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.

@SingToTheSky - that quote is very apt for me. I'm always going to find something to worry about. I've kind of accepted that the anxiety may be around for a long time and I will just have to deal with it.

I try to remember the old saying, "don't worry worry till worry worries you". It's like I go looking for things to worry about, constantly anticipating everything so I can say "see, I told you that would happen". It's such a waste of time. Hope everyone is having a good day.

That's a shame loki. Are there any other avenues/suggestions you can try?
Thanks for the quote - it's a good un!

The private counselling dd has was the most helpful, but lockdown made it impossible to stray back up, plus as she's now under camhs, I didn't want 2 paths going on for her. I've written a strongly worded email to the school. The school have been gentle and supportive in contrast to the Ed psych.

There weren't any other suggestions WLmum. The woman doing the risk assessment suggested that I have weekly meetings with my manager. My manager is overly critical towards me, so this will not make me feel better.

I'm glad that the school have been supportive towards your dd. It's strange that the Ed psych isn't.

Sorry to hear that loki can you call again and say that won't work? Could you meet with your manager and a mediator? Work stress is the pits.

@WLmum and @Lokikitty - I think that's a good suggestion. Then the mediator would be a witness about any criticisms your manager might make during your meetings.

If you are a teacher then at least you've got the summer break coming up.

I've been a bit under the weather so I couldn't go out for a walk today. Exercise has been a good distraction.

I'm finding it really hard to wake up and get going in the mornings - citalopram side effect perhaps?

I had my first counselling session this morning. I cried of course, but I'm hopeful that it will be helpful to manage my own self and in turn help me to manage dd.

WLmum - I can take my union rep to all of the meetings. It's easier with her there but the meetings are still really stressful. I've had to attend a lot of meetings this year. Just want the year to end. Fingers crossed, I work with someone nice next year.

I work for an academy and they practically expect their TAs to teach. It's a lot of stress for a low wage.

Glad you have started counselling. Hope it helps you and your dd.

Hello all. Is it okay for me to jump on? So happy I’ve found a thread of lovely people for this! I’ve suffered with anxiety since I was very small, although it sky rocketed after the birth of my first baby when I was 20. I’m now 24 and it’s even worse..i get light headed, feel out of body experiences when I’m really going through a bad day, have no appetite from the moment I wake up..the only things that really relaxes me is exercising and having a glass of red wine (which I’m trying not to make into a nasty habit). My anxiety manifests itself into anger and snappiness, I don’t worry about things particularly but I do feel the physical sweaty and agitated symptoms which make me very jittery and snappy. I was put on Citalopram following the birth of DD1 and it was put down to post natal blues. When I was a child the doctors thought i was just on the spectrum or had anger issues, but now that I’m older and have sought help it was really just anxiety masking itself in a child. I think it was as a result of an unstable childhood. Sorry for the long intro, I’d just really like a group of people to talk to about it as it wrecks my day to day existence.

Hi Blondefancy, you can chat as much as you want on here. Sorry to hear that you have been struggling for so long 💐

Have you had a good day?

loki you are so lovely and welcoming. Glad you've got your union rep, even if only makes things a little more bearable. Can you do a weeks countdown to the end of the year? 8ish? With some goals - 2 more til half term, then 2 after that and you're half way there etc.

Welcome blonde - no need to apologise for the long intro - sometimes it's what you need :-)

Thanks WLmum. A countdown and some goals is a great idea 🙂. I think my biggest goal is just to keep my head down and not let my manager get to me. I also just need to survive the remaining weeks!

The period anxiety absolutely sucks! On Wednesday a friend and I went shopping after college and thought we had enough time to get to the centre and back but we didn’t so decided to get a taxi so we could get our buses, only they didn’t accept card so we had to have a huge rush to a cash machine and after I got out the cab to get the cash I couldn’t find the damn thing at the right one! It was so stressful and anxiety inducing, though luckily made it back just in time. Never again though unless we have longer!

Me too WL, I just find it so hard to get up even on good days! Doubt it’s due to lack of sleep as apparently have been doing rather well sleep wise

You can do this loki!

Welcome blonde!

Hi all and welcome blonde and any others I have missed!

Period anxiety is awful. I’m always worse just before and then the last day or so of bleeding. I’m just so sensitive to hormone changes it drives me mad.

I managed a difficult day yesterday as DH was out all day (I’m used to both of us being home) but did cope fairly well. Lots to be getting on with this weekend but I’m shattered!

Thanks Tea. It's just been such a horrible year.

Well done Sing. Glad you managed to cope. Hope you're having a productive day.

I've been very productive today. I've done all my washing and housework. I also cooked breakfast and lunch. Just need to do food shopping tomorrow.

sing I'm super sensitive to hormone changes too, can't take the pill etc. Dr persuaded me to have the coil a few years back, said it could take up to 6 months for my periods to adjust - mine stopped instantly. I had it taken out a few months later as I was really uncomfortable with the thought of constant hormones, plus lots of bloating.

I had a bad night. I started coughing when I went to bed. It took me ages to fall asleep. I realized that I wouldn't be allowed to go to work today. I booked a covid test at 1.00am! Been for the test, now waiting for result. I'm meant to be celebrating Eid tomorrow. I was only going to my mum's. She's my support bubble. That felt strange enough. Unless I get a negative test tomorrow, I won't even be doing that. Why do things like this always happen at the wrong time??

Sorry to hear you're unwell Lokikitty. Hope the result is negative. Things always seem to go wrong when you have plans. I didn't sleep so well last night. The rain was tippling down, our dog is old and getting up to odd things at night. We never know what we will come down to in the morning. It puts us on edge. Trying various things to sort it out. Hope everyone has a good day.

Thanks Mrswhiplington, sorry you had a bad night too. Hope you manage to sort something out for your dog.

Fingers crossed for your result loki and that you can celebrate eid with your mum.
I'm feeling oddly calm and happy today - I think I'm finally feeling like I'm on solid ground after a Rocky few months. I guess the citalopram has had time to embed too now - argh - just realised I forgot to take it this morning as got distracted with a spider bath extraction situation!

Hello everyone - hope your all ok.

Having a big wobble this morning. Things seem to be a bit brigther now. But having some difficulties challenging unhelpful and negative thoughts. The sun is out...so hopefully it will help when i go on the nursery run soon.

Hi Blue panda, it's grey and rainy for me. Hope the sun helps you 🌞

Hope your test results are negative Loki so that you can have a good Eid!

I’ve been struggling lately. I think the fact that lockdown and other things have really hit down alongside the fact that it’s becoming summer again. I saw something awful which really triggered me yesterday and I haven’t been doing too well. Ever since something happened on Friday which barely warrants thinking about, but I’m so anxious about it! I’ve forced myself on hiatus from my writing which has been helpful and unhelpful at the same time. It feels strange not to write but I need this break for the sake of my mental health to stop me spiralling and trying to find myself. Been let down again which is really annoying so I was a little petty about that and now avoiding talking to people as there will be the inevitable questions/drama! I rather liked the sun which usually makes me anxious as the skin cancer risk and I don’t want people to see my scars just in case I relapse!

Thanks Tea. Sorry you've been struggling. What do you like to write about?

It feels really strange to be off work, when I'm well enough to be in.