Please or to access all these features

Mental health

Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have medical concerns, please seek medical attention.

Beating anxiety without meds

223 replies

Tea1Sugar · 21/01/2015 09:06

Who's with me?

I had a god awful trial of Citalopram last week. Two words - never again. So I'm awaiting CBT, I'm now taking vitamins, I've bought self help guides and I'm going to (attempt) start running. Anyone fancy joining for moral support?

OP posts:
orangeflutie · 14/02/2015 10:59

That's really interesting duplodon and great that you were able to get plenty of therapy and support. I have three dcs too and I also have images of things happening to them from time to time but I actually do think that's perfectly normal as a parent so don't dwell on it too much. The worst thing ever happened 16 years ago when my son died. This has affected me deeply. I'm very lucky now to have three lovely dds but my certainty and belief in life has been badly shaken. This I believe is where the anxiety stems from.

On a brighter note the sad months are past and Spring is coming, my favourite time. Does anyone else feel better or worse at different times of the year?

orangeflutie · 14/02/2015 11:58

Sorry for waffling on, hope I haven't killed threadHmm

girliefriend · 14/02/2015 13:56

No you haven't killed the thread orange Grin

I love spring as well, a bit of sunshine makes you feel much better!

duplodon · 14/02/2015 14:20

I'm so sorry, Orange. Losing a child is the worst thing. There's no "at least..." to make it make sense, it breaks the natural order. It would probably be strange if you didn't feel anxiety after such a massive loss. I haven't walked in your shoes, but within my family and my husband's family, about seven people have had the experience of having children die, all at different ages and in different circumstances. I don't think this caused my anxiety, but certainly I've never felt that certainty others I know seem to have that my children are "safe" from potential harm. I always found the most horrifying thing about it as an outsider was the fact young children and babies don't seem to be spoken about again when they've died, as other children are. Although my grandmother was very open about her little boy who died in a way that really broke the mould for the time, and I really admire her for the courage it must have taken. If you want to talk about your boy, I'd love to hear your story, but equally, I'm happy to just talk about the snowdrops.

I haven't walked in your shoes and couldn't imagine your pain, I don't think anyone who hasn't lived with the reality of it can, but I think different types of grief reaction probably drive a lot of these experiences for many people. In therapy, I learned really that my anxiety stemmed from quite a profound grief for my father.. he had a very complex traumatic background, suffering severe sexual and physical abuse in his home and when he had his own family he vowed he wouldn't revisit the past... and to an extent, he didn't... he didn't beat us or abuse us sexually.. and we were incredibly close when I was a young child.. but over time, he became very severely alcoholic, ending up in long-term psychiatric care as well, and there was a pattern of quite severe emotional abuse/mind games, and a cruelty in him when he drank which I suppose matched the cruelty he experienced himself. We have very minimal contact now, and when I do see him, he's such a different and unrecognisable person from the father I remember in early childhood that it's like that man is dead and gone. It's a strange thing to explain, as it seems so much less understandable than direct loss to many people, and to an extent, the grief I feel about it is less for him, or for me, than that people can suffer this way and lose their way in life: grief for the human condition. It's just so far from what he would have wanted for himself, and I felt it very keenly when I had my first child, I really had deep compassion for all those hopes and dreams he had, and sadness that he couldn't have known where life would take him when he was a young idealistic father, going to break away from his sad past. Life can be very sad, and very scary. It's hardly surprising the human mind has the potential to make us suffer when we know the potential for hurt and harm that comes with being alive.

orangeflutie · 14/02/2015 15:01

Oh duplodon how sad for your father and you and your familyHmm That's a lot to have to cope with. It must've been quite hard to write your post.

Thank you for understanding about my son and yes people don't like to talk or hear about it generally, although there are a couple of people who do their very best to help. Mainly it's just living with it that's hard. I try and stay positive and last year ran the London Marathon in memory of him and raised money for the Lullaby Trust which helped me quite a lot too.

Hope things continue to get better for you x

duplodon · 14/02/2015 15:57

And you too.

I can only imagine what you've been through, and I know it's not the same. If it is of any help to you, a friend of mine whose daughter died told me of an exercise she does where she rubs her hands together to make them warm and places the warm hand where she feels her loss at times it's feeling particularly heavy or getting in the way of being able to function on a particular day, the idea is just to provide some soothing comfort, a sort of recognition that it's there and it will be there, without struggling with it? She gets a lot of comfort from something called Compassionate Mind training and I think this came from that, I don't know if it would be of any use to you but was apparently recommended to her by a specialist bereavement counsellor when she was experiencing anxiety after her loss.

orangeflutie · 14/02/2015 17:50

Thanks girliefriendSmile

dupulon it's good your friend is able to get some comfort, what a lovely idea. I may try and find out about counselling. I was offered some soon after it happened but I often wonder if it was too soon. Other than time to talk I haven't had anything else.

Threeboysandus · 14/02/2015 21:09

Hi all,

I hope it's ok that I join you all on your journey! I first started suffering with anxiety after my first two children were born. They were very close in age and I found it very overwhelming. I hit rock bottom and could barely leave the house. girliefriend I too had a fear of soiling myself. Gettig the train to work was so hard. I'd be a sweaty tearful mess every morning and would frequently hop off before my stop. I couldnt travel by car wih anyone but my dp or my mum. My mum also had this fear but worse as se would actually soil herself frequently. She knows where every public toilet is in the city! She is actually over this now as as she got older, she is constipated so can't poo now! Lol. Anyway I eventually (after about a year and a half, got over it from exercising and pushing myself. I was in a great place until recently.

I had my third dc last year and since before Christmas, I haven't been great. I am training to be a midwife but had to return to my studies very soon after having dc3. I was fine up until December, I was on a placement with the community midwives and had to drive around the city all day with my mentor, this of course set off my poo fear! It was such a hard two weeks, I lost half a stone as I was afraid to eat! Christmas was very hard, dc3 was sick in hospital and the panic attacks came back with a bang. Since then I have been up an down. All y fears are based around my health. I'm so scared I'm actually dying as my anxiety symptoms can be so real!! I've actually moved away from the soiling fear as I'm away from my placement and back in uni doing class work so I can rationalise it all by saying I don't actually HAVE to be in uni bang on time so can hop off.

I'm having a bad day today. I have just decided to start a fresh tomorrow though and I'm going to go for a run in the mornig.

What vitamins are you all taking?? I have vitamin b complex and EPO downstairs that I will also start tomorrow x

girliefriend · 15/02/2015 11:13

Hi 3boys and welcome Smile I can relate to everything in your post.

I have recommended it a few times on this thread already but if you haven't already I would say read the Josh Fletcher book panic on panic. It has really changed my perception of the anxiety and how I think about it now.

Whats EPO?

I am not taking any vitamins at the moment although probably should be Grin

Survived dds sleepover last night, had a few moments of feeling anxious but it was manageable. Dd was totally hyped up though and a bit of a nightmare, think they finally fell asleep at 11.30pm!! Knackered today so planning on a quiet day.

Threeboysandus · 15/02/2015 11:46

EPO-evening primrose oil.

Will check out that book on amazon today. I awkward find the kids birthday party's a nightmare because I feel they are so dependant on me and would hate them to remember their party's with me being in bad form.

Well done getting through it. I am starting couch to 5 k today. Spent the morning cleaning so I've been preoccupied. X

girliefriend · 15/02/2015 19:43

Oh yes EPO - I actually bought a high dose lot of them but only took one because they are massive!! Was hoping they might help with hormones as around the time of my period everything seems to go to pot.

I do find the parties hard work, thought this year would be o.kay as kept it really simple, just two friends for tea and sleepover. However dd was completely hyped up and it was quite stressful, no more sleepovers for a while!! Next year she will be 10yo which feels like a 'big' one so will have to do something a bit more special I suppose. Although actually a disco or similar would probably be easier as only for 2 hours!!

My brother has been on at me for years about running, he swears by it. I am less keen as I know how unfit I am Grin may attempt something over half term though, dd has done a few runs herself so she could come with me.

orangeflutie · 15/02/2015 20:20

Hi threeboysSmile

I know what you mean about being anxious during parties/sleepovers. Sleepovers I find exhausting and stressful. Over the years have learnt not to make them too big. Max of 2 friends at a time as we have a small house. I prefer a normal party or going out as sleepovers seem to go on forever. Also end of with grumpy kids the next day.

Re vitamins I'm sure I rattle I take omega 3 capsules, vit b complex, vit d, magnesium, glucosamine and red clover(as menopausal) I also take my Ads at the same time so I can pretend they're vitamins tooSmile

orangeflutie · 15/02/2015 20:22

End up

girliefriend · 15/02/2015 21:15

Orange you are so right about sleepovers Grin this morning I couldn't wait for the girls to go home!! Plus my dd has been a misery all afternoon (although on the plus side she was in bed nice and early tonight Wink)

girliefriend · 17/02/2015 16:26

Have just got back from the vets with my cat, normally going to the vets sends my anxiety through the roof but I did some mindfulness and breathing exercises in the waiting room and was actually fine!!

Am amazed and its boosted my confidence, which is just as well as my poor cat is really not well so think will be at the vets a fair bit in the next few weeks Sad

Have also agreed to going out for dinner tonight, only to Nandos but the fact I agreed to go is a big deal!! The fact that I am looking forward to it is a minor miracle Grin

Hope everyone else is going o.kay?

girliefriend · 19/02/2015 14:17

Hmm I appear to have killed the thread Sad

Just wanted to say hope everyone else is going o.kay, I had the dentist this morning which is normally something that would send my anxiety through the roof and it was fine!! Not sure what has changed but I am definitely feeling calmer and more confident Smile hope it continues.

Threeboysandus · 19/02/2015 14:34

Sorry girlie, I actually started to reply to you but never got back to it!!!

Well done!! Your doing great! It's all baby steps. How was nandos?

I'm feeling ok, I'm so up an down. All morning felt great then out of the blue I felt panicky...don't know what triggered it.

Had a cry to dp the other day and I'm just scared I'm going to get as bad as I was last time but he assured me I am no where near as bad!!!

Tea1Sugar · 19/02/2015 18:23

touching all wood!! but I've had a confident day too. Went to the cinema with dp and dd1. Places like that usually scare the shit out of me, and I was nervous but I sat through the whole film.

Kalms help me. Probably the placebo effect.

OP posts:
girliefriend · 19/02/2015 19:15

Nandos was good thanks Grin I ate everything and actually enjoyed it, possibly helped by the fact that nandos is basically a posh MacDonalds Wink

I am definitely finding the mindfulness really useful, its hard to explain how it works but basically it is treating thoughts as impartially as you can and not having an immediate emotional reaction to them.

I had a moment yesterday where I felt a bit overwhelmed, had had a busy morning with visitors and had made plans to meet my mum for a game of tennis in the afternoon. The anxiety started to kick in before leaving for tennis but I concentrated on my breathing and just thought I will go with it. Once out it was fine and I enjoyed the tennis (first time I have played in about 10 years!!)

Glad to know you lot are still out there, I have found this thread really useful!

Threeboysandus · 20/02/2015 07:02

Tea, that's great, well done! I know how terrifying the cinema can be to anxiety sufferers.

Girlie, how did you learn mindfullness? I've been watching a few YouTube videos, trying to teach myself. I wonder should I get a book or do a course?

girliefriend · 20/02/2015 09:09

Three I bought a book and a cd on Amazon, the book gave me an overview of what its all about but the cd is most useful for me. It had 4 exercises on it all about 15 - 20 mins long which is a realistic amount of time for me to have to do it!!

I am trying to do one of the exercises every night, the womans voice is slightly annoying (its American) but I find it useful to have some one tell me what to do iyswim rather than just reading about it.
link

girliefriend · 20/02/2015 09:12

Im going out for the day today, feeling tired as we are looking after a friends kitten who kept me awake a fair bit last night!! Its liking having a boisterous toddler in the house Grin

But am going to go with it, feeling bit anxious but determined to have a nice time!!

Tea1Sugar · 20/02/2015 19:31

Hope you had a great time girlie!

OP posts:
girliefriend · 20/02/2015 20:49

Hi yes had a nice day thanks Smile

I felt anxious on the way there and had the odd occasion during the day that the anxiety crept in which is shame but I suppose reminds me that this is still a work in progress. I still found I had this fixation with 'where are the toilets?'which is so annoying as was beginning to think I had gotten past that Sad

Oh well, how is everyone else doing?

Tea1Sugar · 21/02/2015 18:04

I've downloaded headspace. Is it any good?

OP posts: