Winter in the village - support for all kinds of MH issues - depression, anxiety, OCD, psychosis, bipolar...

[creamhearts]

I know the thread is a bit dead but I thought I would start a new one and see if we can keep it going xx

NanaNina I am also a mine of info, plus I once typed sunset and sunrise times into Excel and made a graph - for a few weeks before and after each solstice, the day length changes by a minute or so (IIRC) but then it changes quite quickly as we head towards the equinoxes, and that's when we start to really notice the days lengthening.

I have trained myself to pay attention to day length and bird song and plant shoots, I used to be in the depths in Feb thinking Spring would never come, but now Feb feels more hopeful.

I haven't been having my 10 min in the sun and I think it's showing in lethargy. As I am having adult DC to festive meal on Tuesday, I must, however, lurch into action...

mink your poor friend - is he getting any treatment? And poor you too - it is awful feeling powerless to help.

Victory welcome. Are there triggers that have followed you, as well as ones you've escaped?

And hugs to all, of course.

welcome victory sorry to hear you're struggling. hope posting here helps.

hello mink its very difficult supporting a friend with mh problems. Try and take care of yourself too.

hi silvery that makes sense re: days - always feel day length stays still in Dec and Jan and after that it picks up. Beautiful day here today, frustrating that didn't have the chance to get outside.

lem how has today been?

Today I have been to church, done a supermarket shop, cooked lunch, drove us to visit FIL, visited, drove dcs home, sorted out a load of clothes they've grown out of, sorted DCs tea. Trying to keep busy to distract me from how miserable I'm feeling. I'm unhappy being home with DH. I am not managing to find any optimism about the future as a family. I have a big headache. The stress of it all is making my thinking go a bit wonky. I want to escape. But I know I have to stay otherwise things will be worse for the DCs. How much of how I feel is because I simply have so much anger pent up? How do I get it out? It feels absolutely, completely impossible to express it to DH.

Not been here for a few days sorry.
Not feeling great, drinking quite a lot and really paranoid and anxious about everything. H and I decided to draw a line under recent events for the sake of ds, I just don't know how to do that, how can I ever trust him again? How can I not flinch everytime he looks at his phone or gets an email?
How can I stop wondering if he's really gay and my whole marriage is a sham?

spidey it is so hard not to think about things when you are trying not to. It will take time and you need to keep moving forwards with other things I think.

As for my friend/whatever we still see each other sometimes but I never know what mood he is in between times so I get quite paranoid. Try not to think about him too much but I do. He was on AD but decided he wanted to stop and that was the start of all the problems. I can see why he wants off them but it takes time to adjust to the change (done it myself) and his life is v stressful. So mostly it is anxiety and giving himself a hard time for things. I think it will sort itself out eventually. But don't know where things will stand when/if it does.

Wow, so much going on in everyone's lives. Issues with OHs, as well as dealing with own issues. I feel for any and every one dealing with this stuff.

My counsellor is amazing here and she has helped me realise that the reason I struggle with so many relationships (work, family) is because I am a pleaser, never say no try to be other people ( if you get my meaning) to overcompensate. The result is I am spent and depressed.

I suffer a lot with anxiety surrounding work, always feeling incompetent and so my prep for work (teacher) becomes the elephant in the room and I constantly dream about work. I am the main breadwinner but honestly I would love to walk away from teaching. But there is no way I could afford the mortgage otherwise.

So up and down.

Down day today. Saw counsellor this morning. I wish I could be much quicker and better at my job so I could focus on living. Meaningful living. Instead of wondering wtf it's all for.

Hi all am joining as am suffering with anxiety and panic attacks at the mo. I had a bad panic attack driving on the motorway to see a friend a few weeks ago, thought was going to pass out, couldn't breathe and didn't know what to do. Almost pulled onto the hard shoulder but kept going until I could pull over at some services. Was awful.

Have tried driving on the motorway twice since and have felt very anxious both times. Drove dd and a friend today, only 4 junctions but was very anxious and when I get anxious as a distraction I pinch the backs of my legs which now look quite bad

I am panicking about having to drive about an hour on the motorway next Sat as have a day out planned for my mums bday, I feel sick just thinking about it.

I have suffered with anxiety on and off for a long time but never really had any medical help for it, had a brief stint of counselling and read a lot of self help books!! I know I need to see my GP but have been putting it off, I didn't really want to have mental health issues on my medical records which I know is ridiculous.

Its so tiring feeling like this, the anxiety mostly stems from a fear of needing the toilet as I have IBS and it creates a vicious cycle that consists of feeling anxious thereby aggravating the IBS which in turns feeds the anxiety

Hi friend welcome to this lovely thread. Sorry to hear about your anxiety - sounds tough esp with Ibs. Have you ever learnt a grounding technique - I find helpful when I'm v anxious helps you focus on something didn't in the present moment - may be worth a try? Take care.

Better day today as we had friends over who had lots of energy and enthusiasm which was lovely .

"Friend" I have Ibs too so I understand the anxiety surrounding that, I wear tena pads if I'm going to be out for a while and don't know where the toilets are or won't be able to get to one, ive soiled myself a couple of times but as yet I don't think anyone has noticed. Have you tried the fodmap diet? It's supposed to help a lot. I've not tried it but I know a few people who have.

just popping my head around the corner. im anxious but its under control. sort of.

have readall the posts - will rrply later x

friend do you understand what is happening to your body when you panic that makes you feel like you will pass out?
I posted about it on another thread as I find it helps to know what us going on and consequently how to avert it. (Won't tackle root cause but will stop you feeling faint)

If you feel like you are suffocating breathe less /hold on the out is correct. Sometimes it helps to know why. Your body regulates your breathing by the amount of carbon dioxide in your blood (the gas you breath out not in) so if you breathe out too much /too rapidly you reduce the CO2 in your blood. Your body assumes you are not getting enough oxygen and tells you to breathe more. Causing CO2 to drop more (design flaw). So totally counter intuitively holding your breath a little allows CO2 the waste gas, to accumulate bringing you back into balance. (Hold breath or rebreathe using a paper bag)

it is hard to hold your breath but it does work.

If you don't stop hyperventilating your body will eventually override you and stop you. No matter what, you will not suffocate.

hth mink

Hi everyone :)

friend I hate driving on the motorway too, find it all very stressful, so lots of sympathy

I am doing pretty well at the moment which is good :)

Thinking of everyone struggling, I hope 2015 will be a fab year for everyone :)

Bit carried away with the :) there

Thankyou all for the support.

I know to try and slow the breathing but I get this weird 'sense' come over me, adrenaline maybe? That just makes me want to vomit or just escape whatever situation I am in. Fight or flight I guess but its so hard to be rational when you feel like that

Gah, wish I could just enjoy life without all the unnecessary stress and worry.

I have sent off for a handout on toilet phobia from Anxiety UK so hoping that might be useful.

Not sure how I am going to manage an hour on the motorway on Sat, am already panicking about it!!

I still fear the anxiety. But the breath holdibg stops the cannot breath feeling.
Sadly I am more of a vomiter and that is trickier.

I also use grounding techniques to pass the time until it subsides.
And lots of chamomile.
Roman chamomile at home but definitely not while driving

Thing is though friend, motorways, you have done them before and you will do them again. You can do this.
This sometimes get me through (apologies if it seems simplistic) my success rate for getting through the day is 100% so far. Chances are today will be the same

Any idea what the underlying high anxiety relates to? And might something like running help?

Cycling and brisk walking keep me sorted. Can actually feel the stress rising just now becausr I cannot get out on bike due to lack of childcare

Ha mink I like the success rate being 100% for getting through the day will def keep saying that!!

I think I was born anxious, I can remember being an anxious child, have had food phobias etc but at my worst in my late teens I was virtually agoraphobic. Would do anything to avoid leaving the house and lied in order to stay in. I managed to get myself better by getting a very boring job and leading a very boring life for a year!! Once I was well I travelled all over the world and was a different person

Its why it is so depressing that it has crept back but I think I do all the classic things people with anxiety do like over generalise (I had a panic attack on the motorway so now will always have panic attacks on the motorway - thought process) and over dramatise the situation (if I have a panic attack on the motorway we will all die )

I know its not rational but still find it so hard to get a grip on it. I got myself well once though so am hopeful can do it again.

Is anyone doing anything for New Year? I'm having takeaway then going to bed.

Hi snowy I am sat on a good friends sofa, will be eating dinner, drinking wine and going to bed, most likely before 12. Felt very good to drive 4 hrs on motorway away from home

Sounds lovely, CIQ

Just coming to wish everyone a happy and peaceful New Year!

a happy and peaceful new year to everyone x

Tried to avoid the midnight thing with 'd'h but he's followed me up to bed . God im really not sure I can face another yr

Wishing us all a peaceful New Year..........

Gosh the fireworks are keeping me awake

But They did remind me to pop along and wish everyone a very peaceful and happy new year.... Let's hope 2015 will be better for us all xxx

Happy new year x