Anxiety, is it useful to see dr?

[jobhuntersrus]

No one apart from dh knows about my anxiety. I wish I could tell my mum atleast but I don't want to worry her and I am so used to bottling up my anxiety I just can't talk about it apart from with dh. I worry all the time. The house is going to fall down, we will be flooded, every car on the road is going to drive into us, car will break down, that we have no money even when just been paid, that someone will have an accident etc etc. It's quite exhausting and I often have restless sleep. I get this sick dizzy feeling and my heart starts beating really fast, which I am presuming is some sort of panic attack. Work is generally good, I can keep very busy which helps. I have managed to hide it from everyone.
Dh is mostly great. He listens to me and encourages me to try and change my thoughts but it's not that easy. I don't want to feel like this. I want to be the confident and carefree person people think I am. I feel I have hidden it for too long to "come out" now.
I have considered going to dr but always chicken out of making the appointment. Do I try self help books first? I feel embarressed and ashamed.

Don't feel either embarrassed or ashamed. Lots of people feel like this. Your GP can help and yes you can help yourself too but don't take on the responsibility alone. Talk with your GP as to what management options are available ie medication, talking therapies, exercise, eyc and you can do self-help too.

Hello jobhuntersrus,

How are you doing today? Sorry you didn't get a better response, but Friday night is usually a nonsense night. Perhaps you could re-post over the weekend and someone with more knowledge might be about.

HTH

Yes, please do see your gp. They can help. I recently started citalopram for anxiety and depression and wish I had done so sooner (before it all blew up in my face!)
Depending on where you live, GP may have access to CBT/talking therapies which are very successful at tackling anxiety. I am working through this too, as part of a great service that allows me to have phone sessions at convenient times.
Please do seek help. You don't have to be consumed by it.

Yes definitely see a doctor - I was prescribed sertraline which is very good for anxiety. I am also waiting for some CBT therapy. I never realised that I had a problem with anxiety until I posted on here - I just thought it was normal to worry about everything.......
I'm so glad I sought help - facing up to it has made it a lot easier.

Definitely see a doctor, they can help a lot. I was prescribed propananol which slows your heart rate and eases the physical symptoms which in turn eases the mental symptoms. It's not addictive, unlike stuff like valium etc.

Besides that, talking therapies are also very good and there's some good books as well.

Another thing I found useful was mindfulness, I did a course in it and it eased my symptoms a lot.

What's mindfulness yellow raincoat? Please.

It's quite hard to explain and a massive topic, but it's essentially about accepting your feelings, meditation and so on. I think googling is probably the best way to find out, I find it hard to explain. It is very useful though.

Ok thanks, will do.

Sorry for mini-hijack op.

Here's a website with excellent self-help workbooks based on CBT CCI. The What me worry one is at the bottom and is one of the better ones I've come across.

But please do go see your GP. There has been lots of money spent rolling out psychological (mainly CBT) in primary care and if you're in England you should be able to access this through your GP. Anxiety is quite common but can be so debilitating I hope you get some helpful help x

Here's an info sheet about mindfulness too

My GP told me that untreated anxiety often leads to depression (I've had that too) - I've not had medication for anxiety but Dr referred me for CBT and it made a world of difference. You've nothing to lose by seeing your Dr, I'd definitely recommend CBT

Thank you everyone. I ought to make that appointment shouldn't I. Had a wave of panic when post came through the door this morning and generally feel a bit light headed and irritable, pretty average day so far. Will just do as I normally do keep as busy as possible, got 3 boys to sort out so generally can keep busy. Feel scared that by telling dr I will be opening a can of worms where as I could just pretend everything is fine. I realise I have been pretending everything is fine for too long. Off to write a to do list for today. Thank you for listening.

Just went to the doctor a fortnight ago after ignoring battling it all my life and through the first year of my DSs life. My GP was just fantastic, made me feel so good for getting help and normal for feeling this way and is setting up CBT sessions for me. Glad to hear these have helped people, btw. So yes, yes, yes, do go. And massive hugs, it's just the pits, isn't it? X x

My mum is ace, btw. Do tell her if you feel you can. Your mum, that is, not mine! [Grin]