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.

Can I join? It might be good for me.

A bit of background. I have bipolar disorder so anxiety is up and down for me but it’s the main thing that I can’t ever seem to shake off. I’ve had a great two year streak where I stayed clear of panic attacks but covid and some deaths in the family amongst other things have thrown me off. Current personal issues in the media at the moment too so for the past two weeks I have been off social media and I have been very very careful what I read on here.

I’ve been depressed since dec/January now and I’m not in a good place. I decided to go medication free many moons ago which was difficult but was for the better lifestyle wise. So I feel it full force when it comes along.

At the minute I’m struggling with nightmares, does anyone else get that with anxiety? It tends to come out in my dreams! Last night it was a huge spider I was trying to battle off it was horrendous

Anxiety is quite bad today. Everyone in my house is so miserable and low and I'm absorbing it like a sponge. Feel very trapped in my life suddenly. I've started morning walks which do help, but my mind is my own worst enemy. Thinking of buying some new trainers so I can start running.

Hi! Can I join in here? I have health anxiety mainly and I can be fine for weeks then bam it hits me and I can't shake it for weeks. I was prescribed Citalopram but haven't started taking them yet and I need to organise some therapy but it all just seems to much sometimes.

@annabellacomestotea I tend to absorb peoples energies as well it doesn’t help when you are feeling bad yourself.

Treat yourself to some new trainers, not only do you deserve it but you’ll be able to release everyone else’s feelings you have sucked up by getting out there!

Hi May ,sorry you're struggling with anxiety 💐. I know my anxiety is worse just before my period. It's a bit of a relief when I realise that it's my hormones, but still rubbish.

Sing- did you manage to have a nice, chilled day? 💐

Hi Themadcatparade, sounds like you've had a really difficult year 💐

I have strange dreams when I am stressed. I am normally locked in a building or driving out of control! Dreams are strange things. As a child, I would have nightmares where I was surrounded by snakes.

Hi Annabella, sorry you're having a bad day 💐. I know what you mean about absorbing other people's feelings.

Hi, JustDavesWife, it must be hard having health anxiety at a time like this. Hope you can start your meds soon and sort out your therapy 💐

Hi all, welcome to newbies! 💐

I’ve had an ok day MH wise thanks loki been very wobbly physically though and my heart is racing which is annoying.

Been doing very little and have just spent a while catching up on the line of duty thread

Tomorrow I have my phone call from the universal credit people so that’s making me a bit nervous now. If it’s the whole “time to start looking for a job” thing then that’s all fine but I’m just slightly worrying about it being something random and terrible.

I have my second online volunteer training thing in the morning though so that’s something to look forward to although I’m definitely zoom/phoned out already so it’ll be a long day!

First of all, a massive thank you! You guys have been such a huge help over the past few days when I've been feeling so bad. I'm so very grateful to you for sharing your experiences. It's been comforting to read through the thread.
On my phone so it's hard to tag people, but to those mentioning hormones - me too - a week before I'm due on is worst. I'm also 45 so definitely heading in the peri menopause direction.
I actually had a reasonable sleep last night - woke at 5 but managed to drop off again 6-7 despite feeling very anxious belly and chest.
Shaky start but work was much better today and talked to my boss about taking some time back after the crazy hours I've been doing and really felt so much better.
I took 2 x 20mg of propranolol over the day, but not sure how helpful it was. I'm feeling quite anxious again now, but I often do as I get into bed. Just taken vitamins and extra magnesium - I think it helps, and will read for a while. Think I'll have a melatonin too.
Poor anxious dd is still awake.

sing I hope your phone call goes well tomorrow.

I don't usually dream when I'm anxious as I don't sleep deeply enough for REM, however the melatonin sometimes gives me crazy dreams.

Sing - hope your phone call and volunteer training go well today.

@SingToTheSky good luck with your call, I’m sure you’ll feel much more at ease once it’s over and done with.

The sun is out today and I’ve had a bit of a sing a long on the drive back home and it’s helped a bit.

Not able to tag anyone, but thanks to all those who replied :) I suffer with hormonal issues too so my moods and anxiety are definitely affected by it. Came on today and feel light-years better, full of energy, hope, optimism and confidence again. It's like night and day. I've ordered myself the running shoes.

I find when I'm anxious I sometimes drop off of the fundamentals, so I've started going for a short morning walk and drinking more water. I had gotten into a bad habit of waking up and drinking pepsi due to exhaustion from PMS. I am having a good day today. I hope everyone is feeling a little more hopeful, please keep sharing, it's a big bowl of warm soup to read from similar souls.

Hope everyone is having a nice day so far.

That's great anabell. I was up shorty after 5 again this morning with awful anxiety. I felt quite sick. I had a couple of cups of tea and watched tv, then went out for a walk/jog. Need to get back to daily exercise - it's so good at keeping me feeling generally well, but like others have said, drops off when I feel terrible. I finally feel like I can start making some small positive steps.

Feeling quite anxious in my chest still. Took 20mg of propranolol earlier. Be interested in others experiences as I'm not sure that I'm feeling any benefit. I've never taken it before and am comparing it to diazepam which is great but dr wasn't keen to prescribe it.

WLmum - you were up very early. Well done for getting out for a walk. I might do a short one this evening. The weather has gone bright and warm.

I find propranolol helpful. I can feel the difference after half an hour. I helps with my heart palpitations and tense muscles.

Annabella - glad your feeling better today and have treated yourself to the running shoes.

How much do you take loki? Wonder if my dose is small. It's hard to tell how ouch worse I might feel without it!
Up early not by choice - I wake up feeling panicky and so can't settle again. I'm also super sensitive to light, so if my eye mask has slipped I'll wake.

Sorry loki I keep asking questions! Do you find the propranolol helps you sleep? The patient info says it might make you sleepy or give you trouble sleeping so I've not taken it at night but my jaw is saw so I suspect I'm clenching overnight, so might be worth a go. I just can't bear anything that might make sleep harder

Hello! Come to realise after 25 years that I have horrendous anxiety and lots of my physical symptoms are potentially caused by anxiety. Just hit peri menopause so getting worse everyday. Does anyone suffer with sickness and vertigo/vestibular like symptoms caused by anxiety?

Still feel tense from training this morning - it was a really good session and everyone is so nice I just get nervous talking in front of people and in a way it’s even harder on zoom. We also have to basically do a presentation type thing in a few weeks 😬 scary!!!

I didn’t need to be worried about the phone call from the job centre though - my new work coach is absolutely lovely! Really understanding about the health limitations etc and she was pleased with the stuff I’ve been sorting out myself with the courses etc. So it’s a bit scary as I’m now officially Looking For Work, but at least it can go at my pace it seems.

That's excellent news Sing. Glad to hear that your training and phone call went well.

WLmum, I take 40mg as and when I need it. I don't find it helps with sleep. Mirtazapine helped me with sleep, the first 2 weeks that I took it. This is only because sleepiness is one of the side effects.

Feeling rubbish tonight. My legs are aching. They've been aching for days but has got worse today. It's day 5 of detox, so withdrawal symptoms should be gone by tomorrow.

I've been eating things that I wouldn't normally. Things like stuffed peppers with brown rice, tomatoes, onion and cheese. It was surprisingly nice 😋. Getting a bit fed up of all the cooking and washing up already! Can't wait for the headaches and muscle aches to go away.

I’ve managed to go out for a short walk the last few mornings before work- it’s definitely helped me feel a bit less anxious most days....although it is a massive effort to get out of bed. Also spoke to my HoD and he was lovely and supportive - think just talking about how I’m feeling and being told I’ve got someone who is happy to support me makes me feel a bit better.... hope I’ve not jinxed myself saying that. 💐 to everyone having a hard day.

Sorry you're feeling rubbish loki but your dinner sounds nice! Hope you have a decent rest tonight and those legs feel better. I sort of like things like that if it's through exercise or detox - like I can feel it doing me good.