Anxiety support, Hand hold or chit chat come say hi #3

[Fairydust26]

Can you believe the last threads full up?! We had a great support network going on the previous two so come and say a big hello and join us.

I too love listening to the rain I don’t feel too guilty getting into my pjs and jumping into bed. It becomes a welcome relief when I’m
having a particularly bad day it makes me feel safe of that makes sense..

Gothamgirl1970 all the little things add up that’s a great accomplishment in my eyes😊

Thank you

Would anyone mind if I joined? Anxiety is crippling me at the moment. It’s a fairly new thing for me. Started a couple of years ago when I was made redundant suddenly. I really struggled to find work which was mainly down to lack of childcare and moving onto a completely new career path. When I did get a job, a couple of he people I worked closely with in the beginning had bad anxiety and I felt like I picked up on this. I settled down and it got better but it’s been triggered somehow and it’s awful at the moment. At work we are closely monitored and it’s quite a high pressure environment. I’ve been working on a project which is quite stressful.
At home I just never manage to catch up with the day to day jobs and all the other things that need doing I can’t seem to make a dent in.
I can begin seeing a real negative effect this is having on my children, I just feel so stressed all the time. I don’t sleep that well, tend to wake in the early hours and can’t get back to sleep. Trying to keep up with the children’s school stuff, I have a family member living with a terminal illness and struggling, friends going through a messy break up,
It all just seems too much, I’m constantly tense and often close to tears. Some days I’m not sure how I’ve got from a to b.
How do I start feeling better?

Just found this and would like to join in.

I have been diagnosed with anxious personality disorder which if left unchecked has led to bouts of depression throughout my life.

My anxiety presents by finding the weakest link in my life, whether these be my job, finances, health, family - it can be anything, but tends to be areas that I cannot control and that then become something I need to fix. I know that if I could fix them, things would improve, but then my mind would find the next thing to focus and fret about.

At my worst, I suffer panic attacks where I literally can barely function - pounding heart, sweating, can't sleep, eat or hold a coherent conversation, to more manageable phases where I just feel on edge and catastrophise worst case outcomes and cannot relax or be happy.

If I can't sleep, I resort to Nytol which works really well for me, or if I'm in full blown panic, I resort to Mirtazapine, but this leaves me like a zombie and unable to function or think clearly at work the next day so is for emergency use only.

Anxiety is horrible and I'd swap it for depression every day of the week - fear is just the most horrible emotion. I'm typing this now with my palms and feet sweating and with that feeling you get if you look over the edge of a tall building.

My sympathies go out to all who suffer with anxiety.

I was on fluoxetine for a few years which was great for depression, but not so great for anxiety, plus it left me with sexual dysfunction which was an issue fo me.

I think the key is to find the mind power to overcome the feelings of panic and focus on something else. Easier said than done. In the past, I've tried to read a book, but I just read the same line over and over again - my mind simply unable to stop churning over the issue in hand.

I've head people say it can help to run through the worst case scenarios to try and help, but this makes it worse for me and normally results in me losing my job, my house, my family and all hope - then utter panic.

Crazy. The mind is a powerful, yet often cruel machine.

I'd also like to join. I do get anxious, but my problem is more very low self esteem. I don't feel good enough, for anything or anybody.

I work FT, and love my job, but even that is a struggle sometimes.

Late fifties and this feeling has worsened (excessively so) since losing my mum/sister and the menopause.

Should I take AD's? I've been resisting for years. I just feel so very alone, and can't see a way out.

Just saying hi & welcome to the 'new' people. I am also new.

Had to get up really early for work this morning. It's awful at first but when I get up and get out of the house I have a much better day. It's almost as if I wake up earlier than my sadness and leave it behind me. I am going to be out working all day today, which really helps!

Just noticed that work matters seem to be a common trigger for anxiety as well as age. My worst moment was in my 20s though.

I wish you all a good day, the best it can be.

Just to add I am in two minds about taking ADs too. Yesterday I was fully convinced. This morning less so. I am taking my time to decide.

I think it’s a personal decision. I needed to try because I feel like I am at the bottom of a well.

I resisted for a long time but for me it was the right choice I think.

That said today I am at that point where I am verging on a panic attack. Ds has had big appointments the last two days and I have been fine but now they are done the anxiety is setting in? My brain makes no sense.

I am currently eating everything in sight. I know I should exercise or try to do something productive but it ain’t happening

Welcome to the newbies hope you find some comfort posting here

Sirzy I don’t think it’s uncommon to feel like that particularly after a series of stressful events I know I’ve defiantly experienced it, I can only describe it as a anxiety hangover!

What have people find are the best medications for anxiety? I went on ADs but they made my mind like mud and my sex drive completely disappeared (which really damaged my relationship) and I’m scared of trying them again.

I take propranolol for short term panic attacks but my GP isn’t keen on me taking those regularly and longer term.

Have people found CBT has helped or any other type of therapy? Particularly with obsessive, paranoid catostrophising when you always think the absolute worst is going to happen...

Woken up in the middle of the night by anxiety nightmare. My dreams are awful. Anyone else suffers of bad dreams?

FelixFelicis6 have you tried some natural remedies like St. John’s wort? I’ve taken them in the past for anxiety and low mood and they do help to some extent

MonnaLisa I’ve awoken too I’m desperately trying to go back to sleep before all the mind chatter begins! I hope you’ve managed to aswell.

2am for me too, just can’t get back to sleep. Mine is work stress, worrying I’ve forgotten to dot an i or cross a t. I just can’t shake it and now the cycle will continue because I’ll be too tired to function properly today and then stress about it tomorrow night.
Would St. John’s wort or similar mess with hrt?

Morning! I managed to get back to sleep. One thing at the time. My first thing is getting up and spending 10 minutes on the exercise bike. I can do this!

Monna yes you can

Bad nights sleep Here to. Took myself for a walk in the sun after I had dropped Ds at school which helped my mood a bit.

Morning Sirzy & gothamgirl and all. So, 10 minutes on cross trainer done, apple eaten, dressed, now I will tidy my desk and make a to-do list of work tasks. One thing at the time. I feel... kind of empty. Which is a good feeling compared to desperate I guess.

What's on your list today?

oops I seem to have had chocolate for breakfast.
It's my period though, so I invoke a healthy eating amnesty!!

Hi can I join? I’ve been struggling with anxiety since I was a teenager and it hasn’t got much better. I’ve ended up not being able to get to work today as I’ve been panicking all morning. I’m trying to unwind but I keep thinking that everyone will be annoyed and what work I need to do.

Hi Maseandmum! welcome - i am also new myself to the thread, although sadly not new to anxiety. Today I am trying to do 'one thing at the time' and so far it's helping. And stopping for 3 deep breaths to focus now and again.

@Fairydust26 I would but I think that messes with contraceptive pill doesn’t it?

Welcome Maseandmum

And yes FelixFelicis6 unfortunately it does which is a real pain😞

I have just come back from an interview where I was told I “didn’t have the soul of a salesperson “