Anxiety

[Jennifer12309]

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone else had experience of anxiety and if they had any magic cures!

I've always been an anxious person, up until now I've been able to cope / manage living with it but I've found that my anxiety is creeping up on me more often. I never used to get physical symptoms as such, but now my heart feels like its constantly beating far too fast and my stomach is constantly in knots. People are starting to see it in me too, my husband shouted that he can't cope any more with me and my anxiety. To be honest, I don't really blame him, it can't be that much fun to live with someone like me who constantly worries about everything.

It's silly, I obsess over the most trivial of situations, I play the worst case scenario out in my head and I know I go on and on about it to my partner and family. It's like I need constant reassurance that everything will be OK, it's not healthy I know. It isn't even any specific situation or thing, it can literally be something so, so tiny that I make into massive situation. I am really trying to pretend all is ok and refrain from talking about my anxiety as it only causes more problems but it's getting worse. I really don't want to see a GP and waste their time, especially at the moment when they have more important things to deal with. Does anyone have anything that helps them that might be useful?

Thanks

I've suffered from low self esteem/anxiety/stress/mild depressive episodes (who really knows what to call it) since like forever (I'm late 40s now).
I did CBT years ago... then a psychiatrist, then CBT again then antidepressants, then off antidepressants, then more CBT and back on antidepressants.
I think my mind is just wired a bit different (adhd?) and the antidepressants allow me to function more smoothly. CBT I thought was pants but it slowly sinks in and makes sense.

Speak to a dr!! I've literally just finished a bout of CBT. Get some help. Even making a move to get help and tell yourself "yup I'm anxious but this is how ill cope" will help you. More of us are anxious than you might think!
X

Thank you, I am anxious even going to the doctor (the irony hey). I think I've lived with it so long, I feel like it's embedded in me.

It's now it's impacting everyone around me that I feel I should really try and do something to make everyone's life a bit better. I am so on edge and so worried all the time, I can't remember the last time I wasn't worried!

Easier said than done I know. It might help to literally write it down and read it out (as you'll probably get a phone call appointment at first)
"This is my issue...
It's affecting my day to day functioning....
I want to try deal with it before it gets even worse...."
They should get you to answer a series of questions too "on a scale of 1-10" type stuff.
Any medication seems to be offered after exploring other avenues and you may be adverse to this anyway, but don't dismiss it out of hand. It can often be a long and frustrating process but do try hang in there.
You'll also get generic "do exercise, eat well, find time for yourself and do what makes you happy" advice too. I'm at the stage I can say "yup I know but if I could do that I wouldn't call you".
But... it does help but only when you've had the extra support you need to get you in the place to do it. A reset to get you started and then work to get you better is what you need. Like a cast on a broken leg let's it heal and then you can work on making it stronger once it's recovered.
X

Ring your GP or seek other help. This statement 'I really don't want to see a GP and waste their time, especially at the moment when they have more important things to deal with.' is completely way off. You are important, your mind seems to be intent on telling you you are not so prove it wrong and go and seek help. You appear to have enough insight to see that this is ruining day to day life.

TATT

You might find this video useful - it explains in great detail what happens in your body when you are frightened or stressed.

Also, when you have a terrifying thought, stop and write it down rather than letting it swirl around you head and take you into a downward spiral. Thoughts are not facts - they are simply random ideas that pop into your head. You can't control how they occur but you CAN control what you do with them.

A thought record can help you put your thoughts "on trial" to decide whether they are true or false. It's time consuming at first but it will help you to be more rational and reasoned in your thinking.

www.getselfhelp.co.uk/docs/ThoughtRecordSheet7.pdf

Finally you could check your cognitive distortions to see how your thinking style is skewed and how to tackle the negative thoughts before they derail you.

arfamiliesfirst.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Cognitive-Distortions.pdf

Thank you everyone for spending the time to reply. It is all really useful. I know I really should see someone/ talk to someone. Life can't go on like it is, it's not fair on everyone around me.

Thank you all x

Hi Op

I'm also anxious about contacting the dr. Once I was made an appointment about constipation and the act of phoning the surgery send me running to the toilet. GP thought it was hilarious and put me on laxatives.

Definitely contact your GP though. You won't be wasting their time.

I think like you I have also been anxious most of my life. I only recently realized. I have found medication very helpful. Read the page on the NHS website about SSRIs. My GP told me to read it before deciding whether to take them or not.

I imagine your GP will also refer you to CBT. It has been a very long wait for this - probably 7 or 8 months but I am finding it very helpful.

Another thing that both my GP and CBT therpist recommended was meditating with the Headspace app. I have found that absolutely brilliant.

How old are you?

Creeping intense anxiety was part of the menopause for me. I was really bad.

I was put on Venlafaxine after years of meds which didn’t work. It really transformed me.

Definitely call the go. I was anxious for years. And DH kept telling me to do just that. I wish I'd done it at his first suggestion. I'm on low dose meds and have done cbt, and it's definitely taken the edge off.