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.

Your post is very well meaning and sweet, girl, but you know most of what you've written is just wishful thinking, right?

You 'hope' the govt is secretly making excellent plans. Okay.

The trade secretary is visiting other countries. Marvellous. (It takes years for trade deals...but hey...)

In our crusade to make Britain great again and take back control and 'sovereignty' from those pesky foreigners, we've had to employ new Zealanders to do the negotiations? Honestly How is that a cause for celebration?

It's exactly this kind of stuff that does make me despair.

And that's without addressing your suggestion that race crime has gone up post brexit because maybe more people were reporting it...

Why have you attached a link to Daniel Hannan girl?

www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jul/09/andrea-leadsom-tea-party

SwedishEdith

What makes you think that my linking to Hannan was in anyway an endorsement of him or his politics (or Leadsom's for that matter)?

Helmet

Yes, I do I hope that the Government are making plans. Don't you? What makes you think that they're not? What evidence do you have? Do you hope that they're not? Would it make you feel better if the country fell apart at the seams?

In our crusade to make Britain great again and take back control and 'sovereignty' from those pesky foreigners

What the bloody hell are you on about now?

You've posted a lot on the EU Referendum threads Helmet and your narrative hasn't changed at all. Just the same bitter, aggressive and patronising points rolled out over and over again. Give it a bloody rest and step away from the Guardian.

we've had to employ new Zealanders to do the negotiations? Honestly How is that a cause for celebration?

Well you've mis-quoted me there but never mind. We haven't employed anyone. NZ has offered to lend us their top trade negotiators to help us open up trade talks with the rest of the planet (themselves included). We used to have a large number of trade negotiators but they were dispensed of when our EU membership meant that there was no longer anything to negotiate.

Can you explain to me why you think this is bad thing?

By the way - trade deals don't have to take 'years and years'.

It's exactly this kind of stuff that does make me despair

You love it really Helmet, don't you? I bet you stalk the aisles of ASDA buying up as much Misery Lit as you can get your bitter little hands on. God forbid that anyone might attempt to put an optimistic or even neutral viewpoint across on these boards. Positivity? Heaven fucking forfend. What will we all talk about then?

And that's without addressing your suggestion that race crime has gone up post brexit because maybe more people were reporting it...

You have deliberately twisted my words here which is not very bright or very clever given that this is essentially a thread addressing mental health anxiety.

For anyone else interested in what I actually said, it is ......

"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." as is Helmet

Wow! You really think I want my country to go down the shitter because of people like you, girl?

I don't know what your reasons were for voting out but I do hope the decimation of science and research funding, higher education sector, financial services, Northern Ireland peace process and social cohesion are all worth it to you.

You've still not answered my questions to you Helmet.

As for 'revelling in racist attacks' ffs- you think I want to tell my Ds he can't walk home alone in the eve anymore because people are going round saying 'we'll get you lot out next'
You have got no idea.

What questions?
Do I hope the govt are making plans? Yeah I do. I dunno, maybe you didn't notice but there is a leadership contest and no brexit plan. That's why I think they're not.
Would I feel better if the country feel apart?
No. That's why I voted remain.
What am I on about re. Foreigners?
You don't recognise that a lot of people (approx 80%) said they voted out because of immigration? Okay.

I apologise about the nz negotiators- I didn't realise they offered to work for us for free! That is a silver lining. I love nz and nz negotiators offering to help. It's awesome.

I love mark carney too. He is a silver lining! I don't even mind that he's had to throw billions at the economy to prop it up.

I don't shop at asda. I don't read misery lit. And my 'hands' are not bitter.

Why would my narrative change? I still think you've fucked us over- I'm not going to pretend you haven't just because we might get to borrow some hunky New Zealanders.

This is why people are feeling anxious. People arguing and tales of doom. Plenty of other threads for that. This one is about mental health. Take the fight somewhere else.

Apologies op

Yup, Imbroglio.

Girlin may be wrong or right, but the point is she took the time to share her viewpoint and to offer a bit of kindness, which is what we all need now.

I consider myself to be very lucky in that my lovely DH is always the voice of reason. I was practically paralysed with fear in the run up to the Millennium (because of the Millennium Bug) and he managed to soothe me and keep me calm without laughing in my face

He voted to remain by the way and is not overly concerned about the implications of Brexit, neither are his company judging by the statement they released after the vote (global telecoms company).

I'm lucky to have him as god knows where I would be without him.

The newspapers and commentators on Social Media tend to have opinions that lean towards towards one extreme or the other which is why I tend to stay away. The majority of people occupy the middle ground and although the middle ground doesn't sell papers, I suspect it's where the true is often to be found.

This may be 200 mg of Sertraline talking though

Lighteninggirl. I don't need to Google Stockholm Syndrome thank you. I'm aware of what it is and can assure you I don't have it.
Why don't you fuck off and patronise someone else now.

Lovely, just lovely. After presenting as being anxious, sanguine and dare I say it reasonable - the demonic alter ego slips.

That is the one hilarious part of this whole thing, those that have projected a false pc, smiley so sweet image have shown the world what they are really like.

That's what upsets so many of you, your deep secret is out.

I have anxiety and stuff like this can affect it quite a bit. after 7/7 I had panic attacks and didn't get help which wasn't a great plan! I try not to get embroiled in worrying too much, reading news on it etc and when I do, or experience panic, accept that the feelings are probably to do with my MH issue and that I'll get help etc if I need it.

Politically I do not respect the outcome of the vote and really hope we don't leave the EU!

the demonic alter ego slips.

Do you feel big, clever and virtuous attacking someone who has admitted on here that she is suffering from mental health problems and anxiety, just because she doesn't agree with your victorious vote? Would you do this to a stranger you see on the street? And find the OP's anxiety-driven response "hilarious"?

I shudder to see the darkness in human nature, but it's not in the OP's mental health. It's that some people will gleefully use somebody's weakness to belittle and hurt them just because of a difference in political views. And one wonders why people with mental health problems are ashamed and try to hide them away .

I agree with girlinacoma that it's wise for negotiation plans to be kept private for the time being. As soon as the UK leaders give away any kind of negotiating stance, the EU negotiators would be onto it. I would not be happy if the government started saying "we'll accept X at the cost of Y" because of course you go into negotiations saying you require both X and Y. And so do the other side, but it doesn't mean they will not compromise, even if they present themselves as playing hardball. It's just how negotiations are done.

I'm torn between being a bit of a compulsive "checker" and wanting to know as much as possible. I agree that our leaders, of every party have let us down, but maybe a big reshuffle is for the best.
I caught a Parliamentary sub committee meeting on the Parliament channel the other day that I found very interesting. It was a panel of top economists being questioned by MPs of different parties. A sort of information gathering exercise called "EU and the UK economy". It was like every question you've ever wanted to ask an expert, if you had a handy one.
The upshot seemed to be "Yes, it's a hell of a complicated situation we're in, and will take a long time to sort out, but there are solutions". The most senior adviser, Sir Emyr Jones Parry said it will be a case of "timing and enginuity".
On the MH issue, i am a bit of a compulsive worrier, and my solution is going to be to take little holidays from worrying and make myself think of something else. i think the whole situation will become clearer over time.

www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bad-news-disturbing-sleep_us_5776c8fee4b04164640ff44e?
Why Terrible News Really Might Keep You Up At Night
Sleep data suggests that people lost sleep after the Brexit referendum

Warning: May contain expert opinions

Worrying about Brexit can apply just as much to "leave" supporters, for example due to concerns about whether the referendum result will be undermined. Already pro-EU Bilderberg attendee Richard Branson has arranged a private meeting with Theresa May, presumably just in case she isn't enough of an "expert" herself

TheElementsSong just reflecting on the nastiness she spurted out.
Even dealing with mental health issues that level of response was "unacceptable".

As soon as the UK leaders give away any kind of negotiating stance, the EU negotiators would be onto it.

Which UK leaders are you referring to here? Cameron? Sturgeon? May? Leadsom? And you think they are busily and secretly negotiating what exactly? I find your insider knowledge so intriguing...

I feel the same. I'm not in a very good place at the moment, mentally (I have bpd and have just been diagnosed with bipolar II as well, fun times).

I've fallen out with a few Leavers on FB because they took my pro remain posts personally.

I am terrified by the leadership vacuum and the challenge to Corbyn, who I support utterly. It feels like the sky is falling in and I can't help thinking the end result will be WW3 and a total financial collapse.

I'm trying to stay positive and have got involved with campaigns, I've also joined the Labour Party in a bid to get my voice heard. But it all seems very doom and gloom at the moment and I hate it.

I'm not in a great place, either. My malaise is more to do with discovering that I don't know my country. I really can't believe some of the stuff I've heard and read over the last few weeks.

I went on the March which was great and I'm trying to decide which party to join. If nothing else I think a lot of people feel galvanised into doing something and becoming better informed.

What would cheer me up is getting Farage prosecuted for that disgraceful poster.

just reflecting on the nastiness she spurted out.
Even dealing with mental health issues that level of response was "unacceptable".

Ah well, I'm sorry to say that I disagree, bkgirl. How many times on MN, somebody will start a thread about some bad behaviour or rudeness they've witnessed, and inevitably there will be a post saying "You don't know what else is going on in their life". Here, the OP has told us that one of the things going on in her life is a mental health condition.

A thought experiment please. If somebody IRL told you they had recurring fears about something (that you think is unlikely) - would your instinctive response be a dismissive screed entirely about your own preferences and beliefs? And then, if somebody IRL told you they suffered from a mental health problem and part of this illness was recurring fears about something (that you think us unlikely) - would your instinctive responsebe a dismissive screed entirely about your own preferences and beliefs, including a throwaway "diagnosis" that the person has other mental health problems?

Even in Case 1, I'd think many people would be carefully sympathetic in talking to a worried person. In Case 2, I'd like to think most people wouldn't behave like that because it's horrible.

It's only been a few weeks since the referendum, we won't know (probably for years) how everything will play out and frankly, right now it's all a huge uncertain mess. So we don't yet know, and TBH I really hope you guys are right, whether Leavers are on The Right Side of History. But IMHO, people who dig at other people's mental vulnerabilities regardless of provocation (and please bear in mind that the OP started out very nicely!) are on the Wrong Side of Being A Nice Person.