Always anxious - is this normal?

[shandybass]

Hi I've got to wondering if there is anything that may help me feel less anxious. I manage fairly well in day to day life in that I have a part time job and two dd's and I don't fall apart although i avoid things as much as I can. I don't admit my feelings of anxiety to anyone as I think if I pretend their not there and manage to avoid others guessing then it gives me some belief that I can do things.
To those of you more experienced in mental health is this the way to go or is there more help out there?
I wouldn't want to go to the doctor if at all possible as I don't want it on my record.

There is help out there shandybass; you could go for personal therapy (counselling), some GP's surgerys have this but if you are not happy about going this way check out the BACP website and find someone near you; also check out your local mental health charities, sometimes they offer counselling and it could be free and confidential but there may also be other alternative therapys being offered as well; sometimes peer support too which can be amazingly beneficial, once you feel a bit more confident.

CBT works well with anxieties and results can be fairly quick; if you want a user friendly book on strategies that will help you identify the irrational/anxiety try Mind over Mood by Sara Padesky (and someone else but can't remember who!) it's logical and easy to follow.

Good luck x

Hello, You could also try avena sativa, or passiflora herbals that are calming, non addictive and work on the nervous system.

You might also want to just try some magnesium and a hot epsom salts bath is a good way to absorb this. when you are low in magnesium you can feel jittery, anxious, have palpitations, muscle cramps etc.

Epsom Salts are a good way of absorbing magnesium - a handful or two in a bath and soak for 20 - 30 minutes or as long as you want - take a book in too and just relax. Most Chemists sell a 2 kilo bag for under a fiver.

Good luck

If your anxiety is stopping you doing normal everyday things, like going places and meeting people, then it does need sorting.

I havew suffered from anxiety from the age of 6, all these years later I am finally getting a grip on it, I am having CBT and I am on anti-anxiety medication from my doctor (beta blockers). The tablets stop your body responding to adrenaline by blocking the signals, so no more 'panic' feelings. It makes life much easier for me - not a miracle cure but not far off. Hopefully after CBT and psychologist input I won't need them anymore, but we are talking long term atm.

A multi vitamin, good diet, exercise and plenty of sleep helps too

Thank you for great advice. It sounds like a start without going to the doctor.
As I said I do get by ok and try to engineer as much as possible to stay in the background. That's getting harder ar work being that I've had to take on extra responsibilities and it's made it more obvious to me how panicked I can get and to thinking that really it's always there and how much I do avoid stuff.
The other day I was so relieved to have a day where I only had to speak to my two closest friends and could relax and I thought should it really be like that.