Anxiety and stress

Hi Luckylegs - two suggestions from me ... Maybe have a look at Headspace. It’s a meditation app with lots of different programmes to explore within it. Andy Puddicombe, and his fellow developer, have really put together a wonderful resource. Anything from three minutes up to twenty depending on what time you have, and what your capacity for focus is (it will build ...). I don’t usually make specific recommendations, but I use this myself and have found it really helpful. Second recommendation, and based on you clearly beating yourself up a fair bit, is have a look at anything to do with Compassionate Mind - particularly the book by Paul Gilbert. It’s a lead in to self compassion which it sounds as though might be helpful to you. A big movement now in the UK which has evolved from first wave CBT. Chronic anxiety is horrible and exhausting! Good luck!!

Hi, Lucky legs, hope your feeling better this morning.I totally understand where your coming from.I've also been a carer since I was in my late twentys, I'm early 60s now and still have my mum to care for.I love my mum very much, but hate the responsibility of it all, being an only one, it feels overwhelming, i don't feel cut out to be a carer,if that makes sense, but there is no choice.All this had made me the person i am, anxious ,and I have a phobia of being sick.I was given stertraline last year,and couldn't get on with it all, and am now scared of trying anything else, I'm now considering CBT. Please let us know how you get on with the tablets, hope they help you.At least your not alone here, there's plenty of us struggling along. Good luck

This may sound a strange suggestion, but try joining a choir. Singing is the most wonderful therapy and don’t worry if you think you can’t sing!

I have always suffered from high functioning anxiety which means from the outside no one would know this, and I have held a high level demanding job for many years without anyone knowing. It can however be very debilitating in private. I have avoided drugs like the plague, as my physical health is very good, and I would not want the risks of side effects making matters worse . As OP mentioned, CBT (and NLP) in the form of some excellent self help books, did help me develop coping mechanisms. I don't think I ever expect the feelings to go away completely. One of the things I find helps is to play with words in my mind, to rationalise the triggering events and the reaction produced in me and to think what I could have done to reduce my reaction.. For example, in your situation the trigger would have been the late arrival of your friends coupled with the lack of a message or explanation. The reaction was one of frustration and upset over a spoiled outing, possibly with a feeling of embarrassment over the kindness of strangers whom you felt went to unnecessary time and trouble to help. Then I would consider the actions I have could taken to reduce my anxiety - to have texted the late arriving friends to say I had waited outside but I would now meet them inside, and not worried about their parking problem. They were late, not you. If you wanted to be kind, you could inform them that the nearest car park was full. Having re- rationalised the situation, I try to forget about the triggers as nothing good comes of mulling things over repeatedly.
Your reactions were all normal reactions in the circumstances and I find the analysis helps the anxiety to pass, and to reduce it happening again, should something similar occur. But don't mull over time and time again.

Seajaye has described some of the techniques that I was taught on the Stress Control course I described in my previous post. They work!

Thanks again. I don’t want to bore you all but to answer some of the questions:-

I have taken Thyroxine for many years for low thyroid function. I’m anxious about my health as well a little but because I have a blood cancer which is well controlled and other health problems as well but I’ve suffered anxiety most of my life before I knew I had some of these problems so I can’t blame that.

I am in a singing group, it’s wonderful and I thoroughly enjoy it. I sincerely hope I can get there tomorrow. I love line dancing and Zumba as well but can’t go at the moment with the dizziness.

The whole point is her phone was dead so I couldn’t ring or text her or her me. This is often the case with her.

I’ve been given 50 mg Sertraline, just got them yesterday but the pharmacist said take in the mornings. I am, of course, very nervous about taking them because of the side effects and one reviewer advised taking half a tablet a day for the first week which might help ease me into it, I’ve therefore just taken half. Oh God! I’m so nervous about it!

Sorry if I’ve missed anything, I don’t want to drone on any more about myself. I’m going to look at all your suggestions, thank you so much.

Luckylegs.I took half a tablet to begin with, their unlikely to give you any side effects to begin with, keeping my fingers crossed for you.

I know it’s silly, half a tablet taken but I’m checking if I feel Ok! Glad to know you did the same? Someone said she did it for the first week and it seemed to ease her into it, is that how you felt?

Yes I was just the same, very anxious, waiting for the slightest symptom. Keep going I was just unlucky.

I think you should phone the doctor for an emergency appointment

The Worry Cure by Robert Leahy on Amazon.

I used to be so anxious but no-one would ever have known. Dr prescribed Citalopram which helped greatly, couldn't believe the difference.

Something else which I found wonderful was this book. I'm not one for self help books but this was recommended to me.
I have in turn recommended it to a couple of friends who also found it very helpful. When I'd read it i felt like a weight had been liffted.
I

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