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.

Oh OTT, I wish I could help you. Have you tried hypnotherapy for the needle fear?

It’s ironically funny that you mention that Phyllis. I can’t self-hypnotise and be still

Could you ask your doctor for a few Diazepam, just to calm you down before the injection? They’re often happy to prescribe a few for these types of situations,

Hello, fellow nerve janglers.

I’ve had anxiety on and off for about 30 years, diagnosed about 17 years ago.

I can’t quite work out what’s wrong with me at the moment though. During the day I don’t feel anxious (more directionless, flat and down), but at night I go a bit batshit. I’m wondering whether I might be perimenopausal.

The last time I took Citalopram the brain fog was quite pronounced. Is there an argument for trying different medication as you get older?

I can try phyllis, they’ve reduced my clonazepam(?!) and upped t he lithium. I was WIRED all night. I think it will just take my poor body some time to settle bur my mind feels okay. Tomorrow will be the real test :/

@Phyllis321

Could you ask your doctor for a few Diazepam, just to calm you down before the injection? They’re often happy to prescribe a few for these types of situations,

Oh that's such a good idea ! I might try that if I need invasive medical treatment again. When I had a sedative once for teeth extraction I felt so so good!

Gwendoline, there’s a strong argument for trying different meds at different stages of life. Sertraline worked brilliantly for me once but made me feel dreadful the second time. A doctor told me that sometimes meds are less effective the second time you try them.

Dr Tracey Marks on YouTube explains anxiety and loads of other conditions very clearly. I find her very comforting for some reason!

Thanks Phyllis, I think I need a talk through of everything with the GP, but I've phoned them a couple of times since Covid arrived and it's very clear they can't get you off the phone fast enough.

Ugh can l join?

I’m 57. Had GAD since 5. No one recognised it then. I bloody HATE it. I remember about 13/14 becoming obsessed about a plane crashing into our house. Everyone else thought it was hilarious.

When l was in my mid 20’s l had to leave a job l really liked because it involved a lot of flying.

When l was a student l slept with a glass of water beside my bed in case l spontaneously combusted🤷🏼‍♀️. Everyone thought it was hilarious.

Menopause put the final nail in the coffin. Off sick, too scared to leave house due to Covid. It’s shit.

I’m not a whole lot younger and no, it wasn’t invented back then! Lordy, when will it be taken seriously and there be a flipping cure!

Ha!!! More teachers. I didn’t realise!

Yep, working in education pushes those with anxiety over the edge. Observations, drive for excellence etc etc. Can’t do it anymore.

Let’s take a stressful job, and make it even more stressful by adding unnecessary pernicious pointless exercises to drive those even with minimal mental health issues over the edge.

I did my job because l loved kids. I still do, teaching a nice class is the best thing in the world. But the constant scrutiny is unbearable😕. It’s broken me.

Ott, I hate needles but I hate blood more. The only way I get through blood tests is to make sure the person taking knows its hard for me and also not looking at all. Slow breathing gives me some something to focus on. Or maths 🤪 Let us know how it goes tomorrow.

Hope everyone else is hanging on OK. I'm going through an overly emotional few days. Cried myself to sleep last night which isn't usual but I find it quite hard to cry so it clearly needed to come out.

Focus really hard on your toes - wiggle them, try one at a time and only think about your toes!

There’s some amazing advice on here. Thank you lovelies! X

Arseincoopwindow My fear is fire. I’m terrified I’ll be trapped in a fire. That or drowning. I’m a bit of a scaredy cat of everything really... I know I gotta grow ip sometime, but I’m not f***€ ready yet.

Not caught up with the thread yet so just checking in. Anxiety hasn’t been so bad the last couple of days but just feel flat, too flat to be anxious or motivated!

I’ve been told blood test between 9 and 10 but not too fast?? I’ve only had lithium tablets over two knights. I feel like a human pin cushion.

Couldn’t even get a decent coffee this morning.

Are you on lithium for anxiety. My psychiatrist has been muttering about this and Quitiapine.

I’m on a Pregabalin/Amitryptiline combination. I’ve felt better than l have for years. I was sat sewing the other day, and had a bit of a moment when l realised l had no anxiety! I didn’t recognise it!

But the Pregabalin gives me awful reflux and stomach pains. So l can’t stay on it😢

I have no idea. Meds kewp changing.

Bloods at 10.40

But dexwnt coffwee in hand even if it was bloody cows milk.

How’s everyone doing?

I’ve felt more flat than anxious really. Trying to stay motivated and do a bit in the house.

Starting my ADHD meds on Sunday which is exciting but I’m really worried about them not working because lockdown is just overshadowing everything - I’m not sure even having normal dopamine levels could help me feel motivated in a situation like this

I've been feeling very anxious and second guessing myself with everything this week. Feel exhausted as I am not sleeping properly either. I am struggling to get to sleep and then waking in the early hours feeling hyper alert and panicky.

I hope your medication goes well and you have a better weekend @SingToTheSky

I've always suffered with anxiety and it's worsened as I've got older. Social anxiety is also a big problem. I take Venflaxine and propranolol. God knows what I'd be like without them. In social situations even with work colleagues I know well, I can find it hard to form words and my head mixes up what I'm trying to say. Then I become hot, shakey and nervous. Its a bit bitch.

I've started CBD oil this week and although I'm off work on sick leave I've felt calmer after taking it. The test will be whether it works when I'm back in my job.