Anxiety sufferer

[Tamara]

I’m dealing with a lot of anxiety lately I’m in a constant state of fear and I have feelings of doom all of the time I can’t sleep and I’m barely hanging on everything just feels so over whelming and I feel like I have no one to talk to that understands 

[Annas1]

Hello Guest,

I'm really sorry you're having such awful feelings of anxiety and fear at the moment. It sounds like you're feeling pretty overwhelmed and alone - that's so tough. It's a great idea to reach out here and seek support - there are many of us who know these feelings too well. Anxiety, the sense of overwhelm and doom are all well within the range of human experience unfortunately. In my experience, they are signs of feeling unsupported with tasks/responsibilities/situtations that seem to big/difficult/complex/demanding. Does this fit with your situation?

When I'm feeling a peak in my anxiety or in a state of overwhelm I know I need to:

• slow down and tune in to what the trigger/s may be
• address the trigger/reduce external pressures where possible
• prioritise self-care

For me self-care is a growing toolkit that includes: reflection, relaxation practices, writing/journalling, talking with trusted family/friends, beyondblue forums, the gp, my psychotherapist, exercise, swimming, getting creative, warm bath/cold bath. It's a biggish list because I've been on this journey for a long time. I still dread/fear/resent becoming anxious and being overwhelmed, but I now know I can help myself, seek support, and it will get better.

Check in again soon and let us know how you are feeling.

Sending you warmth and encouragement.

[NAM3--]

Hello,

First off - I know that feeling all too well.

Second - it passes.

I'm so glad that you've reached out here, it's good to see that you're seeking avenues of relief. 

I don't know what your circumstances are, but one thing that helped me was honestly just focusing on the next thing and only that. I couldn't take things day by day as they say - that was too much for me. It was task by task - once I woke up all I'm going to think about is the shower. Will I have a hot shower/cold shower/wash my hair?, then once in the shower, what am I going to wear today > as I'm getting dressed > do I feel like eating today, maybe just a coffee.

I found that in the depths of it, if I was only taking life by the tiniest of steps I was still moving forward. If I found myself with spare time then I was out walking. For me, nothing could be worse than lying in a bath - I had to be occupied. 

Once it was passing though and I found myself in a better spot, that's when I could actually learn to self soothe and learn good ways to manage myself.

Reach out, there are dozens of us!

[Tamara]

Thank you so much for your reply and your helpful tips I appreciate it so much 

[Tamara]

Yeah I’ve been here before and I know it passes but when I’m stuck in it it’s so hard to reassure myself of that so thank you for your reply I do a lot of things like meditation and breath work that I find really help me but sometimes even that’s just not enough thank you for your helpful suggestions 

[VH90453]

Hi Tamara, I’m new to this forum. I’m 71 and have suffered from anxiety most of my life. When I was younger I could cope with it. Whatever was the cause it would go away once whatever I was worrying about would be resolved. However for about the last 15 years the anxiety would leave me unable to function, I become very depressed with it. This current episode has lasted for 10 months. The anti depressants I had been on for over 10 years had stopped working. Ive recently changed my medication and am now starting to feel nearly normal. The thing that helps me the most is taking an antidepressant. You didn’t say if you take anything. I know a lot of people avoid them. I believe antidepressants have saved my life and thats not an exaggeration. I see a psychiatrist about once a month and a psychologist every 2 weeks and while they help it’s the antidepressants that get me to the point where I can help myself. I plan to stay on them for the rest of my life. I’ve been told by my psychiatrist and GP that it’s safe to do so. I recently had 3 weeks in a mental hospital I’m telling you this so you understand how bad my anxiety and depression are. I would recommend to anyone who is suffering to at least try an antidepressant. I’ve tried all the usual, breathing, meditation etc. that really didn’t help. I hope you feel better soon and think about what I said if you aren’t already taking anything. 

[Morning]

I hear you. I actually had my first anxiety attack last Friday. Scared the crap out of me. I had no idea what was happening. I knew that I had been triggered a few days earlier , with some lingering pain from a fallout 2 years ago with my sister and eldest daughter.  When my sister came to visit last week, up came all of the pain again and  I didn’t know what to do with it. I guess I thought I had boxed it up but on the day she left, I just made it home before I couldn’t breathe, my muscles were spasming and I couldn’t get warm. I thought I was going to be sick but it passed. I hurt all over. I eventually calmed down but was still a wreck the next day.

I knew that I had been in serious pain but to have my body react to it was reinforcement of the idea that I need to find a way to break it down. I will never get an apology or any acknowledgement  of  how badly hurt I was so I need to let that go and find a  way to sort through it and give myself the support I need . I shouldn’t have had expectations in the first place .i just thought that family might’ve backed me..wrong