Anxious Thoughts

[Jobby24]

After suffering with Anxiety for 5 years, I finally started meds and have been on them for 1 week. I realise they don’t start working for a few weeks.

My problem is at the moment - I take a perceived issue and snowball it in my mind to this huge big “my life as I know it will end” thing. When I get stuck on something like this it’s all I can think about - I wake up in the middle of the night and just keep building it up bigger and bigger. I remind myself that hardly anything I ever worry about actually happens but that doesn’t help because what if this is the first big thing that does happen and my life (I love my life with my family) will be over and I will be devastated? I can’t seem to budge the feelings for a few days and then they diminish but never go away completely and I might be reminded of them in a vague way and then all those anxious feelings I felt come flooding back.

I get worried that my gut instinct is all out of whack - I don’t know what feelings to trust and what ones not too. Each thing I worry about seems very huge and important and worthy of my thoughts. I’m not even sure I’m making sense.

I try to practice mindfulness but I can’t always make it work.

Any advice? Also unsure if the meds will help this?

Thank you for reading this!

[Alexlisa]

Hi Jobby,

I hear you! This kind of relentless anxiety gets me all the time. I know how frustrating and inescapable it feels and that desperate need for relief. I want you to know you’re not alone in this and there’s help out there.

It’s good that you’ve reached out for help to start medication, and you’re correct, it might take a while to have an effect, so don’t give up on it too soon. I was wondering though if you’re getting any psychological help also? You mentioned practicing mindfulness, which is great. But there are also lots more skills that a psychologist would be able to teach you to help manage your anxiety. Would you consider seeing someone? Your GP can give you a Mental Health Care Plan which entitles you to 10 sessions with a psychologist for free each year. I really recommend it because it’s made the biggest changes in me, and also gives me the support to keep fighting. Because having an anxiety disorder is HARD work, right. And it sounds like you’re doing a great job to be facing it.

I hope this helps a little. Remember, you’re not alone in this struggle and you’re welcome back here on the forums any time to be reminded of that ☺️

Take care,

Alexlisa

[geoff]

Hello Jobby, thanks for reaching out to us.

Medication does take time to benefit any of us and as we are all different, you can't punish yourself.

I want to get back to you tomorrow and I'm very sorry to say this, but I start very early in the morning with a couple of other people and it's logoff time for me.

I only wanted to get back to you to say that your comment means more than anything because many of us can relate to what you are saying, in our own little way or in a general way, but how much we appreciate you are asking for help.

Geoff.

[YellowPoppy]

Hi Jobby,

I'm experiencing something very similiar to this right now and I just wanted you to know, you're not alone and I hope you keep checking back in.

YellowPoppy

[geoff]

Hi Jobby, please excuse me for not getting back to you, but concerned whether or not you are still checking your thread.

Please let us know.

Best wishes.

Geoff.