Anxiety

[ginandnappies]

Hello hello :)

Sorry might be a long one!

I have suffered with anxiety for as long as I can remember. It's mostly health anxiety which over the past 5 years or so became consuming to the point where in 2018 I lost over 4 stone in about 5 months, I went down to 6 stone 2 (I'm 5 foot 5 so wasn't great) I was put on medication which helped massively, I also had counselling sessions.

Fast forward to the start of this year I decided i would try come off them, I've read lots of stories that this works for some but unfortunately it didn't for me. The past 3 months have been torture, I haven't been eating, not sleeping and being a shell of myself.

I was at the doctors this morning because I conceived I was seriously ill again, all seems fine but I got put back on my medication which is what I need. I cried uncontrollably while telling her how low I felt, how I'm not being a good mum, how I can't carry on waking up everyday feeling sick and exhausted.

Even though I'm going back in a few months to check the health issue (she said it's for my mind to be put to rest not because she's worried) I feel so much better already knowing I've spoken out loud about it to someone other than immediate family.

I don't really know why I'm posting this I just feel like I've wasted the past three months being a shell of myself, not enjoying time with my family and if someone reads this and decided enough is enough then I'll be over the moon.

Take care everyone xx

I have had anxiety since my teens, it really ramped up during menopause. In the end, I did not go down the medication route as my GP did not recommend it for me. I did use over- the- counter Kalms, if it got really bad. The most successful treatment I ever had was Hypnotherapy. Forget all the nonsense you see in Hollywood films re swinging pendulums etc. This treatment was the best thing I ever did, it is very expensive though and you have to find a reputable hypnotherapist. For me it was worth it. I was doing fine until the Pandemic, now I find everything stressful and worry constantly. Im going to try some of the mindfulness coping strategies my hypnotherapist taught me. Anxiety is such an underrated and forgotten aspect of mental health. I empathise with anyone who suffers like I do. I hope all on here find a way to manage with it or cope- it's not easy.

My mum has that and she said to really worked for her! It's definitely on my list to try. I'm just at the point now where I feel like nothing is working. I feel so stupid looking back at this thread I stated when I sounded so full of hope. My mind is just too strong and takes over :(

Gina- don't feel stupid. Apparently rates of anxiety and other mental health conditions have increased greatly. Look,after yourself.