Adjustment, health anxiety. Help!

[sharpie2]

Hey guys,

I'm a 23 year old mate fit, generally healthy and new to this forum, so hello to you all. The past 4 months have been different for me, after I was told that I was being made redundant at my old job. Sure enough when you think of the potential consequences of redundancy, you get anxious, feel hopeless and de-motivated. Anyway, the days and weeks after this moment brought me light headedness, muscle vibrations/twitches, pins and needles in my body, and brain fog/spaced out, tinnitus as well? Yep. It's almost like it all snuck up on me! I broke down about it one night. I then noticed that this worry affected me on the soccer field as well, didn't want to make that 5 extra metres for a slide tackle, shortness of breath etc. I was worried (love a good bit of health anxiety after a friend of mine died of brain cancer earlier this year) so went to my GP, had blood tests done, all clear, then he diagnosed me with mild depression and anxiety, referring me to a psychologist in the process. It took me 2 months to have the balls to see a psychologist, and in the mean time I couldn't help myself with Dr Google (which you guys talk about a lot) I've stressed over life threatening illnesses and debilitating diseases. Bare in mind I'm a great eater and a good exerciser. Psychology helped me a lot, he said I had a bit of adjustment disorder, and also he went about changing my thought processes with my ill health obsession. I started feeling better and felt confident in managing it. I also started taking b complex and fish oil caps to boost energy levels at work, because some days I just could not function. I felt great for 2 weeks, been playing my soccer as normal, going out etc and enjoying myself. Recently my symptoms have come back and also I've had tightness in the front of my neck, shaky, weak, fatigued, naturally I think thyroid issues or lymphoma etc and my mind is in overdrive! So I started stressing over them and bang I'm off to the GP tomorrow again to discuss it. Can anyone relate to this? Sorry for the rant but I feel better putting this out there!

[Wanderlust123]

Hi Sharpie,

I am relieved I am not the only one struggling on the weekends - I was starting to feel crazy for dreading the weekends if I didn't have plans. I've been feeling my anxiety increase over the weekend just with the whole adjustment of weekends becoming a time to relax instead of work. I think to myself "So how do normal people spend their weekends?" and I start overthinking, comparing myself to other people's exciting weekends, and I would feel jealous if somebody I knew was out having a good time with their friends. I used to really enjoy my days off from work but it all feels so different now, especially as people at work will tell you about their amazing plans for the weekend (it almost feels like a competition for who has the best weekend). Anyways, I am trying to reduce these negative thoughts and enjoy spending time by myself just as much as having plans.

Thanks for sharing the apps with me, I will check out Smiling Mind too.

[sharpie2]

Hey Wanderlust,

I had the same problem when I first started working full time about 18 months ago. Prior to working full time I used to study during the week and work at a supermarket on the weekends and that was pretty well my routine.

I used to sit back and think what the hell am I meant to do with myself on the weekends? Being a soccer player I always have a game to prepare for on a Saturday afternoon in the winter season but other than that I'm a bit lost, unless ofcourse I have family commitments.

Nowadays it's still difficult for me because I'm a single guy and therefore don't have that special someone to spend my weekends with right now so that plays on my mind too. Other than that I just try to do something to occupy my day whether that be go out and get a coffee with my Mum or Dad or try catch up with a mate or sit at home and play countless games of FIFA haha. Anything that will pass the time really.

And trust me, you'll learn that weekends are a down right privilege when you get into the grind of working full time, so don't get too nervous when you find you're doing a bit of relaxing 🙂 I try to make sure I'm busy on a Saturday but Sundays I couldn't care less about, it's my 'do nothing' day.

[Wanderlust123]

Hey Sharpie,

Chatting to you has made me feel normal and that I am not the only person who has experienced this adjustment anxiety before. I was always so busy with Uni and work that it has been a hard adjustment but I am getting there.

Coming into this weekend I feel so much more relaxed. I just went to a Meet Up dinner which I really enjoyed. I have no other plans for this weekend but I am not freaking out about it like I had been the past few weekends. I am going to have 'do nothing' days because we all need to take a break sometimes and have down time.

Thank you for your support this week, and I hope you have a great weekend 🙂

[Neeko]

Hi Wanderlust,

Thanks for your reply, this is the first time I have ever joined a forum of any sort and it is great to feel listened to and know I’m not alone.

I will give the meditation a go, I feel I will need to practice this more than just before bed.

I’m still waiting to have my first session with a psychologist, I really need to discuss “triggers” as I think I’m starting to see patterns in my anxiety/ my partner is seeing them.

The health anxiety is still strong and continues in waves. It’s a “what came first, the chicken or the egg” scenario. It’s the nature of the waves of feeling unwell.

You mentioned weekends can bad for you in a previous post. I find weekends tough because you have a lot of time to think and it’s easy to get caught up in your head. I have found getting outdoors helpful where you need to think of things based off the soroundings rather than in your head.

Anyway, thanks again for the reply and I hope this weekend has been okay for you.

[Neeko]

Hi Sharpie,

Thanks for listening 🙂

Waiting for results is a huge fear of mine, I think it’s because I have no control in the matter. Flying gives me anxiety for that exact reason; I’m not the one flying and have no control of where the plane goes.

A couple of years ago I had a health scare which for me seemed like the end of the world. I remember feeling dizzy, sore in spots and really wore myself out worrying about it. In the end it was nothing to worry about but it affected me a lot. I never seeked therapy or searched for answers on how to handle that level of anxiety if it happened again. I regret it now because the way I’m feeling is much worse than back then. I would say it’s magnified.

This time I’m doing something about it and will learn from this event. I hope.

I hear you, I’ve always been against medications although knowing that this is a non addictive one and that it will potentially help me is calming.

I hope this weekend has been well for you, let me know how you’re travelling.

Thanks