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.

Will be sending you all good vibes today loki
sing I hear that! Poor dd really suffers and I have much sympathy, and empathy, but it's exhausting. She won't sleep until I'm upstairs so hopped around me while I worked until 10, then we got into her bed together for almost an hour before I insisted she go to her bed. She's only 10, so 11.30 sleep time for her is dreadful, and of course makes it harder for her to cope the next day etc. It's really hard for me to read in the evenings even if I finish work and put her to bed at a decent time, as I know she'll be awake waiting for me, and often comes down to ask when I'm coming up.

sing sorry to hear your dds friend is being manipulative. So hard. Your plan and advice sounds good though. I hope she can find her inner strength.

Thanks. It’s so draining isn’t it. I really try and make sure she can tell me whatever is making her anxious earlier in the day. Like in the holidays she met some friends outside and I knew she was upset before she even got home - she said she was coming back early because she was bored. Bored is always code for upset with her! So I got her into my room straight away to talk it through. But it doesn’t always work, sometimes it feels like she can’t contemplate talking about it until all the distractions of the daytime are gone, the others are asleep etc.

Really sick of the dramatics from her peer group though. So much bitchiness 🤬 she often gets on better with boys, it seems so much more straightforward. But she is a bit wary at times because of the experiences she had with her first boyfriend and another boy in her class trying his luck too 🤬. That reminds me I’ve still heard nothing from the social worker or the police. 🤔 Suits DD1 fine as she just wants to move past it now but I don’t like knowing what’s happening!

I mean not knowing 🤦🏽‍♀️

Poor her sing friendships can be so hard, and girls in particular can be so manipulative, whether consciously or not, but that is so toxic for everyone.
I hope you get somewhere with the police / sw.

@Lokikitty - hope your meeting went OK.

@WLmum - I can understand the tummy in knots feeling. I've that today.

Things seem overwhelming today probably due to lack of sleep last night. I'm planning to get a takeaway and have an early night. I'd like to ring a friend but don't want to bother anyone with my problems, Tomorrow is another day

Can I join you all please?
Finally found the courage to contact my doctor today and have been given Sertraline

Mixed emotions about taking the medication but know I can’t continue the way I am

easter you can tell us
Welcome running and well done. I'm a week ahead of you!

How have you found the medication @WLmum?
And difference to how you are feeling or any side affects?

I've just had a McDonald's burger. Ordered a chicken salad and they got the orders mixed up. It's the least healthiest thing I've eaten this month. To make it worse, they offered me free fries. Oh well, I've had a horrible week and worked late today.

The meeting was horrible but at least it's over with. My manager didn't say much and when she did it was to contradict me. Hope they make some reasonable adjustments for me and stop putting me under so much pressure. My union rep is going to help me get in touch with access to work.

Completely of topic but I have had no period pain this month. This is a first. I'm definitely going to keep up the healthy eating.

Well done for getting through that loki. Is there any follow up or is that it now?

running mixed bag really. I felt quite jittery and had an awful upset tummy after three first 2 days so had a day off. It's been better since then but I still feel a bit weird. It's hard to tell what's side effects and what is the anxiety - I'm waking up feeling quite anxious but also finding it hard to get going. I did manage to speak to a counsellor yesterday (only preliminary discussion to arrange apt) but I didn't cry which might be a sign they are taking the edge off.
I'm on citalopram, as I tried sertraline a few years ago and had horrible initial side effects which put me off. However I know lots of people take them without issue. Like you, I just felt like I couldn't go on like this and needed to try something.

There will be follow up but don't know when.
Thanks everyone for being so supportive.

Thanks for information @WLmum, I’m hoping for none or minimal side effects as I can’t take time off work as only going back after furlough on Monday!

I’m thinking of keeping a sort of diary, to keep track of how I feel each day and any triggers, side effects etc
Might not be obvious to myself if I’m better /worse but written down I might notice little things

Sorry to hear you both had bad nights Loki and WL. It’s terrible when you can’t get enough slepe

Sorry to hear about your DD and her friendship drama sing. How old is she? My early teens were the worst with my friends constantly. Sadly some of them haven’t seemed to grow out of being in high school annoyingly!

What type of takeaway did you get Easteregg?

Hopefully things at work will improve loki! I had a fast from McDonald’s for a bit and it was nice to have a bit of greasy food but at the same time horrible so I feel you! That’s great on the no period pain!

Had a good day as had to change some days around so no longer have to see that bully person. Though I am rather pissed off and one of my friends has unfriended me and I thought we got on really well. Though around April time we were rowing a lot and I realised I was the only one putting the effort in though on one hand it’s good to have let go completely on the other hand I miss it. Work was good (as expected) apart from a stomach ache I had and constant hunger

Sorry to hear that your dd has been anxious. Well done for suggesting that she still goes to dance club. Avoiding things can become a really bad habit. It's much better to learn coping strategies.

That's great news Tea. Glad you had a good day. Sorry to hear about your friend. That must be awful 💐

Hi Runningpink, well done for contacting your doctor. Hope your new meds are okay for you 💐

So I was scrolling this thread earlier and reading about all the other people who understand how it feels and were sharing their experiences and I appreciated it knowing that I’m not alone... I’ve had a terrible day of awful catastrophising on the most random and extreme topics but what I would also like to share is that It’s just gone away!! Poof! As quick as it came I just feel so much lighter and less obsessively concerned about the world! I only wish I knew how I found the off switch so I could control it... still it’s a positive and I’m taking it!!

Sorry you had a bad night Easter. Takeaway and an early night sound like a good plan. You can chat on here if you want to 💐

Hi Paperhalo, sorry to hear that you have had a terrible day. Glad that you are feeling better now. Emotions can be a bit random ,can't they?

@WLmum 

I had a burger as well. Is it National burger day lol?

@Lokikitty at least you've got the meeting out of the way

I've reported the comment below as I don't think it's appropriate

Me too