topic Advice on where to get help. in Anxiety

Advice on where to get help.

Damaged — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 06:39:42 GMT

Hi everyone. So I have had Social Anxiety for as long as I can remember really. I have tried a lot of treatment over the years though nothing has really worked for me long term. Though for the most part I am able to live my life in my routine without it affecting me too much. Until I have a social situation come up like a funeral for a family memberwhich I am facing this week. Since I have found out the news things have not gone well. I have not slept in 2 days, been throwing up and have found it hard to breathe. It is all I can think about. I have been through this before over the years and gotten through it. Though this time feels a lot worse. I am really worried I am going to have a panic attack on the day. I would really like to avoid going( which I know goes against what a therapist would advise) though I am at the point now where I am not really just not functioning. I have told a family member about it and they just said don't worry about it:) At this point I know this week is going to be rough. Though what kind of treatment do you advise I should be looking into. I just can't go through this again.

Thanks.

Advice on where to get help.

CalmCat — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 06:59:59 GMT

Hi Damaged,

Thank you being so brave and letting us know of the troubling time your having. Your taking the most important set in sharing your feelings with us for guidance - being open is so important.

You did mention that you don't want to see a mental health professional, but what about your GP? I think you'd have a great experiences in sharing your feelings with your GP, they could really help with your social anxiety.

Have you spoken to your GP about the way you've been feeling?

Let us know!

Regards,

Advice on where to get help.

Damaged — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 07:10:57 GMT

Hi, Calm Cat. I have not seen a GP about this lately. I have moved recently to a new area so still have not got a regular GP that I trust. Though I will try to look for one when this week is behind me.

Advice on where to get help.

Guest_1643 — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 07:34:29 GMT

Hi Damaged,

that is not good if it is causing such anxiety. In my own personal experienc,e I would avoid an event that made me feel that way, but I respect that everyone is different

Advice on where to get help.

Damaged — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 08:27:57 GMT

Thanks Sleepy, I have been told in therapy that exposing yourself to these things is the only way to move forward. Which I am sure works for some people though it has not at all for me. The build up before any event is just confidence destroying, regardless of the outcome. I think there are some people that think I am just lazy if I don't turn up and I don't want to let any one down. Though even family members that I am close to don't seem to have any idea of how out of control things have got. Even when I try to tell them.

Advice on where to get help.

Guest_1643 — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 09:00:38 GMT

Hey Damaged,

I have had similar experiences where something was making me so nervous - because I was scared that I was getting unwell (mentally) and didn't know if I could handle doing that thing when unwell.
So I had to cancel that. I would spiral for a few days before, wandering if I'd feel well enough to drive and get to an appointment, and I cancelled the appointment. I did that when it was something I could postpone easily. But I know we also need to fface our challenges in life so it's hard. Don't be too hard on ursef, would be my advice. Ur choices are good and okay, whatever u do.

Advice on where to get help.

Petal22 — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 10:44:26 GMT

Hi Damaged,

Sorry you have been feeling this way…..

I understand anxiety I had severe anxiety OCD I have now recovered from it thanks to the help of health professionals.

I highly recommend you see your gp let them know how you have been feeling and how anxiety is affecting your life…. You could do a mental health plan together this will give you access to a phycologist who can give you many strategies to help you to manage your anxiety….

im here to chat to you

Advice on where to get help.

Petal22 — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 11:31:17 GMT

If I can recover Damaged there is HOPE that you can aswell with the correct help…..

I’m here if you want to chat or have any questions in regards to the help I received and my recovery……….

You CAN live a full life……….. never give up hope………😊

Advice on where to get help.

Damaged — Wed, 23 Jun 2021 06:44:24 GMT

Thanks so much for your advice Petal22. I am going to search for a Gp as soon as this week is over. I kind think medication is the only thing that will help me out of this right now. I will post again later in the week and tell you how it went. If I don't have a total melt down. I have improved a little bit Today strangely enough, though still a long way from ok.

Advice on where to get help.

Petal22 — Wed, 23 Jun 2021 07:17:56 GMT

That’s ok damaged , I was put on a antidepressant to manage my anxiety it really helped………

i believe medication and therapy go hand in hand…….. doing both together I think will get great results….

Please don’t leave your gp appointment to long…. The sooner you can receive professional help the sooner you can recover….

I look forward to hearing back from you, I’m glad your symptoms have improved a little……

have you tried meditation?

im here to chat to you……

Advice on where to get help.

Damaged — Wed, 23 Jun 2021 07:38:56 GMT

Hey, I have done therapy before, and I found it helped in the short term. But GP will be my first stop. I have done meditation, and I have found it to be effective when things are going ok, though when it has got to this point, I am just struggling to breathe normally. Though I will try tonight.

Advice on where to get help.

Petal22 — Wed, 23 Jun 2021 07:45:50 GMT

Ok Damaged, all the best at your gp ….😊

hang in there your not alone

here to chat to you

Advice on where to get help.

David35 — Wed, 23 Jun 2021 11:32:28 GMT

This is just a personal story and it might be a disturbing, but I think it gets the point across. My dad, who passed away several years ago, had cancer. When he saw the eye specialist for a regular checkup, the doctor could see that the cancer which had originally been in his prostate, had spread to his brain. He could see the tumour on his optic nerve when he looked into his eyes. It was a very traumatic day because we (mum and I) knew he didn't have long to live. Anyway, my mother, had a checkup for glaucoma about a year later and I was very anxious leading up to the appointment. I had no idea why. I was edgy, irritable, etc. Once I got in there (I needed to drive my mother there), my anxiety subsided. I relaxed. I still didn't know why.

Looking back, I realised that my subconscious mind had associated the eye specialist's rooms with being told that a loved one was about to depart this world in a few months. It was just my subconscious mind playing tricks on me. That's why I was so scared of going back.

Having said all that, do you what you're comfortable with. If people care about you, they'll understand.

Advice on where to get help.

Damaged — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 08:22:14 GMT

Hi people. So the service was Today. I went and was very nervous, though managed to get through it. The fact we had to wear masks and social distance due to covid seamed to help a lot with the anxiety. It would have been a lot harder for me otherwise. When it was over it was a big relief, though then I started to feel silly for getting so worked up about it in the first place. This is pretty much the pattern of my anxiety, if that makes sense. The build up in my mind is usually worse than the event, and while I am aware of that it won't stop me from going down the same path the next time this kind of thing happens. So I am still planning on seeing a GP soon. Thanks to every one that posted.

Advice on where to get help.

Petal22 — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 08:27:23 GMT

Hi Damaged,

Well done on going to the service, you should be proud of yourself for defying your anxiety…

I know it’s hard to do that……. I’ve always done the opposite from what my anxiety was telling me because if we listen to it we only reinforce it….

Thats great you are going to see your gp, hopefully you can also learn some strategies to help you manage your anxiety…

Please let us know how you go 😊

Advice on where to get help.

Damaged — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 08:46:07 GMT

Thanks Petal. Trust me, I usually listen to my anxiety master. 🙂 I am glad I went though still feel don't feel like I made progress, Though at the end of the day it was a Funeral so it could just be that. Maybe I just need a good night sleep. Thanks for your input.

Advice on where to get help.

Petal22 — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 08:59:10 GMT

No worries damaged……. You have made progress with your anxiety by attending….

funerals are hard I’m sorry for your loss…..