Anxiety flairing up due to loneliness
Posted , 5 users are following.
Hi,
I was diagnosed with Generalised Anxiety Disorder 2 years ago. Since then, after a slow journey, I got to a good place with the help of some counselling, my GP, medication and some really understanding friends, family and work colleagues (one of which is a medical doctor who really understands!)
Recently, I have moved to a different city for a job, leaving my support network. For a while everything was fine, I was coping with the move well, and with the sunny weather, was in a good mood. However, I am not dealing with some of the loneliness aspect well.
My housemate is friendly and we get on well. However, he works long hours and is in a relationship, so there's no garuntee of company every night or the weekends. I've met some friends, but not always able to meet up. So when I have a long evening or weekend to fill, I find my anxiety rearing up. Added to this, I am currently writing up my thesis.
I think this anxiety triggered my loneliness stems from moving away from my boyfriend, of whom i have been with almost 6 years, and lived with for most of that. He has been fundemental to my anxiety recovery and so recently, due to the move, I feel like my comfort blanket has been taken away. We text a lot, and phone when we can; visiting is hard due to work commitments and due to finances not being great at the moment
Today, specifically, my anxiety has really got a hold. My boyfriend hasn't texted for a while, and I know that he's probably asleep, having said he was tired, and due to the fact he works long hours and has a long commute. But no replies is making my anxious as its feeding into my loneliness. Also, there's always that part that you think the worst has happened, despite the likelihood he's fine
Anyone can help??
Sophie
0 likes, 9 replies
Chroi sophie899
Posted
sophie899 Chroi
Posted
Thanks Chroi,
I did download some mindful apps to help me calm down. I'll look into the colouring, I think having something to do with my hands would help
Chroi sophie899
Posted
Also try not to colour things the way they are supposed to be - like green grass why can t it be purple.
sophie899 Chroi
Posted
Guest sophie899
Posted
Loneliness can definitely promote anxiety and depression. My mother and my brother died in February, 2017 two days apart-Mom had a stroke and my brother passed away due to a brain tumor. My dad passed away 15 years ago. Only living relative is a sister who is estranged and we haven't spoken in 15 years.
I was at the grocery store tonight by myself and started feeling VERY lonely. I definitely felt the onset of anxiety. Even though it's been over a year since they passed away it hit me really hard tonight. I'm holding off taking my daily Xanax (.25 mg, just to help me sleep) an extra hour so it's closer to bedtime, but I'm really looking forward to the sedating effect tonight.
sophie899 Guest
Posted
Hi Phil
So sorry to hear about your family, that's tough. Have you spoken to anyone about all your feelings and such?
Yes, I always find having a good night's sleep resets me a bit. I think tiredness is also one of my anxiety triggers
Guest sophie899
Posted
Hi Sophie. Yes, I have a therapist and he's a good one. Going to see him twice this week because I've been feeling pretty low.
You're right, it's important to have people in your life you can share those things with. Depression and Anxiety are horrible afflictions to bear, especially if you are bearing them alone. In today's society too many of us spend too much time alone. Social interaction is very beneficial beating depression.
sophie899 Guest
Posted
Hi Phil
That's great, glad you have someone to talk to.
I think a lot with mental health is people ignore it, thinking its normal, or don't really understand it. I get its good to have some alone time to untangle your thoughts, but some distraction or discussion to get you out of your head is really important
Guest sophie899
Posted
Very true, Sophie. Sometimes you have to force yourself up and out of the house to do something. Cutting the lawn, or taking the dogs for a walk, or even having a drink with a friend-all those can help snap you out of the funk. The hardest part is getting up in the first place.
I spend too much time alone, I have to do something about that. I told my Therapist that is one of my goals, to network better and have more friends I can just hang with. I'm married, but we each have our own homes-we were separated for several years and it just ended up that way. When we got back 'together' we decided to maintain our two homes. We talk on the phone a lot during the day, but it's not like having someone physically around to interact with you all the time. Sometimes I think back to when I was a kid in our family and we were all together under one roof. Sure, it had it's issues but you had a lot of folks you could leverage when you were feeling down. I miss that.