Anxiety in overdrive again! Any high functioning anxiety people

[granadagirl]

I’ve suffered many times in my younger days with high functioning anxiety, sometimes with the adding off depression as it does when it’s longer lasting illness.

Anyway I’m now 61, no longer working due to this horrible illness.
Currently on meds and diazepam 2mg everyday
I have days when I can cope then other days I can barely function.
When it’s high, I literally have to force myself to eat.

Over the weekend I’ve been focused on anxiety, self talk of things like
Come on it’s harder today, but you can do it it’s only a thought.
I just can not take it on board all the positive self talk.
I’ve just done 16 weeks off ACT therapy, very similar to cbt.
I feel I’m either not strong enough to take it on board because anxiety is with me always
Today I’ve made myself go out, as I needed to pick something up(I could of waited for dp to come with me)
But I feel when I’m out alone my anxiety is super high and I felt today that I was out of breath. My breathing was fast like I’d been running with a chest sensation.
Nothing wrong with heart been checked out at hospital.

I’ve suffered for over 36 yrs, it’s a life sentence. The older I become I feel I’m loosing confidence with it all.

I could quite easily stay in and just potter around etc, but I know eventually I’d become agoraphobic
As when I’ve not been out for just a couple of days I feel scared to go it alone.
I don’t like it when the phone rings, door knocks and things like waiting
Like in queues or appointments, my anxiety becomes higher.

Im so fed up off the same old same old

I'm so sorry you are struggling I suffer from mild anxiety at times so I can't help with the severity of your condition. However I will mention one thing that has really helped calm me down when I've been really stressed and anxious. It is called the tapping solution and there's an app you can get, some of the meditations are free, the anxiety one is free. I know it sounds wacky but it really has helped me, may be worth a look.
www.thetappingsolution.com/#

Thisis
Thank you for replying

I don’t really know why I posted, as I done think really nobody can help with someone else anxiety
I think I was so sad and had all the anxious feelings go through my body

I will look at eft, thank you

@granadagirl anxiety is a bitch. Sending positive thoughts your way.

I find my anxiety increases when I am avoiding my feelings. So I find a quiet and comfortable place to sit with a hit cup of tea and and release all the tension in my body then release my mind. I let my thoughts and feelings flow without picking one to run with. Without judgement. Just observation.

You are not your feelings remember, observe, accept, release. Breathe.

Someone recommended Paul David 'At last a life'. Please read it. Really made a difference in my life.

Do you find your comfort zone increases if you go out regularly? I mean do you get desensitized to going out by doing it often?

Do you remember to reward yourself fr the small steps you achieve? A running commentary in your head, saying loudly, 'Well done for doing this. It's difficult but I'm doing it and this means I'm allowing myself more freedom and a better life, so good for me! I'm pleased with myself for doing this and for breathing more deeply and I am glad I can look at the beautiful flowers in the park/gardens/children playing. Good for me. Tough but I'm making progress.

Then also keep a journal every night where you write down any tiny thing you did. And if you didn;t do anything, write a kind note to yourself about it being a tough day and no pressure but remember all the times it has been possible in the past.

No advice but I'm with you. I work term time only but was signed off 10 days before the end of term as my anxiety is currently crippling me.

My recent attack has been triggered by situations out of my control. Things I cant do anything about but it has made me really ill this time. Physically I am drained and struggling to shake of a chest infection. I have no energy, a total lack of motivation, I'm eating to much and moving too little. My head just doesn't switch of and my anxious belly is also permanently switched on.

By not working I feel a can 'breathe'a little as some of the 'situations' are work related. So I have 6 good weeks ahead of me for just me and the kids.

I have been referred for some online CBT courses through the local mental health team but they will take a few months to come through. Courses are supported by real life therapists who mentor/support as you go.

Am open to helping myself though so will check out the tapping therapy mentioned and also the book.

I'm trying to breathe deeply and just sit quiet with my feelings for a while until I can get my head around things. And I'm starting to make plans to declutter my house as I know this will massively help me.

Sending my support as anxiety truly sucks. Been suffering on and off with anxiety and depression since I lost my Dad suddenly 15 years ago. It's hard, it truly is!

Thanks each and everyone of you for your comments.

Anxiety is a bitch 😂

I do try to get out(sometimes easier than other’s) depending how high anxiety is on the day.

I have pushed my self out this afternoon, as dp had already been to shops this morning
So I felt I needed to do my bit, cited myself up and went.
I know it’s the thoughts that hold me back😳 and I do say to myself
There thoughts, there not real
But so so hard to do when you have the constant chatter telling you everything why you shouldn’t and things you know are ridiculous thoughts but feel so real.
I don’t like staying in, as it’s harder to get out again and I don’t want to be agoraphobic.

I do meditations and listen to things on YouTube, but it can become all about anxiety sometimes. I feel I need to get away from it, as it’s seems overwhelming.

I’m at the point now, where if I get a sensation I’ll say come on do it again, I’m waiting
It never does though, so I can feel and stay with it.

I read that book, about 2 years ago
I’m currently reading
The Panic Switch

Jeffrey L Hammes
Who himself is a former suffer and scientist

It seems so easy when your reading things, they cite you up
It’s the putting into practice that’s so
Unbelievable hard. Feels like one step forward 10 steps back

Seeing family is hard even though they know how bad I am. I’m still not comfortable incase I panic and feel I make a fool off myself and then get them worried and talk about me,ringing up and calling round.
Im just as bad with people I know, when I’m out shopping. It’s like if I stand there I get more and more anxious and then think I’m going to faint

It sucks, I’ve had loads of therapy over the years and it still haunts me.

It’s genetic, my mum was the same when she was alive.

I’m going to start to sit with it
Let the thoughts come and pass
Without taking any of them on board
SHE SAYS😀