Advice on what to do about anxiety / OCD

[nevertearusapart]

Turns out that I have extreme anxiety around my child’s health and cancer risk, it has deteriorated hugely this year. Just saw my GP and would really appreciate any advice if you have been here!

For background, the worries stretch from historical cancer risk (using scratched non-stick bakeware for years or inhaling concrete building dust), current (chemicals in sunscreen or vinyl in pencil cases) and future (no holidays due to mosquito diseases). With the most recent worry I was so so anxious, frozen with guilt, couldn’t focus and obsessively googled for days. FWIW no worries about anything else - money, job, relationship - all which are being impacted now.

After good advice from a recent thread, I went to my GP who gave options but left the decision to me

• HRT as probably peri-menopausal
• Anxiety meds which he is reluctant about as said it was long term
• CBT, exercise and vitamins (Menopace?)
• More sleep and ‘waiting it out’ for a few months

I’m not sure what to do so would appreciate experience from anyone who has been or is on this road! Feel so grateful for Mumsnet advice which got me to seek help so thank you all!

I think you need some anti anxiety medication if you don't mind taking medication and yes it can be long term but it improves your life long term as well.
My friend had similar spiralling anxiety around non existant work errors and it was ruining her life.
Few weeks on some medication and she said it changed her life so much she just doesn't obsess or fixate on anything anymore.
Not a massive dose but she is so much happier.
I really feel for you and things like no holidays due to worries about mosquitoes is just a shame.

@ilovebagpuss that’s such a positive story! Thank you

Sorry to hear this. It is so hard.
I have similar thoughts and was on sertraline (anti depression/ anxiety med) for a couple of years which helped. I came off last year as thought I could manage but the thoughts have come back so I am a couple of days into being back on them and am looking forward to the intrusive thoughts and catastrophising to go so I can hopefully start to enjoy life again without all of the worry and anxiety. The CBT etc could be done along side meds but personally that wasn’t enough for me as had tried it before going onto sertraline each time. How old are you? I mentioned HRT and had some blood tests done but all were apparently normal and GP said he thinks I am too young for HRT (38) and sertraline was best for now.

Thought id share my experience - I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety two years ago when my second child was 1 year old. I didn’t recognise that I had either but realised I was struggling following a traumatic event in my life (plus new baby!) and a friend recommended I do a self referral. Now I realise I’ve always had anxiety to a degree but it hadn’t always dominated my life.

I saw a counsellor weekly (privately) who did a mix of CBT and talking therapy, changed jobs to drop a day with counsellors support, started at the gym and exercising 4-5x a week, changed my diet. Did absolutely everything in my power to improve things for myself determined not to need meds.

All of that helped but a few weeks ago I realised I was struggling again and wanted to catch myself before I hit the downward spiral.

Been on 5mg escitropalm for about 2.5 weeks. The side effects are starting to subside and i am feeling SO much better. It’s like the noise in my head is calmed, I just feel more energised and awake. I still get anxious but it ebbs and flows. The baseline anxiety that came with daily life has subsided. It’s not totally life changing, it’s subtle but in all the right ways. I wish I had tried meds when I was at my lowest and not been so determined not to (ironically the thought of meds triggered my anxiety).

You might not be the same but I hope sharing that is helpful.

SSRIs to start and then CBT when available. HRT worth trying too.

@Namscape just turned 50 this year, no memo symptoms and normal bloods but, in reality, I must be hitting it! Good to hear that the meds work for you, heres hoping that they kick in again soon as it’s an awful way to live!

@SunQueen24 for some reason, DH is very anti meds. From yours and others experiences though, it seems to be the best way forward.

@pinkfleece I actually have the HRT oestrogen patches but haven’t had the courage to use them yet!