Struggling with generalised anxiety

[AKay_]

I am really struggling with my generalised anxiety at the moment. I've always had anxiety and managed it on and off with AD and meditation/yoga, sometimes better than others. After my daughter was born 10mths ago, I suffered PND. I actually think I had depression during pregnancy also-I did not enjoy it at all and felt very disconnected to my baby. I have a very supportive husband and some family, however they all work full time. The rest of my entire family live 11 hrs away interstate. My Mum who I was extremely close to passed away 5 years ago. She would have been my 'support network'. I have slowly noticed my anxiety getting worse and worse over the past few months. We have moved house which I found extremely unsettling and difficult, a friend passed away from cancer, my daughter started childcare (I decided to put off returning to work for some months so I could try look after myself better as I feel like I never get a break). Over the past 2 months, a relative has also died and my daughter and husband had gastro and a cold over the period of a month.

Because of this, my worries and anxiety have gone through the roof. My stomach is so upset and I have been vomiting over a couple of days - I thought I had gastro but I've realised now it's like I've had terrible anxiety. I've tried meditating but it just sends my breathing and stomach into a spin. I worry about anything and everything. Today I worried about whether I did have gastro and would make the rest of my family sick. Then I panicked about what I'd do if that happened as I don't have any support to come help. Then my husband went out with my daughter and was gone a lot longer than expected. I couldn't get onto him so I panicked they'd been in a car accident. The same happened when he went out tonight and was gone for longer than expected. I am also terribly paranoid of getting an upset stomach again - it's a vicious cycle!! I've never quite been this bad - panicing about completely irrational things.

I'm on an AD due to my PND and going to try make an appt with the Dr this week as well as my psychologist. I don't know what else I can do for myself in the meantime 😔

[white knight]

Hi Akay, welcome

I hope you get a lot out of this forum

Hete is a few of the thousands of threads worth reading in some spate time. Use google

Topic: worry worry worry- beyondblue

Topic: how I eliminated anxiety- beyondblue

Topic: the balance of your life- beyondblue

Topic: the origins of anxiety- beyondblue

Tony WK

[Croix]

Dear AKay~

Feeling as you do at the moment is truly horrible. I can understand as I've felt the same, including physical symptoms. nowadays I'm normally in a better condition than I was with only some dips back, mainly triggered by events in my current life.

I improved due mainly to two different approaches. The first was medical help; meds, therapy, support - which you are already receiving - incidentally a good move to make that appointment, I'd do the same.

This went together with having someone in my life who I could talk to, who could relate to the effects on you - even if not understand exactly - and be sympathetic and want to help. By the sound of it your husband is there for you - great.

The second approach was partly by lowering background stress in my life and partly by dealing with the symptoms as they occurred. Some of those physical problems like headaches and going to the toilet could be addressed by medication, at least short term, some by generally trying to make life quieter and avoiding stressful situations.

Exercise plays a big part. I'm not able to do anything vigorous, but find going for a walk a good idea, getting me out of the environment where I'm anxious, plus the physical exertion helps.

Distraction is a great thing. I read - a lot - to get me away from things and into a different world. It works for me, maybe you have something you can do that removed you from the world of worries.

If things get unmanageable I use a free smartphone app called Smiling Mind. This takes practice but really helps.

Looking how others have coped here on the forum would be good. I'd start with
Forums / Anxiety / SELF HELP TIPS FOR MANAGING ANXIETY
Which is long but full of stuff I've found helpful.

The links Tony has given you are full of very good tips and accounts too.

I hope you feel you can come back and say more, you will find us all understanding and caring

Croix

[Return_to_happiness]

Dear AKay,

i read your post and it resonated wth me. I have only just joined these forums in the hope that I too can get support from others. Anxiety is so isolating however there are so many sufferers. I have been a long time anxiety sufferer with depressive bouts on and off. My advise is to make an appointment with a GP that you can build a good relationship with. I currently see a psychiatrist but work closely with GP too. I am on a combination of medications currently and still searching for the right mix. I know there I see hope, I have seen it myself. I have just had a huge setback, but just have to keep chipping away.

Dont give up, it can ge better.