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? :)

Hi all, long time lurker but first time poster! I hope to find some support on this forum as recently I have felt my anxiety is getting out of control. I think this is a culmination of events, I am currently pregnant and as such stopped my medication (after a discussion with my doctor), which I don’t think helped. Partner is currently at risk of redundancy as well which has been a major trigger at the moment , especially with how this will effect my maternity leave.

Anyway, yesterday it was my partners birthday and we went out for a nice walk. On the way back home whilst driving my partner cut up a cyclist at a junction. It was an honest mistake, my partner just didn’t see the cyclist. No harm was done, the cyclist didn’t even stop, he didn’t have to slow down or anything, he just waved his arm in the air and he carried on with his journey and we carried on with ours. I’m sure thousands of people get cut up on the roads every day. It happens, I know that. But anxiety got the better of me yesterday and when we got home I just burst out crying and went to bed!! I feel so bad for my partner on his birthday too. Last night couldn’t sleep at all, was awake all night thinking about it, what if the cyclist reports my partner, what will happen?? Will his licence get taken away?? If so, he won’t be able to work. Worst case scenario was going round and round in my head and it was driving me crazy. Still feeling on edge today and keep thinking about it.

I’ve contacted a counsellor who is going to call me for a telephone assessment on Monday, I guess I’m looking for a hand hold until Monday

That sounds very tough @sunnygirl123, are you thinking about going back on your meds? Pregnancy can be a tough time emotionally and mentally.

Took my sick note into work today, there was no one there but I was shaking and so panicky just walking in. I've been on edge ever since.

Hi all. I withdrew a bit this week due to getting all anxious, sorry for abandoning the thread I started 🤦‍♀️

Hakuna welcome, sorry things are looking bleak for winter. I’m shocked at your manager guilt tripping you about your anxiety stressing her out I mean WTF?! That’s such bad management

Nettle thanks for sharing the blog, I’ll check that out. I have written a few blog posts too but am distinctly lacking in confidence about it!

Where well done for taking the note in. I remember that anxiety all too well.

Sunny that’s just the sort of thing that would make me catastrophise too - not the actual event as neither of us drive but in the sense of an event that seems to have been fine but could have consequences later. I always overthink, analyse everything and worry about what could have happened :(

Welcome @Londonnight @BikeTyson @Namechanged1122 as well, sorry if I’ve got confused with names!

I had a bit of a meltdown today, lots of little things built up and I found it so hard being in charge of the DCs on my own all evening. Got through it but it’s a tough week ahead. Dreading it TBH!

Hi everyone, it's my first time posting and the reason I joined was to, hopefully, get some advice about depression and anxiety!

I had therapy about 4 years ago for severe low mood and anxiety and I still use the techniques now however for a while now my moods and anxiety are becoming worse and I'm not sure what to do. I'm so irritable that at times when I'm asked to do something I could cry out of anger/frustration. Brain fog is so bad some days and my LG is now picking up on my mood which is heart braking. Im not sure what I'm hoping to gain from this but I don't know who to talk to.

My partner is great however he just tries to give my advice about my health which just annoys me! Thanks for reading :)

Hi @Kirsty05 , my first advice would be for you to speak to your GP, it's great that you are trying to use techniques to calm your anxiety and mood but sometimes we may need something else. Have you tried medication before?

Sorry to hear that @SingToTheSky
Welcome @kirsty.

@ziggzag thank you for your reply - I was going to ring the GP today but I couldn't do it. I've never had medication and the thought scares me but I will take whatever help I can get :)

@ZiggZagg I'm also worried that if I do contact the GP they'll advise me to take time off work and the thought of that makes me even more anxious!

@Kirsty05 you need to do what is best for you and your LG. Trust me, I felt exactly the same but you are replaceable at work, you can never be replaced by your family and those that love you, mental health is so important to having a long, healthy life with your loved ones. So what if your doctor signs you off, listen to the professionals, it may be just what you need to destress and gather your thoughts. Medication is not right for everyone but you may be able to work with your GP and let them know what your worries are and see what they suggest. Further therapy could be an option but I know medication is what has helped me most the last few months.

@ZiggZagg, I'm glad to hear the medication is working for you :) I work full time which probably doesnt help but financially we'd struggle if I dropped any hours otherwise I'd go part time tomorrow! But you're right, my family and health have to come first!

Does anyone else find that their anxiety/depression worsens around their period? I'm on medication but I still find that I struggle more in the ten days or so leading up to my period...

Yes definitely fluctuates with hormones here. Anxiety too.

Somehow I’ve got to the stage where I don’t want to get out of bed at all. DH is similar (he had a procedure the other day that is meant to help the extreme pain he’s in... it didn’t). Really don’t know what to do. So many things making me anxious and sad.

@SingToTheSky are you taking medication? I'm pretty sure hormones make everything worse :(

I am on adhd meds but I’ve realised lately they’ve made my anxiety worse. So I’m speaking to my GP today as if I want to change them I think I need to be referred back to the psychiatrist. I'm really struggling with this idea - I was so happy they were helping me with the concentration etc and I was even getting a handle on my bad eating habits (less impulsive) but the anxiety is taking over and I don’t think it’s worth this. But then it’s hard to tell how much of the anxiety is caused by the lockdown and uncertainty over restrictions etc.

I’m really lucky that the best GP had a cancellation today so I’ll speak to her - she’s much more knowledgeable and understanding about MH and neurodiversity than the others there. Unfortunately with ADHD having normal antidepressants can make things worse as they reduce dopamine (this is why they make you feel a bit flat)

I have now made it out of bed. Yay.

I have my assessment tomorrow too and the nerves over that aren’t helping.

I was just about to post, asking if there was a support thread.

Sorry everyone's struggling. My anxiety is awful at the moment and I feel very down. So many stresses and I can barely get out of bed. I want to run away from everything, just disappear, but too many people relying on me. I can't talk to my gp, hate phone calls, and all they do is prescribe different ADs, which don't help. I've tried so many. It's the state of my life which causes the depression. I've had some counselling, but it stopped after 10 sessions. Meanwhile my life remains the same

Not felt too bad today but then tonight my anxiety has flared back up as due back at work on Thursday.
DH reckons to get signed off for a couple more weeks but I'm panicking as the boss will have already done the staffing for this week so will be annoyed at me not going in.
The thought of going back makes me feel sick 😢

@wheresmyhairytoe I am also back in Thursday however have had a month off, do what you need to do, it's not about your boss it's about you and your well-being! Please try not to worry about staffing etc that's not your concern, hopefully you will start to feel better in the next few weeks

Thanks @ZiggZagg. I'm so anxious about telling the doctor how anxious I am! Do I ask for more time off or just tell the GP how I'm feeling. I'm scared they'll tell me to pull myself together and go back.
I don't think my medication is right, it's not improved and I really need to sleep and stop my brain whirring constantly.

Boss messaged me today and I'm still shaking, I've taken to scratching my arm when nervous and its all sore. But digging my nails in feels nice.

You just need to say what you have said here! Just tell them you're not ready and they will sign you another note. No GP would ever tell you to pull yourself together! Good luck whatever you decide but do not feel anxious about speaking to your doctor

How are you doing now @wheresmyhairytoe? I hope you've taken some more time off, it just makes sense to try to get yourself in a better place before going back to work.
I'm doing ok, have felt quite anxious over the past couple of days, PMT related I think so hopefully it will subside soon. I don't take medication for it but I'm trying Calms and I think they might be helping, does anyone else use them? I'm off work next week so I need to make the most of that, eating well, getting fresh air and exercise etc.

A bit better today thank you. Been signed off for another 2 weeks thankfully which has given me some relief.
Managed to go to the shops today on my own. Was very anxious but did it.

Well done you @wheresmyhairytoe! Hopefully another couple of weeks off will make a big difference to you.
I've just been reading a thread about carbs and several posters have suggested that eating plenty of carbs is good for their anxiety. I have suspected the same recently, I don't low carb but I make an effort to have larger amounts of protein and fat and less carbs in my diet than would be my natural choice, I think I might indulge in more carbs for a while and see if it helps my anxiety.