How do I stop this thought pattern.

[Melonslicexx]

Absolutely sick of my life right now. I've had anemia and vitmain D deficiency. I've treated them under the drs. Levels have improved with iron. Not sure yet with vitmain D.

Since lockdown Ive become really anxious. I'm terrified of commiting to anything and I hate it. I don't even like arranging an hour walk with friends. It's not coronavirus. It's because I have really struggled with my energy and stuff when I was unwell. Now I feel like I could go funny at anytime and my symptoms could start.

One of the worst things is my daughter school is a 20/25 minute walk each way. It takes 2 hours of the day up. But I enjoyed it and it was never an issue. Until February when I got poorly. She's been home since march and I'm pretty much convinced I can't do the walk anymore. I have so many rubbish nights or sluggish days. I just can't see myself having the energy to push my son's pushchair there and back everyday. I'm scared even more because my partner works 90 miles away. He works from home some days. But mostly it's been down to me.

My periods also make me feel rubbish now. I get "period flu" which makes me feel we, sluggish, achy and sick.

My anxiety is getting to the point today where I'm over thinking making my dad a chicken dinner later to take round as my mum's on hospital. I'm worried I'll feel sick and too yucky to make it.

I went to the park yesterday to briefly see a friend and her child. My stomach was in a knot walking there and all the way I was thinking I wish I hadn't arranged this.

I worry about
Feeling weak and not being able to push myself.
I worry about feeling sick
I worry my hear will start hurting on a school day
I worry I'll get stomach ache and need the toilet.
I worry my concentration won't allow me to function and be happy meeting up with people.
I worry I'll get halfway to the school and feel to weak.

Does anyone have any advice. I'm starting to feel I won't be able to get back to who I was and I hate it.

I feel for you. "What if" thoughts are horrible but they're also a very common part of anxiety. When you're anxious and your mind becomes tired things that you would normally dismiss tend to stick in your mind and you become trapped in a vicious cycle. If you can accept that you will have these thoughts for the time being and that they will go once your anxiety lessens then the fear surrounding them will also go.

I used to find that distraction techniques helped. I think that's a lovely idea to make your Dad a dinner, you sound very caring. Just think how pleased he will be when you take it round there. It doesn't matter if you feel sick whilst making it, that's no big deal is it, you can still do it.

Come back on here later and let me know what you made him. Does he live far from you?

Hi. Thank you so much for your reply. I made him a roast chicken dinner and a crumble for pudding. I was ok until the last ten minutes of cooking. Then I felt sick and dizzy. I can't believe I can feel anxious in my own kitchen.

I struggled to force my dinner down. I have got some kalms today. I don't know whether to try them.

Sounds delicious, love crumble 😊 Well done, it doesn't matter that you felt sick you still managed to carry on and you managed to eat your dinner. I used to feel anxious too at home, I used to have the most ridiculous what if thoughts, but they do pass, the important thing is to just carry on. I still get what if thoughts occasionally, I think everybody does, but now I can dismiss them more easily and I have learned to respond to them with a "so what" way of thinking which takes the fear out of them.

Go to your GP. This is classic anxiety and you might benefit from counselling, cbt or medication or a combination of both. I could give you lots of tips to get through the day, but as a long term solution you really need proper help.

Give the Kalms a go, they contain valerian which is good for anxiety. You might find that once you start walking your daughter to school your confidence will come back, but I agree with above poster that if it continues, to see your GP.

I'm afraid I am no help but please keep us posted about the Kalms and if it helps.
I gave birth 8 months ago and have been left with life changing body functions and so I have multiple "what ifs" a day and get down.
Too afraid to try anti depressants but have been pondering about kalms etc.
I really hope u feel better soon x

As others have said, phone your GP and/or self-refer online for counselling. It might help, to start with, to ask the GP to prescribe some anti-anxiety medication as well.

I had GAD and PTSD for 3 years and found counselling (specifically in Worry Management) really helpful. This got me through some dark times and I am now at the point where I'm off the Sertraline and I hardly ever feel anxious.

Just because things have been bad in the past, it doesn't mean that they will be in the future.

Ah op you have my every sympathy. After I had my DD I suffered terribly with anxiety which I feel was made worse with my anaemia. I ended up referring myself to Mind and within a few sessions I felt so much better. My counsellor has said if I ever feel I need it we can look at CBT so maybe try them?

Definitely speak to your GP too - mine prescribes medication however I've never taken it but it does make me feel more at ease knowing its there if I do need it

Thanks all. How does councilling work at the moment? It's just I've massively lost my confidence. I had an awful night again last night too.

I use rescue remedy which helps.

I don't like the ideas of anti depressants and stuff because of the side effects. My partner had them but he used to get headaches daily with them and sometimes be sick. To me that's worse than anxiety.

Thanks for all your replies.

Hi OP, sorry you had a bad night, anxiety always seems so magnified in the early hours of the morning. Was it something that you've got to do today that was keeping you awake?

Counselling is done over the telephone at the moment.
It's absolutely your choice whether to have meds or not. And I get about side effects - I had to try a couple before I found the right one for me.
I used to love Rescue Remedy - but looking back I'm not sure whether it was the flowers or the brandy that was helping