urgent: mental health advice

[rainbow1230]

Hi, I just want to say first of all that im not a mum, Im sorry if this is the wrong place to post this but ive seen some really great advice given on here so thought i'd try. First of all, a bit about me, im 22 years old, and work at a special needs school. I lost my mum this year and live with my dad and pets. For the past couple of months, ive been facing some mental health issues. Almost 24/7 I feel down, and I am struggling to relax, watch tv and focus on things. I struggle with getting to sleep, which is another change as I have always had a great sleep routine. I am barely eating, just having something small and snacky for tea as I dont feel up to it at other times throughout the day. I am also struggling with anxiety, it comes randomly, wether school holidays, the weekend or mid-week. And when it does come i find myself going dizzy, feeling sick and having to pace around for 20 minutes or so until it goes. This happens every day at random points throughout the day- there doesnt appear to be a trigger. I finally felt confident enough to ring my GP last night, I waited two hours to speak to a receptionist, who made a telephone appointment for today. I left work for an hour, and waited for the call. The doctor went through a series of questions, and then told me that he thinks this is "affecting my life significantly", which I must agree. He gave me a crisis number for emergencies, and told me to refer myself to CBT therapy. I have done this and they are going to get back to me in 28 days, Also they are only open monday-friday 9-5, which is the same hours i work! I dont think this will be suitable for me, as I cant leave work every week for this and dont think I can wait that long. I am so fed up of feeling down, bursting into tears and feeling anxious. I think some form of medication would help, even a weak dose, as this can be started now, and should help me feel better. Im not suicidal, or self harming, but I believe that the waiting around/ lack of action may make me this way. Please can someone advise me, should i go back to doctors or just suck it up and wait and try CBT (if i can get it to fit within my work hours)? Also, MIND are ringing me tomorrow, as per the drs request. Can they do anything i.e medication wise, or will it just be about giving me mindfulness exercises as I have honestly tried everything in the book before ringing drs, which was my last hope.

I'm so sorry OP, both for your mum passing and for the way you are feeling.

Is your GP still open? I would call the GP back and get anti-depressants. Bear in mind that the anti-depressants will take a couple of weeks to kick in.
But even if the crisis line people get back to you in 28 days you might not get an appointment straight away. If you've already been feeling this way for the past couple of months, I'd start medication.

thankyou, i just wanted someone else's opinion! Ill ring them in morning

No problem. I've been in a similar position in relation to anxiety, not sleeping, not feeling like eating (to the point where I lost 10% of my already low body weight and my BMI was unhealthily low).
Two tips.
1- You need to eat. I was more prone to anxiety when I was hungry. Could you try and eat more at tea rather than just a small snack? If you can't eat at other times of the day, your only meal should be large.
2- Long deep breathing helps me with anxiety and when I can't sleep. Focus on your breath coming in and out of your nose. If you start thinking of something else, just keep bringing your attention back to your breath.

Let us know how you get on tomorrow

I’m very sorry about your mum OP and the way you are feeling. May I ask if your feelings are a bit all over the place and sometimes you feel like a caged animal? When I suffered with depression and anxiety that’s what I likened it to. I would pace the kitchen floor, back and forth, back and forth. Unable to settle, almost like I was having a panic attack. Alongside this, I’d walk into a room that needed decluttering and utterly, utterly panic. Couldn’t face starting it, couldn’t “see” what needed doing so would leave empty handed and feeling even more panicked and commence pacing again.
I’m only sharing this experience because I don’t want you to feel alone. I tried everything they threw at me but in the end what helped was Sertraline. It takes a while for it to kick in and the first week was even worse (sorry), but I got through it in the end. Do you have someone you can speak to who is a good support?

Thankyou, I will do. Im going to try and take a lot of snacks to work so i can snack throughout the day too. I also think im overdoing it on coffee, ive gone from having 1 cup in a morning to 4-5 in a morning, so going to try and cut that out too

Yes thats exactly how i feel, I am all over the place and it can change within seconds. Theres no warning or reason for it. The pacing is stressful, as its not something I can really stop, but also not something i can do at work. Thankyou, I need to ring drs back tomorrow and ask about medication.

I am really sorry that you have to go through a very tough time. One of my friends is also in such kind of situation. He uses CBT Worksheets which helps him a lot to get out of the CBT work

So sorry to hear this OP.
I had CBT therapy via the phone when I was pregnant with DS in 2020 (anxiety was related to pregnancy specifically). The service I self referred to called me for an initial consultation and then I agreed a recurring day and time each week - think it was a 12 weeks course in total. Though this time was during my working day I was able to schedule it at a time where I would typically be on lunch and I put it in my calendar as a private appointment so no one booked over it, etc. You dont mention your nature of work, but are you in a position to do something like this?

If not, could you have a chat with your line manager or HR to explain the situation and they should hopefully help you and accommodate this recurring appointment. Any decent employer would rather their staff get the support they feel they need, than you not getting help and ultimately possibly ending up being signed off work, etc.

Hope that helps x