Anxiety support, Hand hold or chit chat come say hi

[Fairydust26]

going through abit of a crappy time with anxiety/health anxiety at the mo so thought it would be a good idea to create this thread. I always find that when I’m feeling anxious writing it down makes me feel a little bit better so hopefully some of you might too and we can support each other through this crappy time as I know it can make you feel pretty lonely. I’m trying to not drag myself back to bed and write today off so I’ve made a cuppa put the heating on sat by the xmas tree and going to try and have a clam Saturday so come say hi

Morning, hope everyone’s doing ok.
I got some fluoxetine on Friday and of course I ended up on another forum reading other people’s experiences and freaked myself out
Just waiting for my gp to call as I’m thinking about switching from mornings to bedtime as it’s making me so groggy during the day.
I just have such an aversion to and fear of any kind of anti depressants that it’s playing on my mind a lot.
Urgh just wish I could persevere with these things instead of folding at the first sign of a side effect!

Morning bigfatmeanie. Hope you have a good chat with your GP. As you'll know, looking up things on forums never brings reassurance (the tone is incredibly skewed - why would the vast majority of people who manage on it really well even post?) but I understand how compulsive it is to look things up and how afraid you are of taking tablets (I suffer with both those issues significantly).

I am struggling. I have made it in to the office which is no mean feat as it is 20 miles away, but have discovered that none of my closest friends/allies are in today so I have no one to speak to. My boss is in in the afternoon and will be happy to speak to me, he's very good. We also have mental health first aiders - I've just looked up who they are in the office and who is in - and I'm going to give it until 10.30 and if I need to call on one of them.

I really really hate anxiety!

I'm struggling today too. My anxiety is so physical, my legs are restless and I can't relax, it's making me panic. I'm so sick of feeling like this.

inthewoods4 I know, I'm with you and sending you a big hug!

Thanks Bunting9, it doesn't help that I'm home alone. I'm trying to watch TV but it's so hard to concentrate!

gttia glad you managed to sort things and end the weekend on a happy note. Didn’t get my early night think I managed an hour and half sleep last night which isn’t great!.

bigfatmeanie I take my tablets in the evening as I had the same effect unfortunately you have to go through the horrible side effects first like Bunting9 said no one ever posts on them sites when there’re doing well on the so have that in mind.

Bunting9 & inthewoods4 how are you both feeling now?

Hi Fairy, I'm slightly calmer, I took some sedative in the end and went to bed. I feel so frustrated as I was starting to feel better last week.

Can I join please. I am really struggling right now.
I split with my partner before Xmas and it's just been really really difficult.
I'm not sleeping, I'm anxious and waking up with panic attacks.
I self harmed before Xmas.

Hi, I wonder if you could help me as I'm floundering at the moment and thought this may be a useful resource to enable me to cope and be as helpful as possible.

I live with my DD and her partnered and have done so to over ten years. Most of the time we rub along pretty well. I know that DDs partner has suffered from anxiety and depression throughout this time.

Last week, when DDs partner was under considerable pressure ( her Mum is in hospital and I know this is causing her a lot of stress) and I inadvertantly upset her. Some time later, she came into my bedroom and screamed at me, I really thought she was going to hit me. My daughter intervened and took her partner away for the night.

They are both home now, and DDs partner has as appointment to see her GP again on Wednesday.

The thing is, I don't know how to interact with DDs partner now. DD says to treat her as normal, but I don't know what her normal is. In my family if you are you are going out, you tell the person still at home that this is going to happen, in DDs partners family, this is seen as intrusive. There are many ways in which my "social normal" does not conform with hers. I'm not thinking my norms should trump hers. But how do I help, or at least not make things worse for DD, who I feel is trying to straddle her anxious partner and me.

Any help would be great fully appreciated.

inthewoods4 please don’t feel frustrated you’ve just gotta it take one day at a time. I like to think the reason we have setbacks is so we can practice techniques on how to overcome these feelings and eventually we become so good at it we kick anxiety’s butt once and for all!.

Of course Racmactac hand hold for you🤝 as you can see their are fellow posters on here that understand what your going through Your not alone. Have you spoken to your gp or anyone about the self harm/how you’ve been feeling at all?.

user1471453601 your DD is right about treating her like normal, maybe have a chat with her and ask her if there’s anything you can do to help how she’s feeling or making things easier. Just because her normal is different to yours doesn’t mean you should change your ways hope that helps.

A tentative wave and hello!
I've just found this thread and relief washed over me. I've found some people I can chat to before I voice my concerns in rl.

I have had anxiety and times of stress.in the past due to work but have been able to get through them myself by changing jobs and practising some mindfulness techniques.

But in the last week it's crept back. Last week my employer gave my job away to someone else to stop them leaving and have made up a new title for me. I'm not particularly happy about it but there is nothing I can do. I haven't been happy for a while and in October went part time. I've decided to hand my notice in tomorrow and I feel like I've been hit with a sledge hammer. I'm nervous, anxious and just shitting it. My chest feels right and I'm dreading getting to sleep. I have an interview Friday which I'm lookingforward to but I've got to get through tomorrow and the next 4 weeks of notice period any tips would be great.

I stayed in work all day! I cracked at 11 and emailed a mental health first aider who sat with me straight away as I told her what was going on - we talked for quite a while. I went out for a cup of tea with her late lunchtime and she said she's going to be with me at lunch every day this week. Also introduced me to someone else who I didn't know, who also said I can always go to her. I couldn't believe I made it to 5pm, and when I did I was so pleased, went home with the radio on loud and started feeling like I could see the light and thinking that I might be ok. Actually had a little sense of being 'back in the room'. But about half an hour ago I had another anxiety surge that I'm finding really difficult to come down from, so it hasn't all gone at all. I really mustn't let it ruin things. Maybe tomorrow at work will be easier. It's a battle though.

Thankyou fairy dust

bubblysqueak, hello and welcome, you're among people that understand!

Tips? Don't try to cope alone! If you need support talk to your friends, partner, family, people care and I have never faced stigma.

Understand - find out about anxiety. Loads of stuff around - Anxiety UK, Anxiety United are good places to start and I've just been recommended a book 'Breaking Mad' (I do have a library full of other things too)

Keep up your mindfulness and download apps to help - there are loads

Think of some distractions that may work for you - it doesn't matter what, just stay busy - jigsaws, puzzles, knitting, fiddle toys, online shopping, meal planning

Try not to spend too much time alone when you will be going over your thoughts

Try relaxing smells eg aromatherapy pulse point oils for relaxation

Some people have had success with Rescue Remedy and/or Kalms (although many of us here are on prescribed medication)

Hope that helps x

Wow bunting, the mental health first aider system sounds amazing! I’m a sahm wish we had something like that at home.
Unfortunately we live in a different country to my family (still within uk) so really only myself and my much put upon dh bless him

Wow thank you Bunting you really don't know how much your message has helped.
I've just rang dh at work and told him how I'm feeling and it really was like a weight has been lifted a little. He's on his way home now so we can talk properly and so I'm not on my own with my head spinning.

I've also downloaded a new calms app.

Thank you xx

Aw bubblysqueak that nearly made me tear up, so glad you have taken action... there are a lot of things that can help but what I’ve learned is that they don’t come to you - you have to seek them yourself to help these things to help you. I hope you feel better soon!

You really gave me the kick that I needed to stop accepting feeling like this. Thank you.

Can I just say the support that is given on this thread from everyone fills me with so much joy especially when your in the depths of anxiety and feeling crap. Even though we have our own struggles we still find the time to give advice and be so lovely to each other which I think is fab so thanks ladies it really has helped me in more ways than one.

Well done for making it through work Bunting. That's brilliant.

In work again and having a predictable wobble, have already grabbed 10 mins with a friend for a cry and a hug. Got to believe that the anxiety will lessen at some point today as it did yesterday. Update you later.

Bunting you’re doing amazingly well even getting into work, so glad you have some support there.
Things will get better x

You can do it Bunting9 your doing great we’re all rooting for you here! x

Aw thanks guys, it made me smile that I have people who know how I'm feeling cheering me on! Not the best morning but have had a couple of calmer hours and my MH first aider has checked on me. Going to push through the rest of the day!!