Feeling anxious but no motivation left

[Guest_294]

Hi everyone,

I hope this gets posted as I had some issues with my account before but should work this time I think...I just wanted to see what your thoughts are on this situation. I have recently entered into the second semester of my first year of university. As I have said in other posts, I experience infrequent but intensive panic attacks that typically nowadays will culminate in shortness of breath, a feeling of drowning in/being overwhelmed by my emotions and anxiety, and from time to time, bouts of derealisation. I sat down two days ago, made a to-do list, took one look at it from afar and proceeded to have a panic attack. My mum told me to "stop being so ridiculous" and "its just a bit of work". After this experience, I woke up the next morning and found I had no motivation to do anything. I was feeling incredibly anxious but just couldn't bring myself to complete any tasks. It's not laziness - I am getting small parts of my work done - i'll read this section of the chapter or complete this question for the assignment - i'm just really finding it difficult to sit down and get anything substantial done. And the worst part is I know I am a time bomb waiting to explode with the stress. I don't know...has anyone experienced this before? Feeling so anxious you can't do any of the work?

Any and all advice is appreciated,

Regards, Mills

[Doolhof]

Hi Mills,

Would you be comfortable calling the beyondbloue help line on 1300 22 4636 so you can talk to someone from the support team? They may be able to help you.

Is there a support service at the Uni you attend? Is there a counselling service there you can connect with?

I'm currently studying on line and find it extremely stressful at times. Some days I go for a walk before I have to start to study. I think of something pleasing I can do once I have done some study, I provide myself some kind of reward.

Some people don't understand how terrible stress, depression and anxiety can be.

Have you done much reading about anxiety to find options for dealing with it?

I'm not sure what you have mentioned in other threads or posts or what people have responded to you.

Have you been to talk to your Dr about how you are feeling?

Hope you find some answers. Cheers from Dools

[Guest_294]

Hi Dools,

Thank you for the reply. It is so weird - today my motivation sky-rocketed and I have pretty much entirely completed my assignment which is due at the end of the week. I am more frequently going through these ups and downs lately and it is very confusing.

Calling the helpline is one option I suppose but I would feel weird calling when I am not feeling anxious and that is certainly the bigger portion of time for me. When I get anxious I get really anxious, but more often than not, I'm fine. I have seen a psychologist at uni once for panic attacks and derealisation but that was a few months ago - maybe it is worth trying again...

I can definitely agree with the suggestions you have made - distraction really seems to help me and sometimes the only way I can stop a panic attack is to walk for ages, so I will definitely take that into consideration and maybe try do it more frequently.

Thank you very much for the help,

Mills