General support thread 2

[Helplessandheartbroke]

All welcome. No judgement and kindness all around x

I had health issues when mine were small too, they are now teens and fine, it will all be ok try not the beat yourself up about stuff you couldn't help.

I'm feeling guilty today too, I have not done anything for Christmas and feeling a bit of pressure.

Need to go out and collect my meds from the pharmacy, hope they have them in!

Struggling today, really anxious. have a tricky family situation with Christmas. No Contact with my mum, parents divorced, having MIL to stay for Christmas but only have a sofa for her (she's 81)
SIL doesn't want to see us as they lost their daughter a few years back and it is a difficult time. It's really hard isn't it. I kind of wish we didn't have it alt all really. But have two teens to keep going for.

@hk1993x you've come so far! Do the good days outweigh the bad now? It's a tough time of year so give yourself a break x

@2in2022twoyearson hello and welcome. You mentioned you've had some proud parenting moments recently. Remember that. We all have guilt over past mistakes but there's nothing we can do about them and we're only human. None of us are infallible x

@Orangesandlemons77 will one of the teens give their grandma a bed for the night? Your poor SIL that's rough. Hope you're all ok x

Thanks, yes. The proud moment was noticing something had upset my daughter at school when I collected her. she was stroppy and she's not one to share much with me but I got the story out of her and she cried a bit then the was back to her happy self.

I agree - my kids are teens and they’ve seen me at my worst (crying etc ) I feel bad for this but I’m a human .
As for Xmas , I’m going to buy two large gift bags and put the presents in these (one each child )
Lazy , maybe - but it’s recycling as they can be used again next year !

I'm not having any good days just now 🥹🥹

I'm so disappointed. I've been doing so well for a good while and suddenly the anxiety is back and the intrusive thoughts are banging away again. I'm sure it has to do with being ill with a virus atm and having had a xmas party night last week so to much alcohol which is never good for anxiety. After being so ill last year any uptick in symptoms does scare me.

@Ilovedogs1 just remember it’s just a blip, just because the anxiety has returned doesn’t mean it’s here to stay, ride it out and hopefully it will pass.

so sorry you’re still in such a bad way @hk1993x is ur husband still being supportive?

sending virtual hugs to everyone, tomorrow is a new day xx

Yeah luckily he is my rock, i got off the phone with my mental health nurse and need to wait till the 7th of January to see the psych, if I get any worse I need to go to A&E so we just gotta survive till then 🥹

@Whycantgiraffesdance thank you for your reply. Looking back through the thread I see we both took a dip back in September.

I know we're not alone and there are plenty of people suffering out there but sometimes it just feels like I'm such a freak.
When my anxiety is bad I'm thinking about it, when I'm OK I'm worrying about when will be the next time I'm not. No matter what, anxiety is always on my mind in one way or another. I struggle with self confidence and I'm riddled with self doubt constantly.
I know I'm supposed to sit with the way I feel right now but that is so hard especially being Christmas when you feel like you should be all happy etc.
Just feeling down and having a bit of a cry atm.
Also @hk1993x you should be so proud of yourself. You've been struggling for so long and your still fighting. X

I can relate @Ilovedogs1 even when I’m doing well anxiety is still lurking in the background, I still silently fight hard to keep it at bay! And just because it’s Christmas doesn’t mean u have to feel happy, do whatever feels right for u. Can u snuggle up under a blanket and watch something Christmassy?

@hk1993x does anything make u feel even slightly better? You’ve done so well to carry on for so long feeling like u do, I wish we could wave a magic wand and take away the pain for you 🥺

how is everyone else today, very rainy and miserable in the south east today x

I'm doing good today. Pretty exhausted.We watched a nice Christmas show

Sorry to hear you are unwell - I also have a nasty cOld / cough and shivers (caught from son)
The day has been unproductive as just needed rest on the sofa in and out of sleep .
It has made me feel weepy too .

I'm so scared. My anxiety is through the roof, I've not slept properly for a few days because I'm so anxious. My intrusive thoughts are terrible. I'm trying to implement the tools I've been taught in therapy but I feel so down.
I was doing really well just over a week ago!!
The thoughts and scenarios my mind comes up with are awful.
I can't go back to how ill I was last year I just can't do it again. X

@Ilovedogs1 have you ever had medication for anxiety. I was prescribed qutiapine years ago when my anxiety was the worst. It really helped, especially with sleep. Ironically though, I was anxious about being on medication and potential long term effects so was only on it for 6 months. I know if CBT type strategies don't work I can ask the GP for a prescription.

@2in2022twoyearson thanks for your reply. Yeah I'm on Fluoxetine and quetiapine atm.
I was on Sertraline before that. X

I'm similar atm, I am on fluoxetine and olanzapine. I think it is the stress making it worse.

Am just lying listening to some music on the calm app with my eyes closed, quite shaky too. Had a shop bought sandwich and might get a hot water bottle maybe that will help with the shakiness.

I went and drank some wine couple of days ago and feeling the effects of that I think. It doesn't agree with me at present.

@Orangesandlemons77 I try not to drink to much as it's just not good with anxiety is it.
But I went on a xmas party night out last weekend, drank to much, then picked up a bug and my MH has been in shreds since.
I'm not sleeping well and have no appetite. Was having a good recovery from a massive breakdown last year now I'm so scared of being that ill again. 😫

Thing is getting scared can make it worse can't it, it is difficult to try and calm down though but it can help a bit I think. is there something peaceful you can do amidst the Christmas stuff perhaps. thinking of you x

I think as you say the physical stuff can stress us out and make the mental stuff worse unfortunately.

@Ilovedogs1 i know it’s soo hard to not think you are going to go back to square one when you get a dip in mood but it’s probably just that, a dip. I was doing really well a few months back and then suddenly felt awful again and I was convinced I was getting really ‘ill’ again but it did pass and I’m doing ok again. I really hope that’s the case for you too lovely. Xxx

Hi ladies

Sorry I've not been on. Little one is poorly now. Croup again! @Ilovedogs1 it's a dip at the most stressful time of year. Be kind to yourself. Can you have a nice long walk with the dogs tomorrow? Weather dependent of course. The NW has been shocking today!

Hope everyone else is doing ok. I'm exhausted after me being poorly and now looking after a poorly ds so going bed now but will check in tomorrow.

Sending hugs x

I slept till 1pm today. Thought it was about 10am!

@Orangesandlemons77 you must of needed it. How's the anxiety today?