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.

lola I hear you on the decluttering. Although I never can quite bring myself to do it! I really like knitting and sewing for distraction. Particularly knittingnwhere I have to count stitches - keeps my hands and brain busy.
I had 2 large glasses of wine tonight, celebrating the end of work for a bit. I suspect it will trash me tomorrow though. I did go tea total for a year which was great for my mental and physical health. It was at a time when my anxiety was quite bad and I was slipping into alcohol to cope, and I could feel it getting a bit out of control. I should probably stop again soon.

I get what you mean WRT old threads sing, sometimes I search my threads from 2019 and it makes me feel horrible and I realise how bad things were . Sorry to hear you had a bad day as Loki said with blaming themselves being easier, that helped me get through a terrible time I had (though again it was out of my control..)

I get what you mean about the school holidays loki! On one hand I look forward to the relaxation, though if I mess up my sleep schedule then my MH gets worse! I say that like I currently have a good sleep schedule plus have so much college work that needs doing but then it’s my down time so I should be writing but I don’t want to though on the other hand it’s be good to do it in small bite-size chunks so that I don’t get stressed with deadlines. I find that sometimes even tv shows etc don’t help, though perhaps going for a walk could be good?

WL hope you’ll be able to access the counselling soon. One thing I try my best to remind myself that (I know, it’s hard but recent circumstances have shown that this can be the case!) things could easily change and that you find yourself in a better position

I’m doing okay, sleep is messed up but I’m waking up at a normal time and sleeping ridiculously late so a bit like lockdown but am doing better. Think the boredom just gets to me and that inevitably goes into depression ... that and the same with work. Tried to break it down but don’t know how to. College is messing around changing everything over and over again so now I’m confused (as is everyone else) and don’t know what to do about work as I was working on the days I wouldn’t be in! Urgh

WLmum - I did a lot of knitting at the start of lockdown. I found it relaxing.

It's easy to get into bad habits to help you cope. Getting rid of the habit takes a lot of willpower and the right mindset.

Tea - it's nice to know that someone understands . I find it strange when people are doing a countdown to the holiday at work. Even though a small part of me is looking forward to a break, I am mainly anxious about being isolated.

I hope you get lots of college work done. Walking does help me but only when I'm not too stressed. When I'm feeling very isolated, walking makes me feel worse. I feel like I'm surrounded by groups of family and friends.

Sorry college are messing you around. Hope the situation improves. Hope your sleep improves too.

How are you doing Wild and Rosa? 💐

I've started having counselling. It's helping me compartmentalize the anxiety. So yes I am going to be anxious about various parts of my life but I am trying not to let it take over my life.

That’s great easter 💐

@SingToTheSky thank you. I hope things go well for you

Thanks :)

Not a great afternoon here sadly. Am absolutely overwhelmed and stuck. Been mindlessly scrolling my phone all day (amid some nice chats with friends on messenger so it’s not all bad but sometimes I just get stuck in those too, like I can’t just go about my day waiting for replies I just sit and switch between various apps). Nervous about tomorrow seeing people, haven’t prepared an egg hunt at all, not organised food shopping despite the fact we will have people in the garden tomorrow, feeling totally useless and panicky ☹️ And am not in the right frame of mind to just let it pass

Hi Easter, glad your counselling is helping you to manage your anxiety.

Hi Sing, sorry you've not had a good afternoon. I find organising things quite stressful. Could you do the food shop tomorrow or get your husband to do it?
Hope you enjoy the egg hunt.

I got some flaxseed omega 3 for me and my DD. I've managed to keep busy today. Cleaned the kitchen, went for a long walk, made shortbread for my DD. I also made coconut chicken curry. It's a new recipe that I tried for the first time. I wasn't too keen but my DD liked it.

I know that overwhelming feeling. Would it help to make a list of what you need to do and then try and do what you can this evening? Probably easier said than done.

I sometimes find the housework overwhelming but feel better once I have started.

sing I had a similar afternoon of laying in the sofa watching tv and scrolling. Luckily the kids were entertaining themselves - alternately besties and enemies!
I gave myself permission as I was really tired after months of intense anxiety/stress affecting my sleep and then the last few nights dh being noisy and I always have a couple of nights bad sleep at this point in my cycle.
Giving myself permission rather than feeling guilty and then worse helps. I got a couple of jobs done in the morning and then gave into the sofa!
I'll be productive tomorrow. I've got a 'breakfast' walk with a friend early doors so that will set me up.

Sounds like you had a nice, relaxing day WLmum. Glad you got some well needed rest. I can't have even a day of staying in, as I get really low. The only time I don't get out for a walk is when I'm ill with exhaustion or the weather is really awful.

It's a pain having your sleep disrupted. I get very little sleep the night before my period.

Enjoy your walk 💐

@Lokikitty - thanks. I sometimes find I can distract myself as well. I feel a bit anxious this morning so I will put some music on and do some cleaning.

Morning! I feel a bit better today. Have managed to get a bit of tidying done (unnecessary perhaps as we will be in the garden 😂) so distracting myself with practicalities. Thank you all 💐

Happy Saturday!

Easter - that sounds good. Hope you have a productive day 💐

Sing - Hope you have a lovely day and the weather is nice for you 💐

Hey ladies,

I posted a thread the other day about the fact that I may have anxiety caused by the pill but I also might just be looking for a cause of the anxiety.

A few weeks ago some big life changes happened.....all good ones though, bought a house, got a new job (which I start in 2 weeks) and I was quite stressed if I'm honest but these are both things I want so couldn't figure out why. As the weeks have gone on I've gotten my head around the big life changes but I seem to have developed agoraphobia when out and about. I had quite a bad panic attack at the supermarket two weeks ago where I got very dizzy. Since then I have had many panic attacks when out and about.

I find when I'm at home or I'm in work engaged in busyness I'm fine but I have developed a big fear of 'losing control' when out. I worry the fight or flight will take over and I will do something crazy or breakdown. It's all consuming when I'm out and I always have to rush home. I went to the doctor and he gave me Xanax but told me it was for emergencies. I can't take beta blockers as my blood pressure is quite low and I'm on waiting lists for private counsellors but the wait time is very long due to the pandemic (I'm in Ireland). I've also been doing journalling and mindfulness but I find this can make the anxiety fuel up again. Any advice appreciated xx

Hi Lizzie, I don't have any experience of taking the pill. I do know that when I have had big life changes it has triggered my anxiety for a while. Maybe you just need time to adjust to the changes.

Panic attacks are awful. Hope the Xanax is helping. I didn't realise there would be waiting lists for private counsellors. Hope you're not waiting long.

You sound like you are doing a lot already, so don't know what to suggest.

Hope you have family and friends that you can talk to 💐

Hi lizzie it's been many years since I took the pill so I can't really comment I'm afraid. I had implants when I was a late teenager and I'm sure they made me depressed but that was a looong time ago!

Does anyone else get that feeling of worry that they'll lose control?

Lizzie- I get that feeling when I am very stressed. I feel like I might end up saying or doing something completely inappropriate, due to my stress levels. I ended up shouting down the phone to my landlord a few weeks ago. This is completely out of character for me. I've been having ongoing problems at my flat for years, so the frustration had just built up. I can't find anywhere affordable to move, so feeling very stuck and fed up.

I had an up and down day yesterday. I couldn't make myself anything for my breakfast or lunch because the cooker wasn't working. In the end, I decided to do butter chicken in the slow cooker, which took 4 hours to cook!

I had my mum round instead of going to hers. I felt relieved not having to get 2 busses to my mum's but felt like there was too much to do around the flat. Just managed to get it tidy a few minutes before she arrived.

I went to a country park with my mum and DD. They sat in the sun while I walked for 1.5 hours. My mum's in very poor health and can't walk for more than 10 minutes. Part of the walk was uphill and it was a new route, so feel like I challenged myself. I got lost. Luckily I didn't panic like I normally would, I just used Google maps to get back to where my DD was waiting for me. The only reason that I tried a different walk is because I would normally walk to a different part of town then get the bus home. I couldn't do this because my DD was waiting for me in the park and I'm avoiding unnecessary journeys.

Hi, I hope you don't mind me popping in?

I have suffered from depression for a while. At the moment it is well managed, and has been for a long time, I am on medication. I feel like I've always been quite an anxious person as well, in general. But usually things are pretty good.

However the last few days my anxiety has been unlike anything I've ever experienced. Basically I am off sick with probably long COVID, and I had a stressful conversation with my manager on the phone. And ever since then I have just felt really guilty, at times I can't face food, terrible heart palpitations, unable to sleep. I have spoken to numerous people about it, who have all agreed that I've not done anything wrong, that my manager behaved unprofessionally. It always reassures me for a while, but then a few hours later, it is all back.

I have no idea what to do, as I really can't cope with this. For it to go on for days is completely disproportionate to what was said. Ideally I would go out for a run, but with long COVID there's no way I can do that. I have tried breathing exercises (but I don't know that many), meditation, yoga. I'll probably still talk to people lots.

I wondered if any of you have any advice about things you have done, that have helped?

Hi, Scottish Beth, your manager being unprofessional was the last thing that you needed when you are unwell. Are you on medication for your anxiety? Try to eat a little and get lots of rest if you're not getting enough sleep. Meditation takes a while to get used to. Could you watch something to distract yourself. Hope you are feeling better soon 💐

@Lokikitty Thank you! I have been eating something. It tends to be the case that I'll wake up really anxious, bit it eases a little after I get reassurance, which tends to be on time for lunch! I'm on sertraline for my depression.

You are right that the way my manager spoke to me was really not what I needed! Anyway, thank you for the flowers

@ScottishBeth - Hi. Have you thought of speaking to your GP about your anxiety? Your GP might be able to refer you for counselling.

Mine prescribed Propranolol but it gave me an upset stomach. I did some breathing exercises today which have helped as I felt low and anxious this afternoon.

I hope you can get some things in place to help you.

Hi scottishbeth I know how you feel about a relatively small incident causing a disproportionate response. I'm like that all the time, and have also got a work one playing on my mind.
My gp recently prescribed me propranolol for a massive anxiety spike, I'm not sure if they helped, it's hard to say as I don't know how I would have felt without them, but they didn't make me feel completely calm and in control.
I've had a mixed day, mostly nice but I've been missing my dm a lot lately (she died sept 2019) and sometimes images pop into my head that upset me. I still find it hard to talk about my grief irl.