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How do I stop this!

5 replies

KnotofAnxiety · 30/01/2022 21:05

I suffer with anxiety and for the most part it's well controlled without medication. I'm not adverse to taking some again but I've been off them for a good 2 years and I'm doing alright or am I? Which leads me to the point of this
When I'm having an anxious period I can be quite needy with regards to reassurance and I'll ask my partner if he's ok etc and look for any small things that seem off.
So for instance he'll say something that's a little stern and I'll take it extremely to heart and it'll really upset me. I then will become silent almost and feel like I darent make it worse. After a while I'd ask if he's ok and if he said "fine" id see this as he's not fine and is cross with me so I almost retreat into myself again which must look to him like I've got the hump with him ( god this is hard work)
We have talked about this and ive explained the way I am but I don't want this to be an issue still for me... so is this the anxiety making this happen?
I get all the physical symptoms too but it's this bloody cycle of over sensitivity that is wearing me down.
I did grow up with a parent who gave me the silent treatment alot so I've always assumed that's buggered me up as well
Any advice would be great
As an aside, I came off the meds as they'd worked to get me back feeling more even but I felt very flat on them. Just like I was drifting along not really feeling anything if that makes sense.
Anyways thank you in advance if you have gotten through my essay and have any advice for me

OP posts:
KnotofAnxiety · 31/01/2022 06:10

Giving this a bump

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KnotofAnxiety · 31/01/2022 12:03

Another bump 🤞

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KnotofAnxiety · 31/01/2022 19:12

Anyone?

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UsernameNotAvailableHmm · 02/02/2022 11:51

I can relate to this, your anxiety making you needing reassurance, which isn't always forthcoming in the way you wish it to be, then the ensuing stress it causes between you and your partner. What you've written reminds me of the years of anxiety I suffered. But how to stop this..

Well, for me there was no instant cure. I didn't take tablets, instead I had to force myself to think of something else, distract myself from how I was feeling. Be kind to yourself, make a list of things you're grateful for and concentrate on those things, remember a happy event, talk to yourself in a reassuring way (this one was very important for me - talking myself up), anything to stop the cycle of anxiety.

The anxious thoughts will keep coming back, so turn them around and think of something positive. It helps if you write the positive/distracting things down, so when you're in the middle of an anxious episode you can see the coping strategies written down, instead of desperately trying to think of them while your mind is wracked with anxiety.

Then do something nice. Listen to music, get some colouring pencils and one of those adult colouring in books. Go for a walk. These were head clearing strategies which worked for me, eventually. It took months of hard work.

I think (maybe from your partner's point of view) unless you've suffered with anxiety it is very hard to fully understand someone who does.

You could always go back on the tablets you took previously, as you say, you're not adverse to doing that.

KnotofAnxiety · 02/02/2022 17:40

Thank you so much for your reply. I've worked hard over a period of years to get to the stage I'm at.. using some of the methods you describe. It's like this last part is the hardest. Its very hard to get someone to understand anxiety and how it makes you feel. It's like my brain goes off on its own little journey of stress and all rational thoughts stop. I have had some success with not reacting immediately and stopping to think first so I guess it's just a process

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