Riding the storm of an anxiety blip

It's debilitating isn't it but you know what we will get through this. I know it's difficult but you got to try to stop googling the symptoms. The hardest thing to do is accept your feelings but that's the key to it all accepting them. Trust me I know this is hard, you have got to say to yourself ok i feel anxious right now but thats ok, this will pass because I promise you will get passed all this and come out the other side this is just the hardest part. Journaling is good have you tried it, righting down on the pages of a book kind of gets it out of your head. Don't grieve for the time you felt well use that as a positive that youve dealt with these emotions before but it's gone away. The mind thinks its protecting us but eventually this will stop. I found this which is very true...the antidote to a downward spiral is normalising the fact that setbacks come with the experience of being human. Nothing in this life is permanent. You and I both know that because we've done this before. We just need to let go of the fear. We fight it which feeds it, we have to say to ourselves ok this is how i feel right now but it will pass, it always does. Be kind to yourself don't get mad with how you feel the pandemic has thrown a lot of people. You are going to be ok even if it doesnt feel like it right now. Do you take meds? Are you still managing to work? Remember this is just a blip it's not forever even though right now it sucks!

hi sarah, thank you so so much for your kind words. especially when you said this is our mind's way of protecting us, it resonated with me so much... i have been battling health anxiety ever since i was 14 and bad experiences with teachers and doctors triggered it for the first time. i am 23 now, and as a fellow anxiety patient, my mind is constantly looking for ways to keep me safe. my anxiety had gotten much better, and i was never really conscious about my breathing until late 2020. i started seeing a counselor in december, and she recommended i journal as well, so i was really thinking of getting back into it. 😃 thank you for the advice. back in jan, i visited my trusted pulmonologist, who officially diagnosed me with panic disorder and suggested anti-anxiety medication, but i turned him down because honestly i dont want to rely on them. thankfully i am managing to work (im in uni), in fact academics is what keeps me sane HAHAHAH since i can forget about my anxiety while i'm studying. how about you, do you take any medication? are you managing to work? thank you for the reassurances as well – indeed, we have made it through once, and we can do it again. i hope you have been looking after yourself a lot and pushing through. a former friend once told me that healing isn't linear, which stuck with me to this day... there are good and bad days. may the good always outweigh the bad.

Our minds get stuck in protective mode dont they we're just sensitive in that way. I'm terrible for googling stuff on line as a child i used to refer to a medical book my mum and dad had, they said i was obsessed with it and now its so easy to access information online and thats not good for people like us! I am on meds and they have helped but theyre not for everyone and they are not a cure just a tool for some. It's important we have lots of tools, journalling is good, music helps me and i used to go to a meditation class which was fantastic so ive decided to go back this week. It really is about being kind to ourselves and understanding that sometimes when our bodies and minds get tired they start to overwork and need a rest. The reason my anxiety has resurfaced is that my son was taken ill this week but hes on the mend now so I already know he'll be fine but the anxiety got a hold and like we said has worked to try and protect me but is now not needed and spriralled into fear of the fear itself. Its such a pain isnt it. we are both going to be fine. We just overthink when it comes to health in my case whether its me or my kids. WE'VE GOT THIS x

hello to you both im going through another blip myself its particularly bad this time round im giving myself a few days to cope with it as going to work is difficult at present for some reason heck just leaving my room is difficult not sure why im so sensitive. but im taking vitamins and practicing yoga etc daily tk see if it helps im giving myself this time cause next week i won't to go back to work /gym no doubt just right now i can't and i feel bad you know. thank you for posting on here so i don't feel so alone im crying as i type this im trying to be kind to myself this week.

hi Jerome, please don't try and find a reason why we are so sensitive i dont think theres an answer its just how we're built. You are right to give yourself time, thats what im doing sometimes we just need to get off the wheel and be kind to ourselves. You will be back to it all when you're good and ready. Its also good to have a cry and let it out. It doesnt harm us to stop for a bit i know you feel bad right now but it will pass again i promise and somewhere deep down you know that too just dont try and rush it. Vitamins and yoga are a good idea its all about finding the tools to help you get back to where you were. Remember to accept whats happening right now and weather the storm its like riding a wave, picture yourself on a surf board and just let it happen. Don't fight it because it will feed it adding fire to the flames. Our bodies and minds just dont know how to switch off sometimes but you will get back to feeling yourself again. At least we're not alone in it. take care S

thank you Sarah i just feel so broken for so long and its just so heartbreaking at the moment feeling down as well im trying to stay away from medication if possible but i feel so trapped

it is heartbreaking im usually the life and soul of the party but its hard for me to smile at the minute with this cloud over me. i look at everyone else smiling and want to be back there again but I have to remind myself i will be. im already on citalopram ive got a mental health nurse appointment next week and they suggest putting it up. i wont lie it wasnt easy going on them but they have made a huge difference to my life i used to be ashamed but now im happy to take them forever if needs be. keep going because nothing is ever permanent in this crazy life you've got so much to look forward too when the anxiety finally packs its bags x

i wish your son the best of health, and im so proud of you for listening to your mind and your body, and for doing what's best for your anxiety! today was a good day for me as well, i tried to keep myself occupied and hopefully it gets better from here. thank you for listening, and for sharing your experience and advice as well. i think recognising our triggers and destructive behaviours is crucial in the road to recovery, and we've already done that! WE GOT THIS💗

hello jerome, thank you so much for writing and for sharing how you feel. you're so strong for taking a step back and prioritising your wellbeing, that is so important. we don't need to be doing something all the time, mental health breaks are so important. please don't rush yourself, and as i said to sarah too, healing isn't linear; we are going to experience good and bad days on our road to recovery. may the good always outweigh the bad💕 please take care.

Hi im new to this sub, I have been taking 225mg of VensirXL for 7 weeks, during thst time I thought I was making progress but this week back on diazepam, is this normal to get anxiety symptoms where I need to take diazepam again ?

hello Laura, the covid wont be helping as i felt awful when i had it. Exhaustion was terrible and like you said you said you just want to get back out and have some routine as it distracts us doesnt it. How did you get on with the GP i hope they helped. Remember to be kind to yourself and allow your body to recover. I promise i really do that this will pass im starting to feel so much better. Its lifting like I've said in my other posts we are just sensitive and it takes us a bit of time. Do something for me everyday...listen to a song you love, and find a positive affirmation online. Stop looking for answers and it will go. Sleeping and eating will come and you will realise that you are getting better. Just accept whats happening right now, youve done this before you can do it again. Take care S x

hi laura, Im the same at the mo. tested positive last sun evening. was ok in terms if anxiety until Saturday and now im so anxious. cant sleep or eat. running to the toilet and panicky all the time. my gp was great. a shirt course of diazepam and blood tests to check for thyroid and hormone levels. i too find it better to be in my usual routine so i qm keen to get back to work. luckily my workplace is very understanding adn allowing me to go at my own pace. have you hqd any helo from your GP?

Hi . My anxiety Laura has also been triggered by covid. i was ok for the first few days but when i got sickness and diarrhea the anxiety started. I haven't eaten properly in a week..I try not to focus on that as i know my appetite disappears when i am anxious. Its also a way to protect me from having diarrhea. If i dont eat i wont need the toilet to much. I am a person that needs routine and covid changed that. Im finding people seem .to have anxiety after covid and i suppose that is normal. I spoke to a mental health bworkee and he said we really dont know what covid does to the body completely. The infection can take a while to go as does the exhaustion. Have you ever had any meds or therapy for anxiety?? I hope the dr helped you