Terrible anxiety after covid

[Googoodol]

hi I tested positive for covid last week I had really bad sickness with it and no energy it’s been a week and I have this overwhelming anxiety like knots in my stomach I can’t eat as I’m so anxious. When I go out I feel like I’m having a panic attack as soon as I wake up in the morning the feeling of dread comes over me and it lasts all day. I’m so emotional I keep crying but dont no why I was fine before covid. This anxiety is so bad I feel on edge all the time the only way I can describe it is like being in a queue for a scary ride and your belly is all nervous I’m having this all day all night I feel like I need to call 111 I can’t cope like this.I’m not scared of covid or anything like that it’s just this anxiety is so bad I just want to sleep so I don’t feel it anymore. Does anyone have this? Am I going crazy? So about the grammar I’m so tired it’s killing me :(

The first time I had Omicron last year I experienced a terrible feeling of dread, almost terror after a week or so. My dh had the same experience later on. It did go away after a couple of weeks as I recovered but I’ll never forget it. I drank my calories in warm milky drinks and sugary fizzy drinks and slowly improved. I’ve had Covid 3 times - once at the start without the vaccine but that was my worst mentally. Try to see it as a symptom and your brain is tricking you.

I have had Covid for 3 days and I can't lie down and sleep as I feel like I'm suffocating. If I sit up it is better. I feel like a zombie having had no sleep for now the third night.

Yes I suffered from anxiety and tearfulness after the main symptoms of Covid had passed, I think it's actually fairly common.

Hi OP

It's ok. You're going to be ok. I promise you.

I have a loooonnnng history of mental health issues. When covid finally got me about a month ago I thought I was back at square one after all these years. The anxiety was horrible.

What helped? Tiny steps at a time. Banning myself from visualising scary things and replacing these images with something else (e.g counting the flowers on my bathroom tiles when panicking in the bath).

Also please try to eat little bits and often. Panic and anxiety absolutely love low blood sugar

Slowly but surely things will get better. Not necessarily in a linear fashion. You may feel a lot better one day and terrified all over again the next. But you're heading in the right direction.

Today I enjoyed a little snack out with a dear friend. A month ago this would have been unimaginable.

Anxiety is a powerful and terrible enemy at times. Be kind to yourself OP. Every day is a step back to normal even when it doesn't feel like it. I wish you all the best X

So so sorry any of you feel like this, it really is awful! I too suffer with my mental health in general, especially anxiety which tends to go off the scale when anything slightly bad happens. I'm 3 weeks post covid now, and at the time when I had it, it took me back to some of my lowest moments I've had in my life. I was pacing up and down balling my eyes out. It does get better, it will pass. If you really feel like you can't cope, it may be worth calling a doctor xxx

@caringcarer my heart goes out to you, not being able to sleep, it really is the worst feeling. I wonder is it worth taking a sleeping tablet or speaking to your doctor? I'm sure you will eventually get so tired you'll get to sleep. Try to watch comfort things on TV just to distract yourself a little, I know it's difficult when you are anxious xxx

Really sorry to hear that you are suffering. My anxiety started after my first vaccine, appeared out of nowhere. Had covid back in March and it's still here ☹️. Just feel this whole covid thing has ruined my life as it's stripped away any joy I had in life.

Under investigation now with doc for long covid and anxiety is a fairly common thing apparently.

Anxiety is bad first thing due to cortisol, I too have that knot in stomach, it's like a bad case of indigestion. However mine makes me sick, first thing on an empty stomach. Just horrible!

You could try root ginger in hot water to make a tea, an indigestion remedy or relaxation/ meditation stuff - I do find afterwards that knot has gone.

Anyway hope you feel better soon

I had bad anxiety for a couple of weeks after I had covid. It was the worst anxiety I have ever experienced. Really unpleasant. It subsided after that and now, one month on, I am fine.

Yes I had the same when I had Delta in November last year.
As soon as I lost my taste/smell, I had overwhelming anxiety and a prolonged feeling of utter doom and dread.

I did a lot of research into the link between Covid and anxiety/depression and learned that with viruses that effect the nerves that impact your olfactory senses are all linked which can lead to an increase in anxiety and/or depression or exacerbate existing mental health issues.

I knew I just had to ride it out but my god it was hard. I woke up into days 5-9 utterly convinced it would be the day I'd go downhill and end up in hospital, despite not suffering particularly horrendously. I simultaneously hated being stuck in isolation but at the same time terrified to leave the house. Sheer limbo and inertia for the entire time.

Many sympathies, it does get easier!!

That’s interesting. I didn’t lose my sense of smell but it was very distorted for about ten days and it was in that period that the anxiety was at its worst.

It's the worst. I have taken antidepressants for years and when I had Covid in July I felt almost as bad with anxiety as before I started them - it was really unsettling. I think it was a couple of weeks before I started to feel better. @JimJonesLivesInMyHead has fantastic advice. I think, for me, the isolating and lack of distractions from my own thoughts really didn't help.

You’re not alone. I had this too. Not very nice at all. But it passed op.

Try to rest up if you can and all the usual; keep hydrated.

Your body is fighting a funky virus and anxiety and dread can be byproducts of all the internal things going on: immune system in overdrive, maybe a temp etc.

Think of it like warning sensors going off in a cockpit and the anxiety is the emotional manifestation of what’s going on in your body.

Try not to fixate on the feelings and know it’s normal, rest up and look after yourself. The feelings won’t last.

Also op, sleep it off. It’s probably begat your body needs. Still try to pootle around when you can and get fresh air if you can but rest!

What not begat

@Googoodol can I ask how you are now ? I had a very similar experience . I put it down to hormones but reading this I think it may be the effects of covid

@Greyingmumto3 hi sorry haven’t been on here for a while, I feel fine now it lasted for about 3 weeks the anxiety was so bad never known anything like it. Took a while but finally started feeling like myself again. Hope your feeling well now :) x

@Googoodolim fine at the moment thank you, honestly it’s like it never happened! So strange . I do get hormonal anxiety but this was off the scale I just couldn’t get out of my own head . Lasted for a few weeks . I’ve had covid twice and never felt like this last time
glad you’re feeling better too x