Anxiety help

[lozzapaloozza]

No it was so so helpful thank you so much omg yes over thinking absolutely EVERYTHING I can’t believe you are so confident in work that is so admirable Especially in such a people oriented job. But I am the exact same I stress going to a shop or post office or anywhere really in case I bump into someone I know and have to make awkward small talk which I am TERRIBLE at all I am thinking about it ways I can end the situation.

My life would honestly be so much better if I didn’t have social anxiety it is the one thing I would change about myself. It is honestly such a daily struggle and a constant battle

It’s mad isn’t it, it doesn’t make sense but that must mean something I guess I am the exact same I will literally do a 180 sometimes if I see someone I know especially if I don’t really like them! The only way I have got better is to do the things that make me anxious. For example for nearly two years now I’ve been going to a lash tech to get my lashes done so thats once every 2/3 weeks so I have got used to going now and it doesn’t make me anxious anymore as it’s more of a routine. I also try and push myself to go to the nearest shop by myself, just get a couple of things, not too much otherwise it can be overwhelming and come back. Or I get my boyfriend to come with me but he stays outside and I go in. Just try different little ways of beating it.

 

[Cupcakeapple]

It’s mad isn’t it, it doesn’t make sense but that must mean something I guess I am the exact same I will literally do a 180 sometimes if I see someone I know especially if I don’t really like them! The only way I have got better is to do the things that make me anxious. For example for nearly two years now I’ve been going to a lash tech to get my lashes done so thats once every 2/3 weeks so I have got used to going now and it doesn’t make me anxious anymore as it’s more of a routine. I also try and push myself to go to the nearest shop by myself, just get a couple of things, not too much otherwise it can be overwhelming and come back. Or I get my boyfriend to come with me but he stays outside and I go in. Just try different little ways of beating it.

thank you it’s such a horrible thing and it’s kind of embarassing to talk about because I’m afriad people will think im an odd ball. I’m a lot better than I was a year or two ago I went through a period of months where I wasn’t able to look people in the eye not even my own family. I couldn’t even walk down the street without getting panicked that everyone was staring at me. So silly when you think about it. I’m apprehensive because I don’t know if anti anxiety meds will help with the social anxiety but the doctor will hopefully let me know

 

[lozzapaloozza]

thank you it’s such a horrible thing and it’s kind of embarassing to talk about because I’m afriad people will think im an odd ball. I’m a lot better than I was a year or two ago I went through a period of months where I wasn’t able to look people in the eye not even my own family. I couldn’t even walk down the street without getting panicked that everyone was staring at me. So silly when you think about it. I’m apprehensive because I don’t know if anti anxiety meds will help with the social anxiety but the doctor will hopefully let me know

We can be oddballs together But I think alot of people are the same so you’re not alone! That’s an achievement in itself! Look how far you’ve come and it’s only going to get better!

 

[Cupcakeapple]

We can be oddballs together But I think alot of people are the same so you’re not alone! That’s an achievement in itself! Look how far you’ve come and it’s only going to get better!

thank you that makes me feel better I just wish i could get it under control a bit more and not stress out like crazy if I have to leave the house

 

[georgiecait]

Hello everyone, I hope you're ok and getting through at the moment I'd like a bit of advice if anyone's had these symptoms before.

I've suffered from anxiety for ~5-6 years with 2019 being the worst and most physical due to a break up. I'm currently anxious the moment I wake up where I have a base level of nerves all day and certain times it'll shoot up and be a pain in my chest, nausea and also loose bowels (need to be 100% honest here haha!). I know it's not a bug as it's only at random times in the day, for example right now I feel alright, just nerves.

Since around Christmas eve it's been like this every day and I'm constantly attached to a hot water bottle. Unfortunately this has happened before and is very physical anxiety, I reckon it's triggered by the impending UK lockdown measures to be heightened + going back to work today (dread!).

Does anyone else suffer from these physical aspects of anxiety/has medication helped? I've had CBT for about 5 months in 2019 and done the usual deep breathing, tea, hot presses etc. I'm very uneducated on anxiety medication and I'm wondering if it'll help reduce the physical aspects?

 

[lozzapaloozza]

https://www.whsmith.co.uk/products/...Vz-3tCh01dw4cEAQYASABEgL4sfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds for anyone suffering I highly recommend this book to the point I didn’t even need to finish the book it helped that much!

 

[Cupcakeapple]

Hello everyone, I hope you're ok and getting through at the moment I'd like a bit of advice if anyone's had these symptoms before.

I've suffered from anxiety for ~5-6 years with 2019 being the worst and most physical due to a break up. I'm currently anxious the moment I wake up where I have a base level of nerves all day and certain times it'll shoot up and be a pain in my chest, nausea and also loose bowels (need to be 100% honest here haha!). I know it's not a bug as it's only at random times in the day, for example right now I feel alright, just nerves.

Since around Christmas eve it's been like this every day and I'm constantly attached to a hot water bottle. Unfortunately this has happened before and is very physical anxiety, I reckon it's triggered by the impending UK lockdown measures to be heightened + going back to work today (dread!).

Does anyone else suffer from these physical aspects of anxiety/has medication helped? I've had CBT for about 5 months in 2019 and done the usual deep breathing, tea, hot presses etc. I'm very uneducated on anxiety medication and I'm wondering if it'll help reduce the physical aspects?

Oh my god yes 100%. I suffered with loose bowels all through my childhood and teens and I know looking back now it was 100% nerves and all in my head. I also get aches and pains in the muscles and shortness of breath. I also get bladder pain. It’s crazy how powerful your mind can be

 

[georgiecait]

Oh my god yes 100%. I suffered with loose bowels all through my childhood and teens and I know looking back now it was 100% nerves and all in my head. I also get aches and pains in the muscles and shortness of breath. I also get bladder pain. It’s crazy how powerful your mind can be

SAME! I hate that you've gone through that but it does make me feel a bit better that it's not just me. Did you do anything to ease the physical pains?

 

[Cupcakeapple]

SAME! I hate that you've gone through that but it does make me feel a bit better that it's not just me. Did you do anything to ease the physical pains?

no I never did when it comes I know it’s all in my head so I just have to ride the wave

 

[Saddlesoap]

I definitely get shortness of breath and a nervous cough. Not the best thing to suffer at the moment!

Don't suffer specifically with loose bowels, I fluctuate between that and constipation

 

[georgiecait]

no I never did when it comes I know it’s all in my head so I just have to ride the wave

Oh man, I guess it's the same here. I can never predict it so it's more of a reactive thing and you just have to grin and bear

 

[lozzapaloozza]

no I never did when it comes I know it’s all in my head so I just have to ride the wave

Ride the wave! I use that in my head all the time!

 

[Bexybest]

After a very unfortunate incident I developed severe anxiety that I was (just about) coping with a year later. Midway through lockdown I realised how awful my anxiety was and self referred for CBT. I also called the Dr who was super friendly and diagnosed me with PTSD and 10mg Citalopram, which I am still on now. Its a low dose so I didn't have any side effects or worsening symptoms at the beginning and BAM at week 5 I felt sooooo much better already. It was mad it was an overnight switch.

I am planning on coming off them soon but need to work out how to do it first.

Good luck.

 

[birdiefly246]

Fellow anxiety sufferer here! Had it since I was a young child. I've only tried fluoxetine for anxiety (have tried more than one anti depressant though). It didn't work at all for me. I've also been given propanol and then diazepam later on. Never tried the diazepam but the propanol did nothing.

I would say take it easy on yourself as you're living through a really anxiety inducing time. I don't know how your anxiety looks to you. So for me I struggle to leave the house for no reason, so I just try to do small things. Just a quick walk around the block, then pushing it further. I try to go out at least everyday cause I find that even one day in the house all day makes me anxious to leave the next day. Also happy music and exercise really helps me

 

[Lalisa_mb]

I’m going to be getting psychotherapy soon and I’m so excited, I really want to heal and be better. I deserve to be happy, feel safe at all times

 

[Reverend]

I have really bad anxiety and my meds have stopped working. I have been on the for nearly 10 years.

The worst thing about it for me is the thoughts that explode in my head like grenades. 'You are useless' , 'That typo will get you sacked', 'People at work hate you'. I would give anything to stop them and just ignore these things, not deal on typo's or minor things that other people will never think of again 24 hours later. I have had CBT, hypnotherapy or other counselling, but nothing seems to clear my head for long.

I do have some strategies to help myself cope, but the voices can really hurt and leave me feeling like a tiny doll. I am very lucky that I have an amazing g/f, very helpful boss, and the people I work with are very nice. I know I am paranoid, but I really can't help it.

 

[lozzapaloozza]

Just a quick one you beautiful lot, hope everyone is okay and here if anyone needs a vent/rant/witch

 

[Gloria Rostron]

I have suffered with bad anxiety since I was a child, but have always been apprehensive about medication. I have taken CB therapy before and learned some coping mechanisms that I found helpful. But since the last lockdown has started it’s gotten really bad. I wake up anxious straight away in the morning and it lasts all day. I’m considering going to the doctors and asking for medication but just want to know what people’s experiences have been on them?

Do seek medical advice. There are some great medications available. It's a cliche, but chamomile tea really is good for it too. Don't be hard on yourself about it. Try and find a calm place in your house, where you feel safest. Some people prefer dark rooms and some prefer rooms with curtains open that don't make them feel claustrophobic. Reading is good for anxiety, even reading this forum. If it makes you laugh, it releases endorphins which are a natural feel good.

 

[Platformcrocs]

Another person with anxiety here! I've not really spoken to anyone about it so here goes. I had a panic attack on the way back from a meeting with a colleague about 2 years ago. I don't know what brought it on but I'd never felt anything like it before and thought I was going to die, but also throw up and had an overwhelming need to use the bathroom. Not ideal when you're on a motorway lol. Thankfully my colleague was very understanding and we pulled into a service station and I calmed down.

Anyway, these panic attacks came and went. It got to the point where leaving the house (specifically when getting into the car) was an ordeal and the physical symptoms took over, needing the toilet etc. I somehow got it in my head that my stomach was the problem, and I wouldn't leave the house because what if I needed the toilet and couldn't find one. I became so hyper-aware of every body sensation so if I felt even the slightest pain in my stomach, nope, I wasn't leaving the house.

Since then I've done CBT which was a huge help, hypnotherapy too and I also take beta blockers for migraine prevention but it also helps with the physical symptoms. I realise it's all in my head. I also take CBD oil before I leave the house and I've found it to be very effective. Lockdown hasn't helped at all but I try to leave the house every day for a quick walk so it's not building up in my head. Sending good vibes to everyone who is struggling.

 

[GamerLlama87]

Hi all, I'm not a big poster here but I'm struggling tonight not even sure what I want to ask or if I want advice so I guess it is more of a vent.

So basically, I've suffered with anxiety for my whole life as long as I can remember. But due to it being belittled and brushed off from childhood by my father and my ex partner (I lived with my father til age 16 then my ex from 16-27), I honestly never really recognised my feelings as anxiety until around 5 years ago (I'm 32 now). My whole life, all I've been told is "just don't worry, you're fine, don't be silly, don't be daft, you're being ridiculous". About EVERYTHING. And my father always made me feel like everything I do has to be PERFECT and asking for help is a weakness. For example, as a kid, I couldn't ask him to help with spelling, he'd tell me that I know where the dictionary is. So I've always been scared to ask for help, or felt like I shouldn't ask for help because I should be able to do everything myself.

On top of all this, I also had a miscarriage last month which really shook me, plus a scan found other health issues in that area which will require surgery. My mind is going crazy every single day after this past month, as well as general Covid life affecting everything for the past year.

I've been off sick from work for 3 weeks and am due to go back tomorrow and I'm shitting myself. My work think very highly of me, not trying to toot my horn, but I know my manager likes me and thinks I'm a good worker (I'm an admin in a university clinical trials unit).

But I know that in the past couple of months, my performance has slipped a bit and I'm so scared I may have forgotten to do things or left a job too long by putting it off, and scared I'll get some sort of disciplinary tomorrow or something. I'm not sure anxiety is a reason to explain poor performance and slipping up.. it seems like a daft excuse and not good enough.