Hello and some anxiety questions...

[Squiddly_diddly]

Hello all, I’m suffering a bad phase of anxiety at the moment.

im an ex pat . Really missing Uk, but do have good friends here.

I just get so anxious if say, a friend takes all day to reply to a text... I imagine that they are ignoring me etc etc.

I feel like I’m on the outside looking in, I get short breath and dwell on imagined slights, things I’ve said that may upset people and so on.

just reaching out really, on medication with a good GP. Just meh right now.

Also, dr gave me medicinal cannabis to try, not sure if a co incidence but been sad and low since I started it. Wondering if anyone had any other issues with it?

sending love and support to all xx

[UltimaMic]

Hiya Squiddly,

I live with Generalized Anxiety Disorder in my mid 30s now - I have tried a few medications (Moderators do not like mentioning specifics not sure why) but definitely if you have anxiety those of the SSRI variety to seem to calm anxious minds and a least help getting your head in the right spot.

Not sure if you have a chronic mental health disorder this is your first time with anxiety - is it situational due to you feeling isolated from the UK? or have these feelings been reoccurring throughout your life? The reason I ask is that I lived undiagnosed for 15-20 years ... I did not recognize that the ruminating thoughts and dwelling on slights was affecting me until I had a burnout - then through therapy and medication it clicked - anxiety disorder. Now I manage it through counselling sessions, medication and support of understanding friends (yes I have lost all the fake ones who did not really care or only saw me as an opportunity).

You have to let the meds take effect - a good month or so before you start to really level out. Its good that you have good friends here and I hope you can have a chat online once in a while.

I am surprised your Dr gave you medical cannabis with meds? Was it with the meds? I am not sure if this is a good combination. I know the THC part of cannabis is a type of mild hallucinogen and cannabis does have sedative qualities. I do not have any experience with it, I am supportive of all types of therapy if they work so it would be interesting to know if anyone else has had experience with medical cannabis and if they found it relived anxiety symptoms or not.

But my advice would be to give the meds (SSRI type) a go for a while first before combining them

[Squiddly_diddly]

Hi and thanks for the reply.

I have suffered all my life, from being told I was a worried child, to getting help 10 years ago. I was put on meds and saw a great therapist.

I get flare ups now and again, for no real reason, and it manifests as a sort of homesickness. Not for UK as a place but for the family I guess. I think it will solve all my issues lol.

this time a friend has triggered me off, I know she is having her own issues but I feel she angry with me over something.

im a classic high functioning anxiety case! I see some stories on here of folks way worse off than me, but as we all know , that sort of thinking doesn’t really help x

[UltimaMic]

Yeah I think during this Covid time everyone has recognized the importance of connecting with friends and family who care and are supportive.

Not sure how close you are to your friend who is angry with you - but troubles in relationships are never good for someone with anxiety. Sometimes troubles show us who real friends are.

Before it builds into something too big in our minds I think it would be good to just reach out too your friend just ask if everything is ok? Sometimes this can create a space where a friend can share her problems and maybe things in her life that are making her feel angry.... if you are comfortable you can also share how you feel and in true friendship work out ways to help each other.

I know sometimes when others are angry we anxious sensitive types can feel it is directed towards us, but it may just be a situational problem the other person is facing that is the main reason they are angry.