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.

Easter, I, too, hope your problem gets resolved, soon. And driving anxiety is awful. My particular hate was/is large roundabouts.

DD wants a guinea pig. I don't know if that would work,as we also have a cat.

Loki - I've lost people due to anxiety before, too. That's why I have very few truly close friends. Actually, only one. And she is abroad. Got a few work friends, but those do not count, as they are not power balanced.

Chaos: Having no money is awful. I have a relatively low paid job and have had to take a loan out. At times I remember that and feel sick. I am currently looking for a new job with a higher pay. I hope I get lucky soon...

Chaos - sorry that your vet's bills have left you so skint. Hope your cat is okay. I had to take my cat to the emergency vet 2 weeks ago. It was £220. My dd used her student loan to pay for it. I'm in a low paid job, so there's no way that I could have paid for it. Did you manage to get the hamster back in it's cage? Hope you are feeling better soon 💐

My skintness is made worse by my bulimia (slightly TMI), as I binge on anything and then there's nothing left for dinner or for snacks... Plus, sometimes I go out specifically buy stuff to binge on. I must have spent hundreds (or more) on food that only gets flushed down the toilet. I really am a mess.

Hello folks. Still battling away here. My CBT has finished with me not having improved but since I'm now getting very anxious about the op and loads of other stresses have popped up, I had a conversation with GP and she's trying me on sertraline. Of course I feel ghastlier than I did because of that! And muscles got stiffer - so I got worried I was getting serotonin syndrome, except I keep a diary and was able to tell myself I had stiff arms and legs before I started the AD and it's known that you get worse anxiety before it improves with sertraline. Deep breath! One day at a time. School exams next week so DS in a bit of a state too.
If I put my incisor teeth together they chatter. Poor DH is having to do everything but he has no job at the moment and I'm f/t so I can't feel too guilty as I have no energy to do anything once I'm finished for the day.

Hope those of you with injured cats are OK. Mine had a limp 2 weeks ago and of course cost a fortune for vet and metacam. OK now thank goodness and back to being stress relief when she's not shouting for food.

@DuckingMel I hope you can get some help for your bulimia. I had this for a short time when I was much younger. It really is awful.

Oh DuckingMel, that sounds awful. Hope you're getting some support 💐
Have you found anything that distracts you from the binge eating? I don't know a lot about bulimia, just wondering if there's things that help.

Thanks, Loki, but I have had therapy of different kinds since 2004, but nothing has helped.

What helps in concentrating on some new project like new degree programme, house move, etc. Nothing like that is forthcoming, right now.

I need to write a job application before Tuesday and I just don't have the energy... It is a really good chance for me, so I should do it, soon.

loki rather socially awkward too so i guess I’ll see how it is! Part of me wants to get some new clothes for the wedding though on the other hand I have lots I can wear. Before while I tended to be underweight I’ve gained a lot of weight so am slightly insecure about that though on the other hand I think things will probably fit me better

Sorry to hear you get driving anxiety mel, i’ve started driving recently and am apparently a very anxious driver! The first few times I’ve been okay though as of late it’s been hard and I’ve been rather anxious about what to do!

Me too cupoftea, if I am kept up due to anxiety or am running on hardly any sleep I get so much more anxious! Therefore having a. Good sleep schedule is important to me though. The irony of being anxious resulting in no sleep but coffee being able to wake you up though coffee is bad for anxiety

mel good luck with the job application next week! IME having a project to focus on can go both ways, I’ve gone back to my writing and it’s good that I can work betyer on the other hand I’m still anxious a lot . Still need to get my UCAS applications started but the bloody website doesn’t work!.

Sorry to hear re your bulimia. I’ve had an eating disorder too and it’s the worst (anorexia, though have been having some binges as of late).

Turns out I was worrying about nothing! I'm sure I'll find something else to worry about soon lol. Managing to have a chilled afternoon.

Just thought I'd mention that there is an eating disorders thread on here in case those that might find it useful hadn't discovered it.

Hello everyone! Just checking in as I have been reading but not posting for a while.
I'm doing better generally, having counselling every week - I don't know if I really believe in my heart of hearts that it will change anything. I've done lots of self reflection and analysis over the years. I'm maybe unrealistic in hoping for a 'breakthrough'. The therapist can see i have a hard time talking about me and my needs, I'm still finding it hard to be really honest.
melmy anxiety tends to be worst about work too. I've left several jobs because I've convinced myself that I'm crap and about to be found out. Rationally I know that's not true at all, but I guess we all know that anxiety isn't a rational beast.

I think I forgot to take my citalopram this morning so took it this evening. Am worrying it will stop me sleeping.
Someone mentioned starting sertraline (impossible to check back on my phone) - I tried sertraline a few years ago and the initial anxiety side effects were brutal. Hope they pass quickly for you.

I feel rubbish today. I have a very sensitive stomach and colds make me sickly. I got my covid result last night. It was negative, so at least I can start making plans.

I have booked art classes for me and my dd. Also booked eyebrow wax for us both. I can never afford to do much in the holidays, so just focus on a couple of cheap treats. It's strange listening to people at work talking about going away.

Wish the weather would improve. It's so cold and windy.

Sorry to hear that loki. Colds are crap. Glad your text was negative though. Do have to work next week or is half term already for you?
Not sure if it's your thing but one of my fave things to do is to go out for breakfast - a rare treat but I love it! Maybe you and dd could do that one day?

I took the younger ones to the woods today for a tree climb and play.
I didn't sleep too badly in the end, but still have these 5am wake ups - boo.
I'm trying to be brave and ask for some feedback at work. This is something that I'd normally run a mile from, terrified that they'll say I'm crap and then we'll have to live with that between us. But. I know it's important and even if it is 'constructive' then at least I'll know, and you never know, they might just say positive things. I'm changing role soon, so although the project I'm on isn't finished, it's a good time to do it - under the guise of 'as I transition into my new role' etc. Be brave WL!!

WL - hope the change in job role goes well for you.

I love treating myself to a cooked breakfast. That's definitely something that I could do. Just waiting to get paid on Tuesday. It's half term for me next week. Going to do agency work on the days that my DD isn't with me. It will be a bit of extra money that I could use for shopping or a day out.

Sorry I’ve been absent. Struggling in general. 5am wake-ups are catching up on me and I’ve now developed this need to take a deep breath every couple of minutes or yawn. Don’t know if it’s anxiety related or exhaustion or both

Thank you for the well wishes, tea, but I now find I've been too poorly with a UTi to invest time in a long shot. There are a couple of other jobs that I could try, though, with a longer time to apply.

WLmum, I have the exact same problem: I feel like I need to leave before I am found out and fired! I don't know if that is extreme imposter syndrome. I have a few traumatic experiences that have contributed to this. I was never good enough for anyone, growing up. Also, a few less than nice bosses, when of working age. I am now hyper vigilant and paranoid. I often feel frozen by anxiety, which leads me to underperform, so I feel like I might be legitimately teetering on the edge of being let go. Luckily I work for a local authority, so firing me wouldn't be very easy.

Afternoon everyone xx

I'm feeling worse today. I've got art classes booked tomorrow and have work at a nursery on Wednesday. This weekend I will have family coming down for the first time in months and I feel like I will be rubbish company. Wish the cold would go away. I feel really fed up today.

I feel like I'm waiting for half term to start because I feel awful and I've been really skint the past few days.

I was really looking forward to the art class but not sure I'll feel up to it now. Also feel that people might be uncomfortable around me as I'm coughing so much. I've got my negative result on my phone

How is everyone doing?

Loki: Sorry to hear you're not well. Both physically and mentally. That's where I am, right now. Bloody colds and UTIs! I think you might enjoy the art class once you get into the swing of it. I would go and just see how I got on?

I am dreading work, tomorrow. I find it hard to breathe, when I am thinking about it. Especially after that massive blunder on Friday. I feel like never going in again... But I have to pay the bills.

Thanks DuckingMel. Hope work goes okay for you tomorrow.

Sorry to hear you’ve felt worse today loki, hope the cold goes away soon! IME day/night nurse has helped tremendously. Hope your UTI goes away soon mel

I stupidly told my colleague that I have anxiety now I’m fretting over whether she’d tell people or not! I do trust her and whatnot but I can’t believe I was so stupid. I made up an “excuse” as well but I forgot to fucking use it. Arghhhh!!! Cant believe myself

Also had the medication dosage increased.

loki I really hope you feel well enough for your art classes, it sounds alike a lovely thing to do. Can you inhale some vicks?
mel UTI - horrid. Poor you. I totally relate. When I'm relaxed with my work, my results are so much better than when I'm second guessing myself all the time. I hope you can be kind to yourself about the mistake - as you would be someone else I'm sure.

Sorry to hear others are suffering more too. I’ve looked out the window and seen a bit of sun so hoping it motivates me a bit to be more positive today.

The drawing I did this afternoon.

That's beautiful @Lokikitty.