How are you keeping your anxiety in check?

[Zem74]

I’ve been really struggling to keep on top of my anxiety since this all began.

I have a condition which puts me in the moderate risk category, I’ve had this for years and 95% of the time causes me no issues or symptoms at all and is well controlled.

Since lockdown began I have been in a constant state of worry/stress. From home schooling, worrying that I’m more at risk of severe illness than most, I’m out and about and trying to live normally but I always have wobbles when I’m back home about whether I have been careful enough/exposed myself to the virus too much etc.

This constant stress cycle triggers my condition, and I’m having symptoms every few weeks and generally not feeling very well physically and mentally. These symptoms then cause me anxiety that my condition isn’t well managed anymore and the vicious cycle continues.

I’m fed up of feeling this way, I’m trying my best with positive thinking, meditation when I can get 10 mins peace from the kids, taking supplements, early nights etc and I just don’t know where to turn anymore.

My health is taking an absolute battering and I feel if I caught Covid now I’m in a much worse position to fight it than I was at the start of all this

Does anyone have any tips on how to get my mental health back on track

CBD oil, and cannabis tea. (Legal.)

@katkit can I ask where you get your oil from. I’ve heard that a lot of them from shops etc aren’t any good and not potent enough for effect x

I'm not. I am really struggling with it :( I just don't know how I'm going to cope much longer.

Yes, I got mine from Boots, 3 for 2. Medium strength. It seems to take almost 24 hours to kick in for me. It really calms my racing, scattered mind. I hope you feel better soon, OP.

Antidepressants for me. My horrendous anxiety has now dropped to normal levels instead of me being almost paralysed by it.

I recommend watching Mel Robbins on YouTube talk about anxiety. Basically worrying about everything will not change the outcome essentially.

Anti-depressants and doing things I enjoy, crafts, colouring, listening to audiobooks. I don't have small kiddo's so my situation is different. Maybe see your GP and they can help?

It's awful, my anxiety has been worse during this, not because of the virus, but how some people might react to the situation. People are my anxiety trigger. But I've quite enjoyed not having the pressure to be sociable during lockdown, so that's a bonus for me.

I think other than meds, which helped enormously btw, I think you have to find what works for you.

Don't read the media /download calm and talk talk talk to people x

I'm struggling. I can only try to be present.

This level of anxiety is out of proportion to the level of risk unless you are elderly. I would go and see your GP about medication and counselling.

Firstly and remember whilst you of course need to keep anxiety under control, don't beat yourself up for feeling it, as this situation is historically shit and stressful!

We've had unprecedented use of the word unprecedented for a reason.

I would do three things:

1. Focus as much time and effort as possible on reducing your background stress (baths, walks, reading, films, meditation, whatever works)
2. Take control by deciding what you will and won't do this week. There's a whole spectrum of ok - so imo refusing to ever leave the house is unhealthy, hugging strangers is unhealthy. There's a big range of 'normal' in between. You can choose what is ok for you.
3. Speak to a professional if you think you're really struggling.

There's a lot of people, in real life and on here, who think any worry is unreasonable. Try to zone them out and find better support instead.