Would any one like to join in an anxiety support thread?

[Heatherandmoss]

I’ve seen lots of posts recently about people having a bad time with their anxiety and I thought an on going thread might be good do people can bob on and offer and receive support, share tips and just generally empathise with some one going through the same thing.

I’ve had anxiety since I was about ten ( I realised after my psychiatrist was able to help me pin point my earliest memory of it)

I think there is a bit of misconception of anxiety as some people think it’s just general worry - but it’s not.

When my anxiety rears her head it’s so physical. I sweat, my face can go numb, pains in my chest. I have a feeling like some one is kicking my front door in and I’m scared for my life and I could just be hoovering. Anxiety jolts me awake when I’m asleep and it rolls down my body like thunder. It makes me catastrophize at 3am and my feet start rubbing against each other ( weird) My anxiety makes me walk in to the kitchen with my kids empty dinner plates and suddenly feel so so over whelmed I struggle for breath and tears leak out in a gasp of raw emotion - all done silently so my kids can’t hear me.

I’ve had to give up drinking alcohol because Jesus the anxiety the next day was shocking and lasted days until I suddenly stepped out the anxiety room.

My anxiety has been bad since November as I’ve got some things going and I’m worried my heart is going to pack in because of the extra ‘thud thud thud’ overtime it’s being doing!

Exercise does help me take the edge of sometimes. I nearly went to the GP the other day as it was rotten but at this moment of time I need to be switched on.

Today has not been to bad. I’m considering it a win.

So I’ve you’d like to join in or have some where to say ‘holy fuck it’s bad today’ hopefully more people will be here and you will know some one knows how bad your feeling.

Hi Tea, glad yesterday was mainly okay. You most have needed that nap. I've never been able to sleep during the day.Have you returned to work?

I had an okay morning at work. I was outside with the children all morning. It was really cold and windy. Definitely didn't enjoy it but it wasn't too bad. I find really cold, windy and rainy weather makes me anxious. Anyone else get that? Or is it just me being weird!
I treated myself to jam roly poly after work. Got on with a few chores. My flat is messier than normal because I haven't been well. I'm tackling it bit by bit but it feels overwhelming.

I've felt strangely calm the past two days. Work hasn't been as stressful but that could change any day!

How's everyone doing? X

Aww Sing, I feel your pain, that kind of form would really stress me out too 💐 Sorry you feel crap today x
As for the lemon mayo, I just squeeze some lemon into the mayo 😋. I love dips too. Garlic dip with pizza and strawberries dipped into chocolate is my favourite. I used to be crazy about ketchup, I prefer mayo now. Sauces have to be kept separate from the crunchy food though cos I'm a bit odd like that 🤣

For a second there I thought you meant garlic dip WITH strawberries😂

Thanks I will try that then, I wasn’t sure if it would split or something!

I managed a little walk. Purely because I needed to do a particular mission on Pokémon go 😂 it was very cold and rainy but it distracted me a bit.

Sing I hear you re forms. I get paralysed with anxiety and can do nothing
Really feel for you.
And yes my DS isnt badly behaved just grumpy and he can push all my buttons. I find myself fretting about if we're doing a good job and how much he is being affected by my MH struggles. I am reading Philippa Perry's parenting book which is great but also triggering as in "oh no..I do that.." it is REALLY good though. I love her.

Still weepy and wobbly here and just getting through days. Have managed to iron today and make a nice dinner and do a bit of drawing.
❤ to you all

Hi Wild, sorry you're struggling. I worry a lot about how my mental health affects my DD. I hate that she's seen me at my worst this year.

It's great that you've done some ironing and cooking. What do you like to draw? I like to draw flowers 😊

Hi Loki and thanks xx I feel like I'm so down and disagreeable that my family are fed up of me this evening. Trying so hard not to be.
I like to do abstract stuff. Patterns, doodles etc. Trying to learn to do faces too at the moment.
Also recently starting doing some air drying clay modelling. I don't always feel very motivated though. Then that's another thing to feel rubbish about!
Ah well tmrw is Friday and might be better.
Hope it is for all of us

The abstract drawings sound interesting Wild. Faces are really hard. I did a self portrait and it's the hardest thing I've ever drawn. It didn't even look like me 🤣

So glad it's Friday 😊

I don’t like drawing faces! It’s so hard. I could never hope to actually get a likeness of someone.

Tired this morning. Keep getting a creeping sense of dread if I think about the damn form I need to do.

I also need to phone the OU today, which feels like a much more positive thing. Bit nervous about that too, but it’ll be worth it! I must write a list of things I need to find out (disabled student support and that sort of thing).

I hate forms too Wild, I hope you can get it done and out of the way soon. I always feel that so much disability support is actually really inaccessible, which is ironic really.

Really struggling today, I was so looking forward to finishing my last assignment of term, but it turned out to be really triggering and I've been having some horrible intrusive thoughts. Luckily I've been allowed to switch it for a different topic, but it's such a sense of failure.

I always feel that so much disability support is actually really inaccessible, which is ironic really.

Totally this!

Hi Sing- good luck with the form. Hope you manage to get it done today 💐

Rosa - sorry your assignment was triggering 💐Glad you managed to switch topic.

I've had a hectic morning at work today. I was outside all morning and it's been bitterly cold and rainy.

Hoping to have a productive afternoon, then just chill in the evening.

Hope the day improves for everyone 😊

Thanks loki :) I’m feeling really avoidant about it tbh. I’m being an ostrich!

I did phone the OU though. Got some of the info I needed and have set the ball rolling a bit. Going to try and walk a bit now I think.

Hey folks, can I join please?

Am off work at the moment, having had a major anxiety flare-up a month ago. Today I was signed off for another month, and have been prescribed propanol. I've increased my citalopram already, but it wasn't touching the anxiety. Am starting online CBT on Monday. Have done it before, but a lot has happened since then.

Anyway I have been lurking here for a while, thought I'd introduce myself.

Hi, Ginfox, welcome to the thread 😊
Sorry to hear about your anxiety flare up 💐 I'm on propranolol too. It's really good for anxiety and doesn't seem to have any side effects.

Good luck with your CBT. I hope you find it helpful.

How's your day been? Are you finding it okay being off work?

I was off for nearly a month. It was a difficult time for me. I knew I had to put my health first and get used to new meds.But felt lonely and low at home. Also missed work and routine.

Hi Gin, welcome x

Well done on phoning the OU Sing!
Hope you're having a nice chill evening Loki

Sing - glad you managed to phone OU. That's one thing out of the way 😊. Hope you had a good walk.

I haven't done any walking for days. I get too stressed when it's really windy. Walking when the wind is really strong is like torture for me. I obsessively check the weather forecast, so I can find the warmest part of the day with the calmest wind!

I managed to clean and tidy the kitchen after work. Just need to do the rest of the rooms tomorrow!

I tried to watch some tv this evening but couldn't really get into anything. Feel like something is niggling away at me but not sure what. Guess I'm mithered about going back to full time work next week. And what to get my mum for mother's day. Just stupid little things going round and round my head.

Have just tired the cat out by playing with her ☺

Thank you both. Really pleased I did, also got some good news about the first course options as I can do childhood/child psychology so that’s cheered me a bit too.

So much admin over the weekend though. Still feel a bit anxious today so now the littlest is asleep I am doing nothing but reading or Netflix!

I have the same thing with assignments Rosa, I get triggered with things relating to hospitals and surgeries and my course is health/social care so I’m sure you know how well that works

I started back at work today Loki, rather enjoyed it and it was great to see everyone, though I’m exhausted now! Hoping I’ll be able to get a full nights sleep then recover over the week before I have an even busier week next week!

Welcome Gin .

Sorry to hear you’re feeling anxious sky, hopefully tomorrow will be better

Hope you had a good day wild

Thanks guys.

Loki today has been hard work. Lots of crying, cried down the phone to the GP, unfortunately my daughter was in the room when he phoned so she was upset too.

CBT has been useful for me in the past, so hope it'll be good this time.

Tea - glad your return to work went well. Hope you sleep well 💐

Gin - sorry you had a hard day 💐. Hope your GP was supportive. How old is your daughter?

I've just filled the census in. I hate forms. My mind goes blank even at the most basic questions. Ah well it's done now.

Started of day okay. Never lasts though

I hear ya tea 💐
It’s frustrating.

I’ve spent all day curled up on the sofa feeling really “stuck”. Had so much to do today. But no. 🤦🏽‍♀️

Hi Sing- sorry you're feeling stuck. It's overwhelming when there's a lot to do. Hope tomorrow is a more productive day for you 💐

I'm doing well so far. I did some housework in the morning. Ended up feeling knackered but so glad it's done. Feel like I'm catching up with things I didn't feel well enough to do over the past few weeks.

Got my mum something for mother's day. I get really stressed choosing gifts.

Just made some salt and pepper chicken 😋
I got some chocolate cake from Cake Box.
I can't stop eating today!

It's really windy again, so haven't done any walking.

Hope everyone has a good evening 😊

Hi Tea, hope the day carried on being okay 💐

I'm not a fan of mornings when I have to get up early for work. It's different at the weekend when I can get up later. I'm most productive first thing, so that's when I do the cleaning. I soon run out of energy and motivation as the day goes on. I have to use my energy carefully!

Gin, Rosa and Wild - how are you doing? 💐