Struggling

[Anne1303]

Hi, first time post on here although I have followed along for awhile. I have suffered from anxiety for quite a few years, going into medication to help after the loss of a baby a few years ago. Since then I have struggled on and off.i slowly weaned off the medication 6 months ago. A few months ago I started a new job, since then my anxiety has increased dramatically. The other ladies in my office are very close, and I feel like I am the outsider which really bothers me. I find myself constantly over analysing every little thing that happens every day and everything that was said or done in the office, I just can't stop it. I can't sleep from worrying about every little thing that has happened during the day, everythingvthat was said etc even though nothing in specific bad had happened. I panic when they don't answer texts thinking worst case scenarios that they don't want to be friends with me - I know it is crazy but I just can't seem to turn off these all concerning thoughts , it is driving me crazy to the point where it is affecting my home life as well, I just want it to stop!

[MarkJT]

Anne, a very warm welcome to the beyondblue forums. This is a very caring, stigma free and supportive place so well done for posting what is going on.

I am sorry to hear that you lost your baby a while back. That is a truly horrible event to happen. Is it fair to say that your anxiety is tied to that event? i.e. did you have anxiety prior?

Your thought patterns are very familiar to me as I have PTSD, depression and anxiety and I went medication free for a couple of years post diagnoses but are now medicated. I have taken the view that i will be medicated for life and I am fine with that, not ideal but it is what it is.

I am wondering if you need to explore the medication thing again?

Have you gone back to your GP or psych and discuss this? If not, that is something i would well encourage you to do.

Hope to hear back from you and I will support you through this journey you are on.

Mark.

[geoff]

hello Annie, I am deeply sorry for the loss of your baby and understand how you must have felt for a long time, possibly you are still carrying this grieve, it wouldn't be pleasant to lose a baby, I haven't but my brother has and it was so terribly sad.
What you take home every night must be awful, going over every little detail and maybe thinking that for each opinion they are aimed towards you, that's understandable and that's what your anxiety will make you do.
By wanting to come off your medication is always a big gamble, because you maybe feeling well again, but as soon as you stop, then back you go to where you were before you even started taking them.
As with MarkJT, I will be taking my medication for the rest of my life, I know that if for some reason like I've run out of tablets, I suddenly fall back into the hole and meeting the black dog once again, that's how quickly it happens for me, so I know that's what I need to do, so perhaps this is something for you to think about with your doctor.
I really hope that your work will settle down. Geoff.