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Anxiety/Depression
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Hi there, I've been dealing with anxiety/depression for more than 3 years, and just in the past few weeks, it has really gone bad to the point where sometimes I feel like I'm alone.
I've been married for 18 years, have 2 boys, one 15-year-old and the other 8-year-old, the youngest has ASD, and some days he makes it difficult to manage the day.
It started when I got a bad vertigo attack 9 years ago, and ever since then, I get bad panic attacks if my head gets dizzy and I can't drive.
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Sorry to hear you have been feeling alone. It is worrying that your anxiety/depression has gotten worse recently. I think it would be a good idea to see your Dr as soon as possible about this. It may be that medication may help you and you could get a mental health plan to enable you to see a psychologist at a reduced price. It sounds like you have a lot on your plate but it is also important to remember to prioritise your health (easier said than done I know). It is hard to look after others when you are not well yourself. I hope things improve for you soon. Wishing you the best
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Hey there,
Thank you so much for posting here, welcome. I'm sorry to hear that you're feeling like this, that must be so isolating.
Have you spoken to your partner at all about how you've been feeling? If some of your feelings are related to the challenges of navigating parenthood when your children have different needs, you and your partner may find an open conversation quite therapeutic, and it can help you better plan and prepare for difficult situations as they come up.
I can see how panic attacks and dizziness make it difficult to drive. Have you been to a GP, therapist, or psychologist about these at all?
In the meantime, small things you can do to ease anxiety in the short-term are breathing-focused. Things like squared breathing (breathe in for four seconds, hold for four, out for four, hold for four), taking big breaths at a time, or focusing on five things you see, four things you hear, three things you can feel, two you can smell, and one you can taste, can be really effective in the moment.
If you find that these just cause you to focus on your breathing rather than helping to calm you down, try as best as you can to sit with the discomfort of that feeling. It's tough but sitting with it rather than trying to suppress it reminds yourself that you can get through it. Reflect on what you're thinking at the time, right before it happens and during, and what you feel compelled to do to suppress or control that feeling. Often these factors can help us to understand why panic attacks might be occurring for us.
I hope some of this helps, please feel free to keep chatting with us if you'd like, we're here to listen.
Take care, SB
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