GAD and Health anxiety

[bluewater]

Just needing some advice, my anxiety is high once again and its due to some life situations so I know why, a relationship where I push the person away and Health anxiety over a small blood test that terrifies me! I genuinely know I'm overthinking!

My issue is I'm working hard with my psychologist but the minute I feel okay I stop going and end up at square one! I hate myself for it and its a cycle I've followed for 2 years and never finish things that could potentially make me feel better!

I'm going to bed exhausted and the minute I wake I feel overwhelming dread and it takes an hour to subside, this went away and has now come back!! Better

I'm a single parent so pull myself together for my daughter and I have a close family but feel I don't want to be open to them! Im independent but also wish I wasn't stubborn as its killing me.

Everyone thinks I've got it together and that's how well I hide it.

Thanks for the vent!!

[PamelaR]

Hello Bluewater

So good you've found your way to the Beyond Blue (BB) forums. Welcome!! You'll find people here are friendly, caring, supportive and respect privacy.

Being a single parent I imagine must have it's difficulties. Especially when you feel you're stubborn and have anxiety. I understand stubbornness and anxiety because I have both too. It can make life difficult, though over the years learning to be less stubborn and learning to manage anxiety has reduced my difficulties.

Worrying about a blood test is a definite trigger for anxiety. Do you have any idea about when the results will be back? Hopefully not too long now.

You mention going to a psych. Have you learnt breathing, grounding, distraction and meditation techniques? These sometimes help to reduce the severity of the anxiety for a little while at least.

There is a range of different material available on the BB homepage for anxiety. Also there a few threads on grounding techniques. Do a search too.

Let me know if you want any help with the breathing technique.

BTW - I find venting is good for releasing some of my anxiety. Good on you for doing that.

Kind regards

PamelaR

[bluewater]

Thanks Pamelar,

I got the test back and everything's okay but I move from topic to topic as you would know its so exhausting.

I've learnt all the mindfulness and breathing and find sometimes going for a walk helps!

I do feel though sometimes I cant take a deep enough breath for the breathing technique and I give up, have you ever experienced not being able to breath in well enough?

Thanks for the reply.

[PamelaR]

Hi Bluewater

So good the tests showed nothing. Phew. Bit of a worry there for you. Now maybe you can relax a little more and reduce your anxiety.

You said I cant take a deep enough breath for the breathing technique and I give up. I've never had any difficulties with the technique. Do you have asthma or bronchitis? Not sure why you can't - maybe talk with your doctor about it.

How I do it is -

• slow my breathing right down. I breath in for 5 (it can be less, e.g. 3) through your nose, and out for 5 (or less) through your mouth. As you breath in focus on your breath travelling down your throat, chest, lungs and diaphragm and out.

If you're not sure you are getting your breathe to your diaphragm, you can learn how to do it by -

• laying flat on the floor (or bed), placing a book on you diaphragm which is just under your chest and lungs but above your stomach. As you breath in, the book should rise. If it doesn't, you're probably only breathing into your chest and lungs. The idea is to focus on taking the breath further down to the diaphragm.

Let me know how you go.

Kind regards

PamelaR