Does anyone want an anxiety buddy?

[Imagineit]

I feel like I would benefit with having someone to chat to and I'm
Sure I can help someone else too as I'm normally pretty good at dealing with this stuff myself. Anyone want to buddy up to try to help one another through this difficult time

@Lokikitty how was your counselling? Mine was great I have the best counsellor ever who helps me put things into perspective.

I've had a better day, hoping for more of them.

My counsellor was very understanding. I felt better after talking to her. It does help to get someone else's perspective. Otherwise it just feels like I'm blowing things out of proportion.
Glad you've had a better day. I've had a good day too. I went for a walk and did some gardening. Then had a lazy evening watching Netflix 😊

Hi Shielding and imagineit , how are you both?

Hi @Lokikitty I had a good day yesterday but feel anxious today. Hopefully just a blip. I'm on day 9 of sertraline so hoping for my mood to stabilise soon. How are you?

I've been talking Mirtazapine for 16 days.
They don't have horrible side effects like other AD have tried.

Having a bad day today. Felt extremely exhausted after work yesterday. My head felt heavy and I felt really week. Had to take the day off today.
I phoned the doctors but just got told to get work to support me. Work won't support me at all. The receptionist did book a counselling session for me.
I just want to get better and return to work. Just don't know what to do. I feel awful.

What's making you anxious?💐

@Lokikitty that sounds tough I don't know much about that drug, how long for it to take full effect?

I'm not anxious about anything in particular, I just feel a bit crappy today, I think it's side effects from the tablets.

Hi everyone can I join too? I could have written your posts, it's shit, always hoping for a better day though, I've been on mirtzapine for about 9 months now after trying sertaline and citlopram, I find them to really help and make a difference within a couple of weeks. I was originally on 15mg now 45mg. I am still very anxious and have panic attacks but they do definitely make a difference. I've had propanolol but after a couple of bad weeks I have been prescribed diazepam. I'm trying to avoid taking them as have been told addictive and they've only given me a limited amount. Like you @Imagineit a lot of the time I feel like I need a hand hold to get thru the day, I try to go hour by hour. What counselling have you started? I've also a 3 year old as well as a teenager and I try to keep going for them and I don't want how I am to affect them xxx

Hi overtherainbow, I think the doctor will be increasing my Mirtazapine dosage in a couple of weeks. I'm on 15mg. I can take the propranolol as and when I need it. It has helped me.

Have you had a good day?

Imagineit- I was told Mirtazapine takes 4- 6 weeks to work. Sorry you're having a rubbish day 💐

@Lokikitty Yeah they put mine up slowly but warned and I've found to be the case that the higher dose doesn't help me sleep as much the lower ones which seems odd. I struggle to fall asleep and wake panicking so wish I could get something to help that, sometimes I just wish could be sedated all day as well!!
Today was up and down I didn't have a panic attack and I managed the day without diazepam but it just feels like every day is a battle to get thru without being overwhelmed or breaking down. I have plans with a friend for tomorrow so that will occupy my mind. What do you do to keep your mind busy and stop overthinking?
When do you take the proponlol? Just when you feel it coming on or regularly?

I try to keep busy with cooking, baking and painting.

What do you enjoy doing?

I take propranolol when I have physical symptoms of anxiety.

@Overtherainbow12 hi there. My mind doesn't race as much now I've increased my dose of sertraline. It's funny I've just realised that. Before increasing I couldn't sit still, I had to be occupied all the time and I didn't want to be alone. I'm better than that now but still not great. Tuesday was my best day but yesterday was harder.

My counsellor is fab, she's given me some self compassion workbooks to work on which is what I need as I am so awful to myself when I'm anxious- I feel
I should be able to do it and tell myself I'm a failure which is obviously not helpful!

Hope your meeting with your friend is ok, does she know about your mental health issues? Mine do thankfully and have been supportive.

@Lokikitty how are you today? Did you manage to rest last night?

Hi, I got some rest yesterday. I even managed a short walk later in the evening.

Glad your counselling is going well. The workbooks sound good. I've got a session tomorrow.

Hi all how are you getting on. A better day again for me. It's like climbing a staircase, everyday I take some steps up though sometimes I go back a bit too

I like that. It just feels like I can't get to the top of the staircase and there are too many obstacles. Glad you've had a better day. Finding it hard to focus. Hoping the weekend will get better.

@Lokikitty how are you doing on the meds? Have you needed to take much propranolol? I have diazepam for bad days. I take a half if it's a really bad day but luckily not had too many of those.

Hi, Mirtazapine hasn't started working get. The side effects that were helping me sleep have worn off. So back to poor sleep. Having need the propranolol.

Hi all, bad day for me today. DD back at school and struggling a lot. Teenage girls are so unbelievably mean. I'm so sad for her that I can't stop crying. I want to help her but I can't...

@Shieldingending that sounds so hard. Perhaps it'll get easier as the days go on?

@Lokikitty hoping those meds kick in soon

I'm thinking of going back to work tomorrow, but I'm sooooo nervous in case it's just all too much

Thank you imagineit, it's hard to see your child so upset and not be able to help . How are you feeling ? Do you think you will be able to go back to work? Lolikitty, I hope your meds are starting to help you?

Hi overtherainbow how's your day been? Good that you have joined us, not that I want other people to feel so ill but it makes me feel more normal that I'm not alone in this

Massive fail. I tried to go back in but barely slept and though I got in the door I couldn't do it

@Imagineit this is also something I would be interested in. I too am struggling big time with anxiety which seems to have worsened during lockdown. I don't have a great deal of support so find that difficult. I have an amazing therapist who I speak to weekly. I have also found things like colouring books amazing though it's just a little distraction

Hi @hippychick11 sorry you are suffering too. Are you on any meds?