Is there a general anxiety/depression support thread?

[SingToTheSky]

The closer winter gets the more I’m struggling TBH. I’ve made so much progress with therapy and the right medication, but lockdown has set me back an awful lot and I could really use a place to talk.

Anyone else? :)

I could really do with that too, my anxiety is awful at the moment. Would be great to have others to talk too

Definitely. I'm there too, this would help!

I really want a RL support group but it's not realistic right now . Does anyone have any precious experience of RL or online support groups?

@snog i've had some experience of both but haven't found anything that works for me yet. Anti depressants ease it slightly at the highest dose I can have. I'm looking into online therapist at the moment, i think just talking to someone who doesn't know you sometimes is helpful.

Hello! Thank you for commenting, I am glad not to be alone (but not glad others are struggling, obviously!)

Henio do you think it’s the restrictions that make anxiety worse at the moment?

Welcome cheese!

Snog I’ve never tried a RL support group for mental health. I have had group therapy as part of treatment for CFS/ME which was quite good but it was very guided so not really the same thing.

It’s been suggested I join a support group for autistic adults but I’m not sure I like the idea of group Zoom? I’m fine with FB and WhatsApp type group chat. And hopefully this thread can be a safe space to talk even if it’s not so immediate.

I have therapy tomorrow which I am looking forward to, she’s really brilliant, but again, zoom! It’s not the same but I am ready to talk about confidence as that’s a huge issue for me at the moment.

Hope you have a good therapy session. I find Skype/zoom really exhausting although I did find telephone CBT helpful recently, not as good as face to face but definitely helpful.

@SingToTheSky the restrictions are definitely a factor, we have a local lockdown in my town so can't leave the county at the mo. The uncertainty of everything too I guess doesn't help. My main anxiety trigger is relationships, any interaction with a guy that shows interest in me and my anxiety is unbearable, can't cope with it. Think I'll stick to just me, my daughter and 3 cats

Can I join please?

Anxiety is bad right now, work doesn't help as I can't deal with any critiscm or conflict. Today I've been a ball of anxiety with that horrid churning feeling in my stomach all day.

Where welcome! Sorry you are struggling. I definitely found criticism (whether real or perceived) tough when working and it worries me for future work.

Henio I would definitely be the same with relationships now. I overthink everything!

How you doing cheese?

Snog zoom etc really is tiring! What I find tough is that we keep interrupting each other and talking at cross purposes, it’s just not the same as being in the room, harder to read body language etc. I find eye contact harder too.

It was a good session and overran a bit. I had sent her a blog post I wrote in order to guide the conversation to the confidence issue. Got a bit emotional towards the end but she was absolutely lovely (as always TBF). I have some slightly scary challenging stuff to do as homework but I’m not doing that today, I feel quite wobbly and unsettled (not due to the session, it just happens a lot lately). Going to take some extra beta blockers (I usually only have one first thing and top up only if I need it).

@SingToTheSky Every therapy session is a step forward in life and I find therapy very tiring so leaving homework for another day sounds like a smart call.

I have felt very anxious today, does anyone else think that the change of seasons has an effect on them?

Sometimes I find writing down my worries helps me feel better, but other times my worries just seem to be any old thing and every old thing which is how I feel today. This is frustrating as I feel like maybe all that can be done is to wait for it to pass.

Thanks snog I’ve written up the session now - I have written in a journal after every session as it’s really useful to look back on, I always make sure I read the previous session shortly before the next. It helps me process it too while I write. I get what you mean about it not always helping as there’s too much general stuff though. I was journaling regularly (separate from the therapy one) until lockdown.

Quite a few people I know are reporting suddenly feeling really anxious and/or tired. Myself included. Clocks changing in October is a big marker for me and I usually struggle more after but as autumn sets in it does get worse before that too. Also I wonder if maybe the uncertainty around the new announcements as well as (for many) getting used to new school/work routine this month. It’s all so unsettling but maybe in a low level way that niggles.

I’m feeling quite overwhelmed again due to all the stuff I’m trying to manage. I am doing a small distance learning course and have totally stalled which is so bloody frustrating as the actual work is really easy - but so much else I’m responsible for is taking over my brain!

Feeling so bad today. Had a few days off work due to isolating but now back this morning. Lots going on there and I'm so anxious to walk back in.
Also worrying about if the kids get a cough again, the inconvenience of having to have time off etc.
Also doing a distanced learning course and struggling to get motivated!

Hopefully you’re in and settled a bit where but either way it’s ok to be anxious. Deep slow breaths! I need to remember the grounding exercises I learned. Belly breathing is good (although I hate the name) - if you put one hand on your chest and one hand on your lower abdomen, focus on getting the latter to move as you breathe rather than the former.

Today is going to be a bit tricky as I have so much to do and I’m not really motivated at all. DH just left for a meeting and I am not as organised on the home ed front as I’d like to be. I might have to collect the toddler from nursery too depending on meeting time. Probably a good thing really as I’ve fallen into hermit habits this week. Life just feels totally overwhelming again!

Much as I’m glad I had therapy yesterday it’s made me feel quite lonely today. I miss seeing people in person and I wish I could afford more than once a month, I miss the other people I was seeing who I can’t really call friends so it’s hard to stay in touch in the same way.

Can I join? My anxiety is high as my ExBIL is being so horrible to my DSis and I feel so unable to help her. His gaslighting of her has triggered memories of my own abusive relationship, and I cannot stop thinking about any of it. My OCD is also bad as we have mice and I am struggling to eat due to contamination worry.

I'm contemplating contacting the GP, but I just can't face being fobbed off yet again.

Hi carrie of course, all welcome! Sorry things are tough. That’s two very stressful things! It’s easy for me to say don’t give more help to your sister than you can afford to give (emotionally) but I know it’s not that simple especially as she’s family. Have you had help with the memories before? I’m wondering if there’s a way to access the freedom programme or something online - I’ve met a few people who did the course, I’d always thought it was for those still in the relationship but it seems just as good for those who have physically moved on but still have the trauma. It’s difficult though isn’t it as these things can bring up stuff too.

What would you hope to get from the GP - meds or referrals etc? Would an email request be better if you could write out what help you need? I find appointments so tricky sometimes as I get flustered.

I’m feeling a bit guilty as I got so distracted by hobbies today that we’ve not managed much home ed, and I’ve still been avoiding the course stuff I need to do.

What course are you doing where? Mine is level 2 counselling skills and the work is pretty simple but I have to do a brief assessment on zoom which I hate, and I feel guilty when I make time for studying especially when DH is struggling too (we both have health issues). I feel so overwhelmed and the irony of the course I’m doing is not lost on me either - I’m definitely the counsellor type person in my friendship groups but actually organising myself to put any of it on paper feels like too much :(

Can I join? I'm coming up to four weeks on Sertraline and although I feel more emotionally stable, I'm so unmotivated. I spend my days off lazing around, I dont clean, cook or leave the house and find myself just wasting the day

Hi golden welcome! Sorry you’re feeling low. Sertraline has the same effect on me, although being four weeks in it may still be settling in, do you plan to stay on it for now?

I think it’s tough enough to stay motivated at the moment anyway TBH - I generally find it harder as it gets towards winter anyway but I think the news about the restrictions has made me feel like there’s even less point.

How is everyone today? I feel a little better having been to an exercise class with a friend, and I got a lot of studying done last night and wrote the email I needed to as well.

Hi Sing, the GP has given me a repeat prescription and a date for a second review so will continue to take it.
I'm glad you have had a productive day, you should be really proud of yourself x

How is everyone?
Golden thank you I’m pleased that day was productive. Yesterday I tidied up a bit as we had a family visit which also helped as it would’ve been a long lonely day otherwise! That’s good that you’ll get a review, hopefully they’ll talk through the best options with you.

I’m struggling today TBH. The change in weather just makes everything cold and dark, but it’s shocked me how much more affected I am by this already compared to most years. I guess because life is so different already.

I’ve not left the house all week except for two exercise classes, and for both of those my friend took me so I’ve not even walked anywhere close. I was meant to be doing some of the nursery runs but did none all week so I feel guilty about that too.

I’m meant to take DD1 to town for a bit but it feels really overwhelming. But I need to get out of the house too. And loads of organising to do this evening as well. It all feels too much today, I’m really paranoid as well. :(

Hello 👋

I'm currently signed off work with anxiety and depression. Taking Citalopram and Propanalol. Haven't had one sick day off in 4 years and just got to the point where I physically couldn't do it anymore. I was terrified ringing my manager to tell her I'd been signed off, to the point I was going to just rip it up and go in I have a very busy, stressful job which doesn't help and I'm currently evaluating whether I should change but I do love it when my mental health is stable.

It would be nice to have someone to talk to who knows what I'm going through. DH is wonderful and is taking care of me but he doesn't understand mental health and thinks it's just as simple as to get on the treadmill

Can I join in?

I've been on 100mg of sertraline since June. I had a load of time off work and went back at the end of July. I've been doing great since then, until last week when for some reason I've started feeling down and really anxious again.

I really can't put my finger on why. I really don't want to up my drugs as they had been working but not sure what else to do?!?!?

Welcome!

Zigg well done for going off sick, I can imagine how scary that was, but it was brave to actually say “I’m not ok”, both to the doctor and your boss!

Umbongo I’m sorry things have gone downhill. If it helps I think a lot of people have felt a decline in mood/increase in anxiety in the last couple of weeks - I think it’s a combination of the darkening skies and rain etc, plus the uncertainty around new restrictions, potential second wave etc. And maybe the big return to school etc which has been messed up for many by freshers flu type colds and needing to self isolate - I feel like that must have an impact even if we aren’t personally affected? It does for me anyway, as it sort of feels like it’s bound to happen soon and I dread the fall out and hassle and it’s stressful worrying if any sneeze will turn into a cough etc.

I am pleased to have managed lots of exercise the last couple of days but I’m feeling totally overwhelmed by everything else. There’s just too much to keep track of and motivation is so hard to come by.

Hi, I would love to join this thread if I may? I have anxiety, mild anxiety I guess, I'm not on medication for it, and I'm mostly fine but every now and again it flares up and I have a few bad days. I'm just coming out the other side of a few days like that now and I would really like to work on myself to figure out triggers, what I can do to prevent it, and what I need to do when it starts to stop it developing. So I would love to use this thread to focus my mind on that.
One trigger for me is too much caffeine so I need to watch that. And tonight I'm going to put my phone away by 9pm and read instead.

Well, had a total breakdown at work yesterday. Told my boss how she's made me feel and caused all kinds of shit. Feel like I've ruined any relationship we had 😢

How is everyone?

Hi lighthouse welcome! I find caffeine is a trigger too. It’s a tricky one as I crave it when anxious 🤦‍♀️ but then it can really flare up my anxiety later on sometimes. I’m ridiculously sensitive to it in terms of sleep, so I try not to have it much anyway (don’t like tea or coffee anyway so just the odd Pepsi really, although chocolate has caffeine)

I am very happy to discuss triggers, I think it’s really useful. I have started to wonder if sugar may be an issue for me as well - I’ve noticed a bit of a pattern with my worst times being after I’ve eaten more carbs and sweet stuff. I wish I’d kept my blood sugar monitor from when I had GD as I wonder if I struggle more when it crashes or something. So not an actual trigger but maybe I’m more susceptible to panic etc.

I am really trying to get used to making myself go out every day - I have started using a habit tracker app called Habitica so I can keep an eye on the basics (I suck at self care too). And I’ve started drawing a lot more again as it’s Inktober (daily drawing prompt words) so hopefully I can get a bit of confidence that way, as well as with exercise. But I’ve neglected the looking for (volunteer) work stuff I was hoping to do this week and I still haven’t submitted my assignment!