topic Day to day struggles in Anxiety

Day to day struggles

YellowPoppy — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 22:00:05 GMT

Hi again,

Aside from my triggered anxiety, I feel a constant unease. It's so hard to be happy or even present in the moment because I feel this dread underneath the surface. I'm trying not to dwell but I don't feel anything else, just panic and dread.

The only thing that seems to bring me any relief is playing uno with my mum and/or my partner, but even then, the fun is clouded in this darkness.

I don't know if anyone can relate and if not well maybe someone else will find relief in playing uno.

Thanks for reading,

YellowPoppy

Day to day struggles

Ggrand — Sat, 27 Apr 2019 01:58:24 GMT

Hello YellowPoppy,

I can relate to your post a lot, I have very high anxiety along with a few other labels*...

Playing UNO is called distraction....I and others here distract ourselves from our negative thoughts by doing something that keeps our mind away from these thoughts...because our minds cannot think of two things at once when you play uno your thoughts are on the game and not your anxiety...it’s giving you a little mind holiday...

Theres different ways we can distract our thoughts, reading, knitting, hobbies etc...your doing a good job distracting yours with uno...well done...Yes after we finish our distraction our negatives may and usually do come back...

The more we do distraction tge more we can feast our mind from negatives....maybe there are other things you like to do as well, it’s just finding something that you really like to do when your negative thoughts/anxiety etc gets to much for you to manage...

Kind and caring thoughts..

Grandy..

Take care YellowPoppy...

Day to day struggles

YellowPoppy — Sat, 27 Apr 2019 02:07:31 GMT

Hi, thanks for replying.

My mind isn't distracted when I do different things. Right now, I can't seem to focus on any activities for long because my thoughts intrude and I start to panic.

I'm really really trying to get past this but I'm struggling so much

Day to day struggles

Ggrand — Sat, 27 Apr 2019 03:04:03 GMT

Hello YellowPoppy,

Im sorry your finding it so hard to distract yourself...I have C-PTSD and found like you I couldn’t distract myself when I went down with a trigger..it was near impossible to distract my thoughts...I found that with lots of practise that it started working..Your doing so well with distracting them with uno...Do you have anything at all that you like doing?..internet games, sewing, cooking, knitting,drawing, painting... hobbies that can help you?...I use candles a lot, and also instrumentals..I select one instrument and follow it right through which takes a lot of concerntration by me...

Can I ask you if you’ve spoken to your dr about your anxiety at all...if Not is is possible to do so?...Are you on medication?....

I do a lot of deep breathing when I feel a panick attack coming on..it also helps....

Theres a thread here called...”grounding what is it and how do we”...it’s all about grounding ourselves when we have high anxiety...all there a thread on mindfulness...That’s all about being mindful and living in the here and now..that’s called...”mindfulness even if you don’t know “...these threads could help you a bit....Maybe you could read and if you feel to ask questions or contribute to these threads....

kind thoughts,

Grandy....

Day to day struggles

YellowPoppy — Sat, 27 Apr 2019 03:34:42 GMT

Hi Grandy,

I find that almost everything triggers me right now so often distracting myself doesn't work.

I try to use grounding and mindfulness, sometimes they help sometimes they don't.

I am not on medication and would rather not go on medication until I have exhausted all possible options.

I have spoken to my gp and i have a mental health plan in action, waiting to hear back about an appointment with psych.

I have an overwhelm about death right now, it's all very muddled and confusing and I am trying not to focus on that but it comes up quite a few times a day.

I am having panic attacks 5 or 6 times a day, always worse at in the evening but I am sleeping through the night.

I'm just over all struggling at the moment

YellowPoppy

Day to day struggles

Ggrand — Sat, 27 Apr 2019 07:08:22 GMT

Hello YellowPoppy..

Its Hard when your triggered so easily...I’m the same..because of my life I can get triggered by simple household choirs, sweeping the floor, washing, washing up..I now do these jobs with my earphones in and music I know playing fairly loudly and I try really hard to focus on the music as I do what needs doing....

I didn’t want medication at all, then I didn’t want to live the way I was living for over 3 years..I tried the medication and haven’t looked back..it’s helping me so much...Medication isn’t for everyone..it’s our own choice when it comes to being medicated but I just wanted to share that with you...

My gp has helped me so much with mhc plans and a psychiatrist and psychologist in the past..Now our small town has no psychologist..and it’s something I’m missing very much and it’s starting to effect me not having someone to talk out my fearscwith..I hope your psychologist can help you with your health anxiety...

When you play uno with your mum or partner you say that it helps you, I’m very happy that it does....Is their other things you can do together with your mum and/or partner that you would also enjoy?...

I feel that grounding and being mindful are things that we need to practise daily it’s really hard to learn the technique of doing them...but over time we can get better at doing them...I practise both several times a day and I find that some days it works and other days it doesn’t....The days that they work are small victories for me...

I get panick attacks as well but not as many as you do..I’m so sorry you have so many per day...that would be so very hard to manage...have you spoken to your dr about them..and has your dr given you some ideas on managing them when they are happening to you...I usually need to deep breath to try to calm me down then to get my mind off what’s going on I do anything that I can with full concerntration needed..

Im sorry if I’m not much help for you..I don’t have health anxiety and I don’t fully understand what your going through...but I wanted to let you know that I do care about you and I’m here to listen and talk to you if that’s okay...

Kind thoughts..

Grandy.l

Day to day struggles

YellowPoppy — Sat, 27 Apr 2019 07:22:47 GMT

Hey Grandy,

I'm doing a bunch of different things to help me get through this and when I first spoke to my gp I was doing much better than I am now.

My mum did speak to an intake nurse at my psychologists office and told her what we've been doing to get through this and the nurse approved.

I am feeling a bit better now so it's getting easier to manage myself.

I'm not adverse to medication I just want to start with therapy and go from there.

Your posts have actually helped me allot, just to hash stuff out.

I'm sorry your missing the pysch appointments and I hope you find somewhere that can provide that soon.

Thank you so much and I wish you the best

YellowPoppy

Day to day struggles

YellowPoppy — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 01:41:46 GMT

Hi,

I'm really struggling with this heavy feeling, I have a tightness in my stomach and I can't shake this presence of doom or dread. I feel like crying most of the time and I'm still have anxiety attack 5 or so times a day.

I have a gp appointment on Wednesday with a new doctor cause my regular doctor isn't available for a few weeks. And I'm still waiting on a call from the intake service get a pysch appointment. I'm able to function, but barely and I just want to know if anyone has any advice or suggestions.

YellowPoppy

Day to day struggles

Ggrand — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 04:36:22 GMT

Hello YellowPoppy,

Sweety, I’m so very sorry your struggling so much...Cry if you feel to..let the tears fall fall...all of them...Tears are releasing the bands, your hurt from inside your soul...I’m holding your hands and not letting go..

This might seems silly, but it works for me..Take my hands..They are there in front of you..hold them and breathe with me....okay...come on a deep breathe in for 1-2-3-4-5....hold for 4...okay breathe out lowly saying R-E-L-A-X..keep doing this for a few times....

Try hard to refocus your thoughts as best you can....I know you’ve probably tried everything to calm you...I have for myself a grounding box...I get it out in times likevyour going through...mine has scented candles, my favourite CD, some photos of my children and pets, and some yummy sour candy.....While I watch the flames from the candle and getting the beautiful scent I’m listening to my favouraite cd..Simon and Garfunkel...bridge over troubled waters, I’m also tasting the sourness of tge candy....

Do you have a grounding box, or something you like to do to so you can redirect your thoughts...Our minds can only think on one thing at a time..please try hard to find something you can do to stop the anxiety thoughts....

Wednesday isn’t far away..I know it could seem like a week away for you at the moment...

Do you have any pets?...if so do you feel to tell me about them...or what kind of music do you like...I am a 6os.. 70s music fan, How about you?..

Im sitting next to you dear YellowPoppy...holding your hand and listening for you...I’m not going any where...here for you...

Kind thoughts,

Grandy...

Day to day struggles

YellowPoppy — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 04:58:27 GMT

Hi Grandy,

Thank you so much for your response.

I have grounding techniques that usually help. I'm not listening to music or watching anything right now cause Im so easily triggered.

I have a dog, her name is Lola, she's pretty adorable. But sometimes I get triggered by her when I'm in a bad place cause I don't think I gave her a good home (gotta love the anxiety intrusion)

As I said earlier I'm really struggling with death, and pretty much everything connected to it. I'm finding I can't look at anyone for too long cause then I start to think about there life and death. Its been quite difficult to get to a place where I can write this stuff down. And I am aware of that achievement but I'm still not in a good place and it's hard to feel anything positive.

Thank you for your kindness and for your guiding grounding practice, I really do appreciate your kind thoughts and words

YellowPoppy

Day to day struggles

YellowPoppy — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 05:00:09 GMT

Update: I have my first pysch appointment wednesday

Day to day struggles

Ggrand — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 05:23:01 GMT

That’s so good to hear that your first appointment with your psych will be the day after tomorrow....That’s not to far away...

Oh how lovely another fur mummy...Lola that’s a lovely name..I have 2 fur children..Kyla (mum)...Ebony (daughter)..I had dad as well..but unfortunately I had to find him anothervforever home..(reasons)....I’m sorry you feel triggered by your Lola.....Our pets have an unconditional love for us....which is so precious, and I believe that they can pick up on our moods and understand our emotions....I live alone and my two dogs are my reasons to get up of a morning...

I really don’t fully understand health anxiety but I do know that it would feel so real and scarey, I wish I understood more so I may be able to help you more....I feel just chatting is a very good distraction for us to help our anxiety disappear for a little while....

I live in a tiny isolated village in the central west of nsw..Not many people in my village under 200..Drs, shops, services are just over 30 kms from me,,,but that a small country town, no clothes, shoes, department stores, etc, just basic shops for food...It’s 70 kilometre to a city town with those amenities....I’m fairly isolated here...Our psych left at Christmas and no one wants to work in the country town...it’s hard without a psych...I feel sorry for my gp I Sometimes offload onto her.....

Im pleased that you can write it down..,it takes a lot of courage to do that...Well done..

Do you have any plans for tomorrow at all to keep you busy?...

Here for you YP...if you feel to talk..

kind thoughts and hugs...if you’re a hugger..🤗..

Grandy

Day to day struggles

YellowPoppy — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 05:35:25 GMT

Hi Grandy,

I don't think I have health anxiety. My fixation at the moment is about losing my mum (in 30/40 yrs) and that then I'll be alone. I have other family and I have a partner but right now I don't feel close to anyone except my mum.

I have to write up a back history for my psychologist because I can't speak about it right now.

I guess this is so severe because this isn't an irrational fear, everyone dies, so it's harder to get passed

YellowPoppy

Day to day struggles

Ggrand — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 07:12:58 GMT

Hi YellowPoppy,

I really don’t know what to say to help you..but I’m here to listen and try to support you...You sound such a caring and beautiful person YellowPoppy.🤗..

I think that worrying about your mother is taking away a lot of your enjoyment you are having being with her..Do you feel worried when your with her or is it when you are apart..

Have you spoken to your mum about your fears for her? ...

I had sort of the same fear when my children were away from me..at friends places, riding their bikes etc....when they got home the relief I felt was unreal....I think we all hold this fear in us for others...and it’s hard to dismiss these feelings..I’m just wondering if something triggered these feeling inside you..only answer If you feel want to..there’s no pressure here at all...

Thats a good idea to write out a back history for you psych..Please if you can also write out your present thoughts and fears....it makes it easier for us...it did for me...I hope it will for you as well...

Not much longer to go...until Wednesday....

Kind thoughts..🤗.

Grandy...

Day to day struggles

YellowPoppy — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 07:33:52 GMT

Hi Grandy,

It's an on going gear that comes in panic attacks throughout the day.
My mum is a big part of the process which sometimes makes it worse cause I start to think 'what would happen if she weren't here' I haven't left her side since Easter.

It's okay, I'm jot expecting anyone to fix me on this forum, I just didn't have anyone else to talk to. And felt like I needed to find someone who could relate, even if it's just a little bit.

I know that this worry is taking away from my present life but it is so extensive that I can't manage it on my own.

And on top of all this I feel like my relationship with my partner is suffering. And I know he is so supportive and understanding but I can't communicate with him at the moment. And iv told him that. He also knows my user name on here and I told him he can read my posts to gain an understanding of what I'm experiencing

Day to day struggles

YellowPoppy — Mon, 06 May 2019 00:10:29 GMT

Hi I'm struggling with my emotions right now.

I can't distinguish how I feel about other people. And I keep telling myself not to put pressure on myself and that I need to take my time to figure out what going on. But I get so frustrated with it. Because I don't know how I feel and if I don't know how I feel how am I meant to sort anything out emotionally.

YP

Day to day struggles

Katyonthehamsterwheel — Mon, 06 May 2019 10:15:17 GMT

Hi there

How did your psych appointment go? Have you got another one coming up? Hopefully you can work on some techniques together that help get things a bit under control for you. I think I understand what you're saying about not knowing how you feel. I often think I don't "know" anything and that nothing makes sense. This is usually a peak anxiety period and it dissipates somewhat. Sometimes I have great clarity but it never lasts. I'm sorry you're going through this. I've been using meditation today (an app) to calm my mind. It's helped a bit. Perhaps that's something you could try?

Day to day struggles

YellowPoppy — Mon, 06 May 2019 10:23:29 GMT

Hi,

I have three appointments booked. It went well, I almost bolted when I first got in, but mum was able to calm me down and the pysch was really understanding and I was able to talk to her. I am keen to go again. And I really think it helped. I had been waiting for about a month to see her so there was allot of build up and I think finally seeing her helped dissipate some of my anxiety, mainly the panic attacks, but I still struggle day to day.
Ive tried using apps for meditation or grounding exercises and I find that they don't help me much. Thankfully I have a good support network which gets me through the tough times. Don't know what I'd do without them.

Thanks for posting!

YP