Terrified

[inthewoods4]

Hi all, Christmas seems to be huge trigger for my anxiety, and last sat I was happily going about my day when I felt the dreaded wave wash over me. I tried to get on my my day, but that uneasy feeling was there and now I’m at the point where all joy has been sucked from my life, and I’m so down that I’m panicked about being stuck like this. I can’t focus on anything else so feel I’m trapped in my head. My CBT counsellor said this is the body trying to regulate itself after the anxiety, but has anyone experienced similar? I’m at breaking point.

What are you uneasy about?

I have no idea. Nothing obvious happened to trigger this, but I have quickly spiralled.

OK, but what thoughts are going through your mind? Can you articulate them?

I feel like there is no light in my life, that each day is a horribly difficult battle and that I will never feel better

@inthewoods4 sorry you are feeling this way. Remember Christmas is just a made up event, it’s a day like all the others - appreciate that doesn’t make it much easier.

Have you got someone to be with for it or is the trigger feeling alone for Christmas? It can be a really difficult time. Lots of people don’t like it at all they just aren’t as vocal.

It will also be over in a few days and you’ll have a year of being away from it ❤️

Thank you. I know it will pass, but it’s just so bleak at the moment. I’m not alone, I have my husband and kids, but not being able to be there for them like I usually am is making it all worse x

I get like this at Christmas too and I’m not really sure why. I’m also worse at weekends. I think I relax a bit with my routine and somehow it throws me off balance.

Until my late twenties I adored Christmas and everything about it. I could never understand how anyone couldn’t like it and now here I am a depressed, anxious mess!

Can you tell your husband how you feel? Sometimes sharing can make you feel less alone and then you only have to pretend to the kids.
What's the worst that you're imagining? Try rationalising by writing it down. Is it likely? Could you still survive if it happens?