Getting through

[JuliaT]

Hi everyone,

I have recently joined this forum in the hope that I can connect with people who may be going through similar experiences to me. I have a family history of depression/anxiety and it is something that I have dealt with on and off throughout my life. Depression and anxiety tend to come out in my body through stomach aches, head aches and insomnia, which causes a really tough cycle to break. Recently, I have been very unwell with unexplained headaches that were thought to be a sinus infection, but after about 5 weeks of strong antibiotics in total, nothing seems to be working. This has been really hard to deal with and has greatly impacted by life, putting me in a terrible head space that has caused me to go back on anti depressants. I try really hard by exercising every day, eating well, forcing myself to get out of bed despite the headaches, writing in my journal and talking to my therapist. Despite all my efforts, nothing seems to be working or making much of an impact on how I feel. Even though I know this won't last forever, I can't help but catastrophize the situation and can't see a way out. If anyone has any techniques/thinking strategies for getting through when times are tough or has a similar story, I would really appreciate it.

[uncut_gems]

Hi Julia,

Welcome to the forums! I'm so sorry to hear that you've been struggling with your physical and mental health. Many people feel physical symptoms of their anxiety just like the ones you mentioned (I certainly do!). But it sounds like this new headache may be the other way around; a different problem that in turn is making your anxiety worse.

I'm not a medical professional by any means, but I do know that there are many, many different kinds of headaches from a number of different causes, and of course there are many different treatments. Most are harmless and many go away on their own, but it sounds like this is causing you some real trouble. If a full course of strong antibiotics didn't clear it up, maybe it's time to go back to your GP or get a referral to someone who can take a closer look. This will both help you get some relief and also peace of mind.

Whatever the cause, you're doing exactly the right thing by doing your best to stay well and active. Often injuries or sicknesses throw us off our "game" when it comes to doing the things we need to keep our mental health in check, so it's awesome that you're being so proactive. It's really hard work but you're a hero for doing it.

If you're not able to get relief or see a doctor soon, in the meantime there are many wonderful online resources for dealing with physical pain, including the pain course at MindSpot (https://mindspot.org.au/pain-course). Feel free to stick around the forums, chat, and keep us posted on how you're doing!

Warmly,

Gems