Have a viral bug but mentally really suffering.

[GeekInThePink]

I'm run down and have some viral bug that going round.
Other than massive headache that I've struggled to shift, I just feel a bit rough. I'm a bit ill but fine really.
However, mentally I don't feel good either. Anxiety is high and I'm needy and very prone to crying and not feeling in control or coping.

This only happens when I get ill why is that? Is it normal?
I want to stay at home, in bed but it's so much harder to get back up and get myself going again...does that make sense?

Thanks

I'm sorry you feel poorly and low. I get this. have it now. I think it's cos I loose contact with my usual social stuff (work mainly, a busy sen school), feel guilty for letting them down etc.

I'm recovering from a bad chest infection - initially the main symptom was major confusion and tiredness actually. I had the same with mastitis in the summer. could it be an infection? or it could be how your body responds to illness. a bad virus can trigger mild depression.

get well soon

Thank you for replying, I'm feeling particularly low and needed to read that someone understood!

I didn't go in to work but I'm back tomorrow, not sure this is the best move but I've committed myself to going so I will be.

My hormones may not be helping, seem to be quite low when AF starts. Don't understand why.

I think I'm always battling depression/ anxiety but I mostly stay on top of it. I quiver here and there and today is not a good day at all. Circumstances have not helped and as a working mum, who looks after me?
I don't know if anti depressants work, I can't afford to feel worse before better and I have some weight issues and the thought that I may put on weight would just make me feel a lot worse.

I just want to go on auto pilot, I think numb would be better?

I'm having stomach crunching, almost feels like I'm about to have upset stomach when I feel particularly anxious. I constantly feel sick but can fully function. No one would know anything was wrong.
I just want to hide under a duvet at home until it blows over.

Thank you for reading

Sorry My last bit fell off the end

So sorry you are feeling poorly, feel better soon

hi Geek, hope today goes well. I understand the need to go back to work - you're using it to distract yourself and provide a structure to your day. This is great but at the same time hard on your body and your mind.

I've struggled for years with anxiety and depression, mainly linked to a fluctuating and sometimes poorly managed thyroid as well as work stress. So I completely understand where you are coming from. Anxiety is extremely debilitating and a terrible cycle as it's linked to your adrenaline and the whole flight or fight thing - more adrenaline suppresses seratonin which in turn leave you feeling more anxious and so it continues. This might be why you feel worse when ill or during a period.

Due to my underactive thyroid being misdiagnosed and having a terrible do with ads when I was 21 I've always resisted ads. I managed my anxiety well with slow release beta blockers and cbt. This might be a good route for you to try? I was given a book called 'over coming: anxiety' by my therapist - there's a full range of them on all sorts of things and they're recommended by the nhs. for the first time I fully understood how anxiety worked, which helped, though I needed the beta lockers as well.

however in pregnancy I couldn't take the betablockers. I had terrible AND due to several weird circumstances. And then some level of PND and finally agreed to sertraline - best thing I ever did! I started very low though - 25mg initially, then 50 then 100. 200 is the max.

if you went to your Dr and decided to try a low level anti d do you think they'd sign you off work for a week or so to help you get used to the side effects? sertraline made me very drowsy initially and the full effects kicked in after 6 weeks, though I felt lots better after 2.

regarding your weight - you could look at it like this; if you were able to curb the anxiety, you might feel generally more positive and so possibly able to exercise more etc? Sertraline ironically made me loose a little weight at first.

It can take a while to find the 'right' anti d and you do kind of need to give them a good go but maybe discuss a low dose initially?

what ever you decide it might be worth simply opening a discussion with a Dr - you could ask the practice which Dr specialises in mh (though I bet they all do) and find out if there are any talking therapies availiable.

I very much hope you feel better soon

you could even ask for an iron and thyroid check too

Thank you so much that's such a helpful post.
Didn't want to read and run and will reply properly later.

Thank you again, very much appreciated

Hope you are better today