Anxiety Advice

[letstrythatagain]

I've dealt with episodes of depression in the past although in recent years have been doing great, to the point where I've come off all anti depressants.

Recently though I've been hit by bouts of anxiety. I never in my life realised how completely debilitating it can be. The last week has been horrendous. I'm ok one minute and then all of a sudden find myself in complete panic to the point I almost want to curl up in a ball and shut down completely.

I'm 44 and have been told the it could be perimenopause.

Anyway, to my question. I've a fair few social events coming up and a lot to deal with in work. My brain is screaming at me to just shut down, stay inside and rest but a bigger part of me is sating that I need to fight through and get out there. How do I deal with this? What's the best way to handle this? Does anxiety pass with time?

Help 😣😣😣

I feel like you probably know best - is the social event going to give you more than it takes? Is it achievable on balance with other priorities? What are the key priorities at work and are you across / on top of them? Are areas of uncertainty / lack of clarity managed? Are there big things you've had to deal with this year that may be beckoning you to just take some time for yourself? More deeper, are there any unresolved issues that therapy might help with? Answering all of these can go a way to help with anxiety.

In terms of peri, I found the anxiety quite disabling. It got quite bad so I went back on a low dose antidepressant.

I also find magnesium glycinate really helps, especially with insomnia, plus regular weekly epsom salt bath soak. Other usual stuff like avoid too much sugar, gravitate towards nice people, sleep, eating green, taking vitamin D, using a SAD lamp.

I wouldn't say I have eradicated it, and I'm not even sure that the aim is to get rid of all anxious feelings (as it serves a purpose) but it's defo not debilitating.

Forgot to say, someone will be along to say have you tried HRT. I can't have HRT hence why I listed everything else!

@StudentDays thank you so much for your response. I have recently started taking HRT. Second patch on today. I'm hoping that will help but am wondering about going back on anti depressants to see if that would help.

I think your advice around really understanding my commitments is so true. At the moment they all just feel completely and utterly overwhelming. Tomorrow evening I am due out with two friends for an easy pub meal and drink. Yet the very thought of it is making my heart race. It's such a strange feeling.

Work has been a lot this year. I got a big promotion and that's amazing but all of a sudden it all feels too much. I'm completely overwhelmed. I think I need to write everything down and try and see the reality instead of what's going on in my head.