Can anyone help with tips to separate physical and mental health?

[50notNifty]

I have a host of low level health conditions which mainly tick away manageably, but I'm not the person I used to be because of them. It gets me down, but as I say i normally tick along ok and can more or less forget about them.
However every now and then I get quite physically unwell, and I've found it just sends me into a massive spiral of panic.
I worry I wont be able to keep working, normal everyday worries and stresses seem insurmountable and I just generally can't cope.
I'm unwell just now and feel awful, crying randomly and cant see an end in sight. The unpredictable nature of my health means that I might be fine in a few days, or this could knock me for months
The guilt is horrible as I can't deal with my kids properly when I'm like this and they have to miss out on stuff (I'm on my own with them). Friends and family are kind but not practically supportive, they just say things like rest up, take it easy, which i can't really do, and I know that makes me more ill.
I just hate the feeling of absolute despair. I wish I could just get unwell like a normal person! Can anyone identify or offer suggestions?

Honestly I can’t really think of how to help but having read your post, I couldn’t just walk away. Everything sounds awful for you and I really feel for you. The best I can come up with is to suggest you see your GP. I think you’re depressed, so perhaps some antidepressants and talking to someone might help. In my experience mental and physical health are absolutely linked and it’s not possible to separate them. 💐

Can I ask what the low level conditions are? Because it sounds like normal flare ups of chronic conditions, they tend to ebb and flow? I have fibromyalgia and IBS - both of which are either "in flare" or "low level manageable" - neither ever fully gone. And when I'm in flare, my mental health also suffers, anxiety increases to panic attacks etc. I have propranolol to use as and when for this along with being on citalopram. I'm lucky that I have my DH so when I'm bad he takes over as much as he can though he works full time. I did have to come out of work because of these conditions as I just physically couldn't work during the flares and they're highly unpredictable.

Thank you both!
@Realisation14it's a similar sort of thing...I didn't realise you could take meds like that short term, I will ask about that.
Unfortunately my kids dad left, my illness contributed to that, so no one to take over and I need to keep working

@Minnowsmousethank you

Yes propanolol is only not recommended for people with asthma, low blood pressure or low heart rates - everyone else should be okay to have them, they are a beta blocker, they don't stop the mental side of the anxiety but they help the physical symptoms, sweating, heart racing, shaking etc.

Thank you thats so helpful!

CBT for anxiety would be incredibly helpful for you - in order to recognise the beginnings of rumination and catastrophisation, and how to challenge these using specific tools and exercises.

Your local NHS Talking Therapies service will offer CBT, and many of them offer specific psychological interventions around living with chronic physical conditions - which I think would be ideal for you.

You can self-refer to your local NHS Talking Therapies. If you have a little Google it should pop up. There’s usually an online referral form, or a phone number. They’re lovely, and will know exactly what questions to ask and what support will be helpful.

Sending hugs 🌷 x

I can identify, OP. I will reply properly in a bit, just finishing breakfast and starting work but i send huge empathy. I've been having panic attacks over getting minor issues like gum pain and ingrown toenail pain (I know, not exactly anything serious!) but I do have a chronic serious neurological involuntary movement disorder which is something that does really upset me, so I think it's all part of that psychologically.

Will reply again after I've started work in a bit 💕