Anxiety Overload

[Faee]

Hi everyone,

I'm new here and this is my first post.

I am suffering with severe anxiety at the moment which has stopped me from being able to go to work. I have taken 3 days off to take some time out for myself. Yet recently I seem to be taking a lot of days off from this illness. And it worries me as you can probably tell.

There's so much going on in my head and I am extremley restless/short of breath/nauseas.

recently I went to my mum and told her that I am suffering with anxiety and depression and she ignored the whole subject.

I do have my husband for support yet that is all. I have no close friends and I feel very confused, lost and lonely.

I know we need to be positive but I can't find it anymore. This illness has taken over. It's taken control of my life and I don't know what to do anymore.

I know there's people out there suffering a lot worse than what I am, but I just don't know how to shake this feeling. It's horrible and I'm scared for myself, I'm really really scared.

If anyone is out there reading this, I hope you're doing ok. I am sending good energy and love your way.

[Shangod]

Hi Faee,

I too am new here, in fact i was reading your post and can kind of relate so I joined immediately to talk to you so thank you.

Firstly I would like to point out that i'm not suffering from severe anxiety, although I may have felt anxious a few times throughout my life I can comfortably say it would be nothing to what you're going through.

I have an identical twin brother who had a life altering event occur to him and his family a few years ago off the back of something he caused and as a result of I guess the guilt, this has caused him to suffer from severe anxiety! He has been fighting it for a few years now not knowing what it was but it has been slowly pulling him down to the point where he has gone and spoken to a professional. It hurts me to see him fighting this as I know he is a very strong person physically and mentally.

Now that he knows what he's dealing with he has gained a bit of momentum in getting better. He is practicing deep breathing techniques and also keeping himself occupied with his family and friends. I know he has a long journey ahead of him but as I have said to him, "you need to keep your head up and your shoulders back, look forwards not back, everyday is another day closer to being the old you again.

Faee I don't know you but you sound like a strong person! the fact that you've shared your story is the first step in getting better. Be strong, use the good things in your life to give you strength, continue to talk with your husband and loved ones. Don't give up on your Mum...maybe she's struggling to see you like this? Continue to talk to her and help her understand what you're going through.

Goodluck with it and stay strong.

Sincerely.

[Just Sara]

Dear Fae;

Welcome to our caring BB Community! It takes courage to do your first post on an unfamiliar website, so congratulations; you've taken the first step towards your recovery.

I honestly feel for you hun; I too have felt the sting of anxiety/panic/ptsd/depression. I'm in recovery, however I still have my bad days.

I'm so glad you have your husband to talk with about this debilitating disorder. As for your mum...she sounds just like mine. Don't worry ok. People aren't trained to know what to do when a loved one's suffering with something they know nothing about. It makes them feel helpless so they redirect.

I'm wondering if you have the support of your GP. They'll organise a mental health plan that includes medication, referrals and finding a diagnosis for therapy. Do you have any of these strategies in place yet?

I'm also wondering if you're having quality sleep? This is the number one coping strategy for anxiety. Without it, symptoms are worse. It makes sense if you think about it; rested body/mind equals a rested nervous system and better start to your day.

I'm sorry you've missed so much work too. I know this one as well. That's where a psychologist can help with coping strategies. It may mean shorter hrs or taking a day or two per week leave until things improve.

What's important for you here, is that we care and are well seasoned sufferers. Our insight due to personal experiences can be shared with people like yourself free of charge. Although we're not professionals, we have lifetimes of wisdom and support to share.

And; we're the best listeners you'll find! 🙂

This site has all sorts of great resources to read about (below in the blue section) and lots of threads on this forum to peruse. You've already had a response from another newbie who sounds like a very caring person. (Shout-out to you Shangod! Good on you for giving support to get support. That's our motto)

Please stay in touch and bare your pain in safety and anonymity. I'm looking forward to chatting more if you're up to it.

Warm thoughts;

Sez x

[Faee]

Thank you so much for replying, it means so much to me.

I am so sorry to hear that your twin brother is going through something similar.

It is definitely tough at the moment but your positive words have helped me a little bit today.

So for that I am truely grateful.

[Faee]

Hi Sez,

firstly I want to say a big thank you for your support towards me. It honestly means so much!

I recently saw my GP and told him about what I'm going through and he has put me on Zoloft. This is the first time I've ever been medicated for my anxiety. I have to say the side effects are horrible yet my doctor said that it's normal to begin with.

I am going back to my doctor on Tuesday to start a mental health plan.

No I don't sleep well at all. I wake up constantly throughout the night and can never get back to sleep. I hope the medication will help that.

It's definitely been tough for me lately and it worries me. But I am so glad I found this forum and amazing people like you who are a great support. As I am really needing as much support as I can get at the moment.

i hope you're doing well, Sez. You sound like a really beautiful person with a big heart. So thank you, it means so much to me.

[Just Sara]

Dear Fae;

I never get sick of hearing that! lol Getting feedback makes my day, and you've done a bang-up job of it so thankyou...

I'm really pleased to read you've found BB so rewarding. We're a great group here and pretty tight when things get rough for one of us. I hope you scan the threads to find these people who want nothing more than to support each other and befriend kind and like minded souls. I'm sure you'll fit right in. 🙂

It's positive to see you're being proactive with your mental health and recovery. A MH plan's a good step in the right direction. If you're stuck in the moment with anxiety etc, please remember Lifeline - 131114, and BB helpline - 1300224636.

These are on speed dial on my mobile. lol

Just a gentle word of caution hun, and I say this respectfully. We're not allowed to mention medication specifics. Maybe having a look-see thru info on posting etiquette (rules of engagement lol) will help you understand what's expected of us.

We can use terms like 'AD' (antidepressant), antianxiety med's, mood stabilisers or psych drugs for instance. The reason we don't say names, is mostly due to discussions that aren't helpful and cause opinions to flare. It's also because there are people with MH disorders that might use it for self diagnosis/treatment.

I hope you understand and don't take it to heart ok; we all learn as we go. So, seeing as you've said it and I can't unread it, I'll say give it time, AD's take a while to enter the system properly. I'm wondering what your side effects are?

Anyway, I've enjoyed the chat but must go. I'm sorry it's so long between posts but I have certain obligations I need to attend to as a peer supporter. This doesn't mean we can't talk, it just means I may not reply as quickly as I'd like.

If you look thru the Social Zone section, you might find something lighter to have a bit of fun with. I just posted on a movie guessing game thread. Please don't feel awkward if you see the same people posting all the time. Butt in and introduce yourself. They'll like that; the more the merrier.

Take care...warm thoughts;

Sez x

[RadDad75]

Hi Faee,

You are not alone. You are safe here, you are courageous, you just made you first post.

I have anxiety as well but i am managing to still go to work but some days yes its tough. Try looking into mindfulness and meditation it certainly helped me and there are coping strategies you can use at work.

Let me know if i can help in any way.

[Booklover17]

Dear Faee,

I am also new to this forum and I know how hard it is to write that first post. Especially for someone with anxiety. I also have anxiety. My psychologist says it is social and situational. Are you seeing someone about it? It has helped me a great deal. Problem is, my emotions go up and down like a yo-yo. I have good and bad days. Today is a not so good one. I know what you are saying about struggling to find any positivity. I have been there a lot. Anxiety seems to me to be a struggle against yourself, which is so hard. All I can say (because I am new to admitting I have anxiety) is that in my case and hopefully in yours, the bad feelings may linger for a long time but I really hope you have at least some moments where you feel a little happy. I really hope you are ok today.