Anxiety?

[Glitterballofdreams]

I’ll try to keep this short. I had a burn out due to my job and home life last year, I returned to work and then became so unwell with pain I ended up in hospital. I’ve had so many scans and tests done but they can’t find the cause of my abdominal pain. One scan did however pick up enlarged lymph nodes in my lung and I am waiting to be re-scanned.

I don’t normally suffer with anxiety, I did have pna with two of my children but that was short term.

Lately I feel like my chest is tight and heavy, and it doesn’t go away for hours. Most of the time I am ok, but other times I seem to struggle with being in pain and not knowing the cause.
Today has been particularly bad, as I handed my notice in to my employer. And I have felt anxious all day and about an hour I had a panic attack.

I don’t really want to go down the route of medication just yet as I don’t suffer daily.

Does anyone have any self help tips or advice? I have bought some Kalms and herbs tea.

In the short term, look up breathing strategies. I’ve forgotten the specific term but you actually want less oxygen in your body.

box breathing is part of this - but try to go as slowly as you possibly can. You’re aiming to bring your breathing rate down to as low as 6-10 breaths a minute. 5 is the magic number apparently.

nose breath during the day and night as much as possible.

Solidarity, it’s so hard

OP are you sure about giving notice to your employer? Would it not be better to speak to GP and get signed off sick for a couple of weeks?

Of you have health insurance at work it might be useful. Just make sure you aren’t having a knee jerk reaction.

I have been signed off by my doctor for almost 5 months. The job itself comes with so much pressure, hideous working hours. I have given this a lot of thought, for a long time and it’s time to move on.