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.

Thanks to everyone who posted and to everyone who is also suffering from anxiety over this. I stayed away from social media and newspapers yesterday and felt slightly more relaxed by the evening. Also turned the radio off in the car this morning when I began to feel anxiety levels rising again.

to bkgirl, too.
After presenting as being anxious, sanguine and dare I say it reasonable - the demonic alter ego slips.
You do know that suffering from anxiety doesn't necessarily turn an outspoken extrovert into a timid, meek introvert who loses her ability to call someone out for being an arse? We don't have a personality bypass (although some of our behaviours might change) and anxiety can be coupled with anger, too, as other posters on this thread confirm. I did not at all appreciate being told that I was suffering from an unrelated 'syndrome', which suggests that remainers are a sheeplike, uncritical mass of people who are simply too stupid or brainwashed to see how 'scary' the EU is.
Swearing is allowed on MN and I will take full advantage of it.
If my response was 'unacceptable' to you, that's social media for you! I feel the referendum was 'unacceptable', but am constantly being told to stop whining and suck it up.
demonic alter ego - I'm afraid that phrase says a good deal more about you than it does about me.

After presenting as being anxious, sanguine and dare I say it reasonable - the demonic alter ego slips.
And 'sanguine' is the antithesis of anxiety, by the way.

Its good to see that ignorance about anxiety and mental health is alive kicking and trying to contribute to making that worse by pushing stigmatising negative stereotypes that are utter fantasy.

Meh.

If only I were surprised.

I am recovering from severe anxiety following the death of my mum at Christmas and other subsequent stressors, to pick just one of a few, one of my DC self harming.

For me the fear and aggression, stoked mostly by the MSM is utterly appalling. Their behaviour has IMO been totally irresponsible.

Any good news is buried, while fear and aggression is headline news.
I haven't felt this sledgehammer of propaganda since Blair pushed the WMD line before the 2nd Gulf War.

Here's a couple of good news stories from the BBC today OP

Boeing and UK sign aircraft and investment deal
''Boeing and the UK government have announced a deal involving the creation of 2,000 jobs and an aircraft contract.
Prime Minister David Cameron unveiled the details on Monday at the start of the Farnborough Airshow.
It involves buying nine new Boeing P8 maritime patrol aircraft and expanding the US giant's UK research operations.''

George Osborne pledges a 'more global-facing Britain'
''Even closer economic ties between the UK and US are in the "overwhelming interest of both countries", he has written in the Wall Street Journal.
Although the UK is leaving the EU, "we are not quitting the world", he said.
He is due to travel to New York, Singapore and China for talks with major investors in the coming weeks.''

Worrying about Brexit can apply just as much to "leave" supporters, for example due to concerns about whether the referendum result will be undermined.

Agreed :)

for them, too. Auti. Anxiety is horrible.

"we are not quitting the world"

Did anyone say we were?

Yes for anyone feeling stressed or anxious or angry.

and all round.

It was I what did say sanguine.

I also reported that thoroughly odious post and it won't be visible much longer.

I dunno Minou, part of me thinks it should stay for all to see. After all, the target has already seen it and can't unsee it.

What about the post that said I had 'bitter little hands'?!

@ 'bitter little hands'. New posting name?

Oh...I thought it was a Stiff Little Fingers tribute act...

I like it

Bitter little hands Can't believe I missed that - it's marvellous!

In the Evening Standard tonight:
www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/brexit-anxiety-brings-queue-of-patients-for-psychiatrists-a3292746.html

I thought your post was great, Girlin. thsnk you. I've backed off from the media too. The Guardian was the worst of the lot in terms of anxiety-producing headlines. I also used to listen to LBC obsessively and I've switched that off too. None of it helps my mental health.

I'd like to find a way to stay informed without totally losing the plot.

Wondered how you fellow anxious Remainers are doing a couple of years on? Myself I've been put onto a high dose of Sertraline, worked my way off it again only to realise I'm still completely obsessed with finding plans. As it's becoming increasingly clear we never had one and Leave was funded by Russia etc, I'm getting even more exasperated with Leavers who still cling onto the "unelected bureaucrats" nonsense. They've all stopped reading about it shortly after the result and refuse to believe it will impact us very much at all!
I've put on 3 stone, started smoking again, post about it a lot on social media and have fallen out with friends. I've lost hope for our future in many ways and am trying not to stockpile because I can't deal with feeling any more crazy about it than I already am! I've had friends from Europe leave the country, friends sending off for Irish passports and I've decided I'll quite probably never be able to take dd abroad on holiday again. I'm in a fortunate position in that I own my home outright, but am still worried about soaring food prices and another potential recession/lack of drugs/NHS staff shortages/import delays/carpark Kent and all the rest. Re-reading this post made me realise how little has changed, just more realisation of how Project Fear was actually Project Reality .

its me that needs to check basic facts, just seen when this thread was started

I’m still worried but I’m quite good at talking myself down these days.

I cried yesterday though - I was listening to a prog on R4 featuring letters written by 2 WW1 soldiers - 1 British, 1 German. It was beautiful and inspiring but made me sad about the current level of debate and the loss of our EU membership.

I hope all are well

Yes, the remembrance seems quite divided this year into very patriotic and "this is why we want to leave EU, bloody Germans" attitude v.s disbelief that the main reason we've not had a war in the last 4 decades has been completely forgotten and undermined whilst nationalism rages and race crime increases - the irony of the free Tommy lot wearing poppies is heartbreaking