT but none of that made a dent. My sympathy to everyone suffering.

It is horrific. I suffer too. I am constantly scared and walk around feeling like I could have a panic attack or faint at any moment. I struggle to sleep, am constantly tired and can't concentrate at work. This means I get behind on tasks, which means I get even more stressed and anxious. It ruins my life, and if I could click my fingers and cease to exist, that is the option I would choose.

Diagnosed GAD, panic disorder and now developed agoraphobia as well. Medication helps but it’s a constant struggle everyday, especially doing exposure which makes it even worse.

My DD has been suffering with anxiety since just before covid. It impacts so much of her life.

As a non sufferer I don't worry about things I can't control, eg plane crashes, and I only worry about aches, bumps, spots etc if they continue for days or don't have logical explanation, so I assume the best not the worst.

At her worst DD needed constant reassurance about everything, including bushes and bollards 'attacking her'.

ZaZa, that sounds bad. I'm really sorry to hear that. It's awful. I can't imagine what she goes through. Thank goodness she has you in her corner. I'm so sorry.

Strawberries, I completely understand. I don't sleep until about 2.30am, get about 6 hours sleep. I think with the menopause too my concentration levels at work are terrible and I'm waiting to be sacked daily. Luckily, the man I work for is good but it is constantly on my mind if I'm slow in returning work.

Catsservant - that's awful. Someone upthread said they stopped exposure as it wasn't helping, I think.

TeenstoTwenties - I hope your DD gets help. Not sure what you mean by bushes and bollards 'attacking her', but that sounds quite severe.

I'm so sorry for those suffering much worse symptoms than me. What an absolute nightmare. People walking around, going through their daily lives, suffering. It truly is miserable.

Neurodivergence in females is woefully underdiagnosed, and these can be associated with anxiety. If it’s a life long issue, it may be worth watching a few YouTube videos, or doing other research to see if any of these NDs could apply to you. It’s worth looking into female specific symptoms as these can differ from male presentation hence the reason we are less likely to get a diagnosis.

I also find probiotics have helped to reduce my anxiety a little, although despite this and sertraline I’m still crippled at times.

When I've had it, I can't sleep either.
There's no rest from it, when you can't sleep, or relax at night.

I have been a similar sufferer, I had always thought I had OCD. I had EMDR therapy recently and discovered I had CPTSD from a difficult childhood.

The therapy changed my life. The thesis is that anxiety can be a symptom of unprocessed traumatic or difficult memories and the anxiety is a extension of your inner child who is struggling.

EMDR allows with the support of a therapist to go back to those memories and process them it can really help relieve anxiety.

I am new to this. Please can anyone tell me if any supplements like Ashwagandha have helped with anxiety. I am looking for something and don't want to ask the GP.