New to anxiety and these boards

[ctp365]

Hi I just joined these boards a few hours ago and have been reading through many posts. I'm fairly new to this whole anxiety thing, although have suffered from anxiety before travelling for quite a few years. It started with just feeling a bit anxious the night before, and morning of travelling. Recently this has been getting worse, and seems to be not just travel related, but many day to day things. For instance it was my birthday last weekend and my partner bought me tickets to see Ghost the musical. On the morning we were going I woke up feeling so anxious that I started vomiting. We made it to the show, but it was a difficult day for me. 

Im going on a cruise tomorrow, and all week have been feeling very anxious (feeling hot and sweaty, then freezing cold, an uneasy feeling in my chest, lack of appetite, nausea, diarrhoea, waking at 3am). I'm also going yo Europe in June and this is causing lots of stress  

I've been to a psychologist twice and he has given me some strategies to use ( mindfulness, CBT), but right now nothing seems to be working.

anyway, I've probably raved a bit too long for my first post, but just wanted to introduce myself.

i can see by reading through posts that's there plenty of people having a much harder time than I am.

Carmen

[White_Rose]

Dear Carmen

Hello and welcome to Beyond Blue. It doesn't matter how much worse off other people are, you are just as worthwhile and in need of help and care. So please never say others are worse off than you. It may be true but it's all relative.

Whenever I go traveling I get anxious. I wish I didn't. You say you have seen a psychologist twice but this is not  usually long enough for you to learn to how to manage your anxiety.  I suggest, if you are happy with the psych, that you continue to meet with him/her.

I take you have not been prescribed medication by your GP. It's not always needed. Mindfulness and CBT are great strategies but really need you to understand them before they become effective and you automatically use them when upset. Any strategies should be used in conjunction with discussions about why you feel this way. Simply learning how to do certain things does not stop these uncomfortable feelings happening. They just get pushed down and will continue to surface until they are dealt with.

It's good you have explored this site. I see you have already made one reply. Well done.

Mary

[CraftyDivaz]

Hi Carmen,

I don’t know the correct terminology, but after my 2nd marriage breakdown I had panic attacks every time I was in a car (passenger seat at back & never an accident etc). I felt like I couldn't breath enough and nausea.

When anxiety is at it’s worst sometimes nothing really helps to avoid it. What I found worked for me was to use as many distraction methods as I could think of that helped to pass time until I was able to focus on other things enough to ignore or reduce the anxious feelings.

Things I tried & seems to help: 
*listening to music (even if words etc don’t go right into your mind) 
*if travelling in car I’d try to just watch the scenery going past, 
*I even resorted to deliberately day dreaming/imagining more positive imagery/stories etc (whatever works for you).

Hope this is somewhat helpful. CraftyDivaz

[ctp365]

Thank you both for your replies. It's very comforting to know there's other people in a similar situation to me. 

I haven't spoken in length to my Dr about my increasing anxiety. She knows about my travel anxiety, but it's only recently that I feel my anxiety had gotten much worse and not only related to travel. I will make an appointment to see her during the week.

i hope you're both enjoying the day. 

[CraftyDivaz]

Hi Carmen,

Yes definitely talk to your dr/s about it, sometimes meds help first of all, sometimes normal distraction methods are not enough. If you have meds they might give you and then you can use self help distraction methods can help more together, you don’t have to battle these problems on your own. Sometimes a tired body/mind is unable to overcome anxiety related issues on its own without meds or other counselling type help.

Take care and let everyone know how you do.
CraftyDivaz

[ctp365]

Thanks so much for your care and advice Crafty. These boards are full of people who are caring and compassionate.

i think you're right about the meds. I feel like I need something to help me with the self held things I am trying.

I hope you are going ok today.

carmen

[CraftyDivaz]

Thanks Carmen!

Yeah I'm doing a lil better today, hoping to get to bed early, was getting bad ready to go to mum's tomorrow with toddler & hubby likes fishing with dad it can get messy and they live approx 1 hr away from us  🙂

As everyone can see I can get a lil addicted to forum posting, I like the feeling to "try" to help others as well as getting input/advice from others. It makes me feel like I'm listen to and understood and I desperately need that. My symptoms have settled a lil for now, will depend on how well and how long I sleep tonight, hopefully brain won't be too super busy while I try to settle down.

Take care! CraftyDivaz