Anxiety after moving house

[IPartridge]

Wasn't sure which topic to post in...

I've suffered from really bad anxiety in the past, due to trauma caused by exh and subsequent divorce. Thought it was all in the past and I'd become really resilient but I've just moved house and it's resurfaced. It's horrendous.

I am permanently in a state of fear. I can't sleep or eat and feel almost paralysed at times, unable to do small tasks. I felt fine leading up to the move, just usual stress of sorting things out. It wasn't until I was in that it started.

The house is part unpacked, but not every room has boxes in and furniture that needs putting together or rearranging. I don't feel able to do anything.

I'm still on a very low dose of Sertraline but I think it's too low to have any effect now. I'm going to see GP about increasing it. I'm also on Hrt (I'm mid 50s)

I know I got better before but at the moment I feel like that can't possibly happen and I'm going to feel like this forever.

I'm not sure what I'm expecting from this post. Partly just to write it down and share. Maybe to hear that others have experienced similar and to give me hope.

I think it’s really normal to feel anxiety while trying to settle into a new house.

I love my current house but I still felt anxious the first few weeks of living here. It didn’t feel like mine and I kept expecting to get locked out for some reason. Plus it can feel overwhelming the amount of work that needs doing and things to organise.

I found it helped to get more boxes unpacked and also just be kind to yourself and accept that moving is a highly stressful process & it may only gradually start to feel like home. You’ve achieved a lot just to get to this point.

Thanks Twiglets.

I've moved house 6 times and didn't feel anything but excited the first few times. Last time I was in a really bad way as it was when I split up with ex and there was all sorts of horrible stuff going on. So it felt like the anxiety I felt was connected to that and not the new house.

I know people say it's a stressful experience but I thought that was all in the lead up to getting in.

Moving house is notoriously traumatic. Even people without anxiety issues can become poleaxed by it- the main thing to hang on to if you can is that it does usually fade with time. But do talk to your GP, you may need a bit more help while things settle down.
Best wishes.