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 Flamingo, good to hear from you. Sorry that you haven't been well. Hope the increased meds and time off work help you feel better 💐. Take the time you need to heal.

WLmum, that fantasy is amazing. I love canal boats. I used to work with someone who decided to live on a canal boat. They are very expensive but most be lovely to have the freedom to go wherever you want.

loki you may also join the fantasy canal. Of course because it's fantasy land, we will drift past each other at just the moments when we fancy company, but never when we wish to be alone.

As I'm worried about side effects, I had planned to just take half a citalopram for the first week, but the tablets are so tiny I'd have to be a mouse to stand a chance at halving them. I'll take one in the morning and see how I get on.

How’s everyone been today?

I’ve been in bed. Period is super heavy and I’m all crampy as well as dizzy. Actually ok mood wise but probably because again zero demands on me!

I did manage to fret about a misunderstanding online though. I hate it when that sort of thing happens, I dwell on it so much and worry far too much about what strangers think of me 🤦🏽‍♀️ but I’m trying to just move on from it.

Oh Sing, that sounds horrible. Glad your mood is okay. Hope the cramps are better soon. One of the surprising changes from my new diet is less severe period pain. It's more discomfort now. Didn't need pain painkillers for a change.

I know what you mean. I worry too much about what people think about me. It's hard to stop.

Poor you sing. Are you getting enough iron? Low iron levels make it harder to clot so you lose more blood, and with it more iron...
loki that might just be a reason for me to try and clean up my diet!

Oh that’s a good point. I was regularly taking supplements for a few months including ferroglobin - then lapsed. That’s given me an extra reason to get my act in gear with it, thank you!

Have fallen of the thread a bit lately though I have been back in work which I glad for! Coursework on the other hand can bore off, though luckily we’re ending the academic year pretty soon hopefully so should have a pretty long break before back at it all again! Though working right up till July so happy about that. Have been extremely anxious and low today Today wasn’t a work day which is usually a worse day for me, though I’m back tomorrow at least so looking forward to that albeit nervous as I’ve changed my days again!

sing that sounds horrible! Periods really are the worst. Hope the cramps stop soon. I’m afraid I’m sticking to chocolate biscuits and other crap for now—tbh I’m eating so that’s a good thing for me as I suffered badly with an ED so the way I view it is if I’ve eaten something then it’s a good thing. I used to take Vitabiotics in the first lockdown but haven’t been as of late

Hi tea, sorry you're feeling anxious and low. Glad to hear that you've been eating better and you are back in work. Hope you feel better soon 💐.

I've just made a load of shortbread biscuits for my daughter. I'll make myself some sugar free flapjacks tomorrow.

Hi tea sorry you've felt bad today. I've been back at work 2 days and my jaw is sore - I suspect I'm clenching it at night. Also was awake super early again, slept in til 7 every day of my week off.
Sorry to hear you've had an ED, that's tough. Have you ever tried ovaltine? I drink it when I can't face any food, and it doesn't feel heavy but has good some good stuff (and probably bad stuff too) in.

I'm feeling pretty bad this morning. Been up since 5, feeling very anxious and twitchy and serious belly. Not sure if it's just me having an anxiety spike being back at work or if it's the citalopram. I just took today's dose so I guess we'll see. Full day of work with the kids around in Easter holidays to contend with.
Anxiety sucks.

Hope your day gets better WLmum. I'm having a bad morning too. I didn't sleep well last night. It was past midnight when I finally fell asleep. Hope work goes okay for both of us. Anxiety definitely sucks.

Sorry to hear that loki and WL, I hope it eases as the day goes on. How are the cramps sing? Hope they bugger off soon too. I'm in despair at the latest government announcement re universities - no in person teaching until the 17th of May at the earliest.

Sorry to hear that rosa seems crazy that the schools are back but not university's??

Sorry to hear you're not doing so well today either loki

Sending strength to us all.

Oh Rosa, that's rubbish. Online learning isn't for everyone. I know it wouldn't work for me.

Oh good. The citalopram has given me a terrible upset belly. Joy.

@WLmum - sorry to hear that. I tried Propranolol and had an upset stomach.

I've actually had a good day today with just a bit of anxiety in the morning. I've been busier than usual and had a walk which has helped. Haven't felt this happy in ages but I know the anxiety could happen at any time.

WLmum I used to take complan right before it all kicked off, though now I tend to associate that with that specific time and I just can’t handle it ... like at all. Thank you for the recommendation of ovaltine, will give it a go! Sorry to hear you had a bad night, it’s horrible when you can’t get much sleep

How was your day Loki? Sorry to hear that you had a bad night too

That sounds rather stressful Rosa. I’m hoping to start uni next year and if I’m being honest a part of me is considering not going and instead going for my back-up plan as that way I could be out in the field, on the other hand I do want to go to uni ... it’s so hard to decide especially since you can’t even go to see any in the flesh! What course are you studying?

Had an okay night last night, not too bad though not the best either. My favourite tv series drops the new episode on Weds so was able to watch that and it calmed me down a bit 😍. Thursday are always my worst days, not looking forward to tomorrow! Rather anxious tbh

This morning was the worst part Tea. As the day went on I gradually felt a bit better.

Glad you managed to relax by watching your favourite tv series. Hope tomorrow is okay for you 💐

I had to make a phone call about counselling after work. But the bus was stuck in traffic for ages, so had to leave a message on answer machine, which I hate doing. Also not sure how they are going to get hold of me to discuss the best counselling option, as they are only open during my work hours.

I had to do my lateral flow test and online training for work. So a bit of a stressful start to the evening. Managed to get out for a walk though and treated myself to sausages and mash 😋

Hi, Easter, glad you've had a good day and have been feeling happy. I know what you mean about it not lasting. I guess one of the worst parts of anxiety is not knowing how long it is going to hang around and not knowing when it will return. Hope you carry on feeling well 💐

Hi tea what is it about Thursdays that make them particularly bad?

I cannot get my head around meds that make you feel worse before you better. I'm not taking a citalopram today as I'm feeling really awful. Anxiety through the roof, bad belly, awake since 3.30.
Finally plucked up the courage to make the call for counselling. I've got a 'triage' call later this morning to confirm what sort of therapy they recommend and then hopefully put me in touch with a local counsellor.

How's everyone else doing today?

@WLmum - I hope you are feeling better. Counselling has been good for me. I can offload my worries and the counsellor gives me advice (I don't always take it).

I'm feeling better now I've been out for a walk. Distractions are good for me and there haven't been many good ones during Covid so I have dwelled on things.

Distractions that have helped:
Walking
Reading
Radio on and cleaning
Watching films

Thanks easter those distractions work well for me too. I'm not feeling too bad having skipped a tablet today.
I had the triage call for counselling, so should get details of local ish counsellors through soon. I always think maybe I don't need any help, but I cried on the call today, and to the GP so I guess that tells me what I need to know. I had some online counselling before that was quite helpful, CBT based, which is what I've now been referred for (but physical rather than online)

Ooh what’s the tv show tea? I’ve been watching a lot of crime dramas lately, I just like losing myself in other worlds tbh.

I’ve found sometimes there is a pattern of days where some are worse. For me it’s to do with pushing through the week and burning out. For a while last year we scheduled in an easier day on Wednesdays to try and balance myself a bit.

I am struggling to get on with stuff today but I did my entire first assignment last night. This morning I got my PIP letter - they’ve renewed it. I am amazed and relieved.

I really hope you'll have a more "normal" in person experience if you go next year tea but who knows...I study modern languages, what are you thinking of studying?

WL I'm so pleased you've managed to take the steps to be referred for counselling, I hope it's useful

That's weird loki I had sausages and mash for tea yesterday as well! Was yummy