Post Brexit Anxiety (Mental Health related)

[BrexitThunderbolt]

I've NC for this, because I feel a bit embarrassed about putting this out there. I was disappointed in the referendum result, having voted remain, but actually not really surprised as polls seemed to suggest it would be close. Since the result, my anxiety levels have gone through the roof and I was wondering if anyone else was feeling like this? I respect the outcome, although I have written to my MP etc so I can tell my DS, who was too young to vote, that I've done everything I possibly could.
It's difficult to say why I feel like this, why my level of anxiety is so high. The racist incidents in the weeks after have made me feel anxious and I've seen stuff on Facebook that I really wish I hadn't seen. For example, I signed up to the Chuku Umana (sp?) Facebook group Vote Leave Watch and it's just full of what is beginning to feel like 'the usual' comments along the lines of "suck it up" and "fuck off losers", but coupled with a lot of racist comments aimed at him. Now rationally I know these people are a small minority of leave voters, but it feels like some kind of awful Pandora's Box has been opened. I've 'unliked' the page so I don't have to read it anymore.

I think part of the anxiety comes from a feeling of utter powerlessness. After the vote, the leading leave campaigners just walked away and since then it feels like no reassurances have been given by the people who are meant to be in charge. Cameron is still meant to be PM last time I looked, but has said nothing. Meanwhile the economy seems to be in a worrying state and the place I work has given warnings of possible redundancies, sugar coated with a 'don't worry yet though' message. Meanwhile, reading posts on here - which I should probably stop doing* - leavers are saying "it will all be fine" but without providing anything to back up their certainty.
I honestly feel like I've entered into a weird parallel universe where everyone seems to be fine about all the uncertainty except me. I keep waking up in the early hours of the morning with my heart racing and a mad adrenalin rush going through me.
*I know I should probably step away from social media, but my anxiety seems to be coupled with an overwhelming compulsion to return to the subject repeatedly.
Sorry this is so long. Is anyone else feeling like this? If so, what coping strategies are you using?
Please don't post if you're just going to come back with a "sore loser" type comment.

There's lots of us feeling like this. No one is in charge and it feels like our country is going downhill socially and economically. >

Glad I'm not the only one. My mental health has been taking a nosedive in the run up to the referendum and not got any better since.

I suffer really badly with anxiety and found that the outcome affected me a hell of a lot more than I though it would/should. I get that nervous feeling in my stomach when reading about it, it feels like everything is out of control and it's put me on edge.
I agree with pp about finding something like a tv series to take your mind off of it, I've been avoiding the news for a few days (thank God for CBeebies).

Thanks, Blue. That makes sense now!

Emoji, yes to the being part of a community thing, rather than being isolated. I wonder if the fact that we're an island is also making us feel the sense of isolation more.
Melanie, yes, it's early days, but it also feels like two weeks is quite a long time to be in a rudderless ship without a captain on board. Fucked if I know how to sail a boat!
Meglet, Widow and JackScrote - good to know that we're not alone. Jack, I also never expected to feel like this - my shock, sadness and anger feel like a bereavement.
I hope you/we all have a peaceful evening.

It feels like a bereavement to me too.

Shock, anger, bewilderment, grief, fear. All going round in circles.

I still feel depressed most of the time too.

Thank you for writing this post. It makes me feel less alone with the feelings in having. I've had anxiety issues for years and Brexit has really exacerbated everything. I still feel as if I'm in a state of shock. I told my partner that the last time I remember feeling this level of shock, loss and anger was when I was living in New York on 9/11. Somehow that was more bearable though, because of the strong sense of community, support and care - everyone was experiencing the same thing. With Brexit I don't know which way is up and the sense of isolation, of not belonging, is very strong.

More than anything I'm enraged. I've written to, and heard back from, my MP. I've marched. I'm trying to do what I can but overall I feel very much the powerlessness others have mentioned. I want to scream every time someone says, "the British people have spoken". Not this Brit! I feel completely unheard.

And I am heartbroken to see the concern of European friends who are now trying to decide on their uncertain futures, and are scared to speak on the bus in case they get abused.

Sorry, I haven't helped much. But I share your despair.

OP and everyone else who is feeling down.

I know what you mean op. I'm finding the lack of plan incredibly hard. I would find it easier if it was just WTO rules - that's it, but the continuing hope and fluffy unicorns that people believe are just worse and worse.

I've found it interesting though in that I used to be reasonably supportive of the royal family. Now I just think what the hell are they doing. Why doesn't the queen come into her bloody balcony and say a few platitudes about how everything is going to be okay. It's not like we don't pay her enough.

I find that my anxiety and my anger are battling each other, currently my anger is winning.

So are mine... It's like breaking up with someone...of 40 years.

Anger, more anger and am slowly calming down.

Loads to be anxious about, we are selling our house though necessity and I work in commercial property so my job is insecure. I am lucky I don't get anxious.

Now spoken to some leavers at work:

• one started his statement with I don't do politics, yep then why did you vote leave?
• another told me an anecdotal story about the CAP from the 1980's
• the other seemed to think a crash would be a good idea

So no keep angry

Not alone OP but social media does feed it, I think. I've felt better when I've ignored it. Try to harness the rage - get active. I choose carefully who's on my Twitter feed - get rid of Louise Mensch types (unstable, bored in New York) - add nothing to global happiness.

The idea that there was a plan before this is questionable - for example, how did osbo fill the financial hole left when he u turned on benefits cuts?

No one had a secure job before. Some will be more secure because of this. Realisation of our financial problems may even stop insanity such as hs2 and airport expansion.

What was the plan for solving our housing and energy issues? Our NHS problems? Of course much of it is of our own making and not from the EU, but all has never been perfect and we still have water in the taps.

Have we done the right thing? I don't know any more than anyone else. But worrying changes nothing.

But worrying can change things. It can motivate you to take action.

Why doesn't the queen come into her bloody balcony and say a few platitudes about how everything is going to be okay. It's not like we don't pay her enough.

Well that cheered me up a bit.

BrexitThunderbolt

Have you watched this? Ian Hislop: 'Remainers are entitled to go on making the argument'

Don't listen to the leavers who think you should shut up and not be anxious.

I feel the same, I got my anxiety under control last year and it's back with a vengeance. It's also affecting my relationship as I'm driving my DH crazy by constantly checking the news and MN threads.

I know being well informed is making it worse as I can't go 'lalala is all fine' but I keep on searching for some hopeful news, something that shows it might all be ok.

My one hope is that there are a huge number of people who feel the same, so there are enough people with power who have a vested interest in the country not going down the pan

But my main fear with all of this was losing the 'peaceful alliance' part of the EU, and the opportunity for the rise of the far right. It all seems to be coming true right now so I'm scared (sorry I know I'm probably not helping you here )

This is the most profound period of instability since the war. Most people don't remember that and have only experienced relative stability and continuity. Of course this will cause anxiety but what I would say is that despite the political vacuum businesses, lawyers and I am sure civil servanrs are doing huge amounts of work to think through what it all means and to plan. Not all of our institutions have failed.

Oh, you are a bunch of gloomy guts ent ya!!!! Can't you see.it's just an iddle biddle bit of short term pain, for lots of lovely long term gain. It'll be Unicorns, Rainbows and Kittens by tea time!!!

And if it isn't you can wrap yourself in that Britishnessnessness and just lay back and Feel. The. Control.

Lumpy

Same here.
Me: EU national ; lived 40 years in UK; married to a Brit; one child. Woke up with severe anxiety.:
What about my mortgage?
What about my will?
What about my private pension?
What about my state pension to which I contributed all these years?
What about my savings?
What about this? What about that?
And all these statements: 'oh, don't be silly , you will be alright...'make me even more nervous.
Last year I was worried about DD's education (state versus private) now I am worried whether I'll be kicked out of the country!!!

New user here, joined up just to post on another thread about MH and brexit a week or so ago...

Needless to say, you most certainly are not alone. The focus and intensity of my anxiety keeps on shifting, but one thing I am struggling with is my loss of faith in people. I don't buy the line that there has to be something in it for 17m to have voted brexit. I've turned it all over so many times and am still convinced that most (no, not all) leavers voted for daft or inaccurate reasons.

I think this is why for me what has helped me move past the very worst is to be selective about who I talk about this with. I no longer get into 'discussions' with leavers at work, for example, because I know their arguments and reasoning is going to exasperate me. I read articles online that are either neutral or sympathetic to remain. I try to avoid the trolling in comments below. I know this isn't a balanced way of getting news, but I'm trying to keep my stress levels down as a priority right now.

I also find well-reasoned and compassionate articles from leavers very calming. There was a good one in the ft earlier this week from someone who was afraid of racism within EU states. While I didn't agree overall with the writer, I was reassured that there are thinking, caring people among the 17m. He was able to sustain his argument without any of the empty and jingoistic rubbish I've seen so much of elsewhere.

Finally, I couldn't do fb or Twitter. I couldn't take being assaulted by the kind of nonsense I can otherwise avoid!

I'm sorry that you're feeling anxious OP, and others on this thread. I suffer from anxiety too and it's an absolute bastard.

You are right in that the Leave campaigners fucked off after the referendum and it's disgraceful but you're wrong to assume that plans are not being put in place as we speak.

I can imagine/hope that there are now LOTS of plans being drawn up but the Government are going to keep quiet about them for now (if they've any sense).

Our press are like vultures and will rip apart any plans that are leaked - not to mention Juncker who has behaved like an utter twat since day one.

The Business Secretary Sajid Javid has recently visited India to start trade talks and also plans to visit the US, China, Japan and South Korea.

These are massive global economies who will be very keen to trade with us.

New Zealand have also 'loaned' us the use of their top trade negotiators (as we no longer have that many of our own) which is going to help us enormously.

These countries are chomping at the bit.

This video may explain why many people believe that we will not only be OK outside of the Union but could potentially thrive

You may or not agree with the views on the video which is fine but I hope it helps to reassure you why many people voted to leave and that it was not for racist reasons.

In terms of EU nationals living here, I just cannot see why people are going to be asked to leave. What purpose would this serve? There's no way the Government are going to come out and confirm that at this stage though as they are going to want to use this as a bargaining tool with the EU. I would imagine that they are going to be very canny and keep their cards close to their chest for the time being.

The racist attacks are hideous, there are always going to be knuckle dragging neanderthals who will want to come out of the woodwork at times like this.

Hampshire Police however reported that the number of reported hate crimes actually dropped in the period after the vote compared to the weeks perviously.

I'm not sure whether or not there has actually been an increase in the number of incidents, or whether its just that people are more likely to report them at the moment (as they should) combined with the fact that the press are absolutely revelling in it.

I live in a town that voted to leave by a fair margin but as far as I'm aware there have been no reported incidents here recently. Our next door neighbours are Muslim, my sons lovely girlfriend is Polish and our neighbourhood watch coordinator is Asian. None of them have experienced any repercussions and don't seem to have any concerns at all. I sincerely hope that it stays that way.

I know lots of lovely, well-educated, kind and decent people who voted to leave (I voted leave myself) but I have also had lots of conversations over the past few weeks with remainers who whilst are disappointed by the result, are not particularly worried about the outcome and are taking the view that things will all pan out in the end.

I have never really discussed politics before until the referendum but now everyone is doing it and I have had so many conversations with people, friends, family but mainly complete strangers and it has been fascinating. People have differing opinions but no-one seems to be panicking as far as I can see and most people seem to be open to discussion.

My accountant feels that the next few years will be 'interesting' and there will undoubtedly be changes on the horizon. Some good, some bad but that overall things won't be worse.

My cousins house sale fell through as the buyers pulled out due to Brexit. They were devastated but managed to find another buyer within days and then the original buyers came back to also say they'd panicked but would now like to go ahead and buy.

I'm waffling here (sorry) but I just wanted to try and present a calmer, more reasoned viewpoint.

My advice would be to stay away from the newspapers to be honest, they are vile and the Guardian is just as bad (if not worse) than the Daily Mail. I utterly despise them and they way they try to skew the headlines.

Great post, Girlin.

Stout remainer here, but thanks for your words.