Close to burn out.. again

[Unsureurchin]

I was off work around this time last year for depression and my antidepressants kick started the worst anxiety I've ever had (I've suffered mainly with anxiety in the past, had 2 rememberable periods of it) which resulted in me taking 3 months off work/ phased return.

I've been on fluoxetine ever since and had psychotherapy. I felt much happier/ calm in life. I've stopped therapy and I'm slowly tapering off the meds. However the last 2 weeks I've felt really low and closer to burnout again. I'm so worried I'm going to end back up where I was. I can't take anymore sick leave at work, but I can't remember how to help myself get back out of this constant state of panic I'm in. I wake up in a cold sweat, I dread my kids getting home from childcare/ school as the noise really overwhelms me. I have been cancelling plans/ avoiding friends. I know I need to take baby steps to survive/ feel better but I don't know how to begin

Why are you tapering off the meds?

Can you remember when/why the original bout of anxiety happened? Dealing with the root cause is the best way of resolving it permanently.

Focus on physical things you can do to calm down eg deep breathing, meditation, movement (walking outdoors, yoga). This will help you calm down and gain some perspective - it’s natural to have these thoughts and worry that history will repeat but now you have the knowledge that you’ve overcome it before and can do it again. What helped last time?

@Notmyrealname22 my doctor suggested it was time and it felt right.

@Eyesopenwideawake not really. I know public transport used to be a trigger. And work stress. I did CBT and it helped me understand myself better. But there's no key trigger this time really.

@Lighttodark thank you that's helpful. I've been trying to remember what helped last time.

Do you think you are coming off the meds too quickly or too soon?
I was on 50.mg sertraline for years, after about ten my GO suggested I reduced it and came off, it kickstarted 5 years of the worst MH I have ever had.
I no longer work, am agoraphobic. I have been sectioned multiple times. I’ve been psychotic. It’s honestly been awful. I wish I’d never come off them.