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anxiety

Unknown userMember16 May 2017, 10:17 am AEST

anxiety

I'd like to talk about anxiety, how it affects others. Today abc online news featured Craig Allan story about the anxiety in his life, how its affected his work and relationships and how he's managed:
http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-16/abc-canberra-newsreader-craig-allen-reveals-battle-with-anxiety/8528564

Do you suffer anxiety?
Where do you feel it in your body?
How does it affect your behaviour?
Have you found anything that helps apart from medication / drugs? What?

Avoidance is my biggest problem (coping mechanism) - can't handle it so I withdraw. Pulling back so much is not making a life worth living for. I really have to push against it to live.

I have social anxiety and i think a touch of agoraphobia. Sometimes I get stuck at the door - I want to go out, i'm ready with handbag over my shoulder, and its lovely out... but I just can't get padt the doorway. Other times i stress so much deciding what to wear, finding my keys, getting my hair right... I collapse on the lounge in tears, then go to bed for hours exhausted.

Sometimes, in a busy shopping centre I'll get what I call 'the faints' - everything starts to go white and i have to sit before I fall - neef to grab a drink if water, take deep breaths... Its a pain, makes me not want to go out. The shops just have too much stimuli everywhere.

Sometimes my hands shake. At work if I feel under pressure - the brain stops working and I have trouble thinking, even finding the right words to talk and the right button on the till. Ugg! I bluff a lot and bring humour in to cover and make a fool of myself at times - underneath its mounting and I have to take a break, centre myself, breathe deep and settle. If not - bursting into tears and running off happens, and that's so hard to come back from. Its hard.

Sometimes I 'dither' - be it searching for something or wrapping a parcel to mail - I become overwhelmed finding things to do it and then I stress that I might get the address wrong or not wrap it properly or... I have to walk away till I calm.

Anxiety comes a lot. lt hits me like a computer virus making me malfunction. But its not every day so its very annoying. Seems the underlying 'stress' accumulates, builds up, and if I'm not in touch and take measures to keep it down/low - it just comes out sideways, blindsides me 😞 Self awareness is hard for me so regular meditation is a discipline that helps when I do it regular, also TaiChi. But it IS a discipline in self care. A work in progress - really have to work hard at self discipline, structure / routines.

Can anyone relate to these?

15 replies

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In response to: anxiety

Unknown userMember29 May 2017, 1:18 pm AEST

Re: anxiety

Hi everyone, forgot I started this thread. How are you going with anxiety management? I see red tape has been a trigger for you after hospital @utopia, feel for you on this. Sometimes if I allocate a time to deal with things like that, then shelve it as much as possible. I hope you have a couple of good listening ears. How you going with meditation @Sahara ? I'm not good with structure or discipline so its a challenge for me.

@Cjharvey70 how are you going?

@Adage, above page is the link to cancer councils excellent meditation / relaxation resources. Even free downloads.

I had trouble waking up today and had palpitations and wobbly, so need to stay home, do relaxation exercises, journal, maybe walk the block later if up to it.

Just checking in really, ta 🍁🍃

Ooo ooo, here's an autumn joke

In response to: anxiety

RipleyContributor24 June 2017, 8:50 pm AEST

Re: anxiety

Hello. I have anixety. I've have heart palpitations where I think I'm having a heart attack. Ive had to pull over while driving due to feeling faint and panicked, usually driving to work. Id have to say my "a,b,c's" to help me calm myself!! I'd hate social situations, I'd build myself up into such a state that I'd usually cancel.
Severe sweating, once while at a restaurant....there was nothing I could do I just had to ride it out but it was so embarrassing coz it was literally like I'd just stepped out of the shower it was awful. After that attack, I went and got help from my gp. And am now taking medication...

In response to: anxiety

Unknown userMember24 June 2017, 11:13 pm AEST

Re: anxiety

Hi @Ripley, glad you've come to the forums. Your Panic Attacks sound really frightening. Especially while driving - glad you had the sense to pull over
But even the side of the road can be an isolated and vulnerable place. Is the medication treatment helping? Takes a while to kick in. Do you do mindfulness meditation. I find it helps my subconscious process emotions in the background so there's not a build up the bowls me over. Thanks for reminder, haven't done it for a couple days. Keep posting 🙂 🌷🌿 🌸

In response to: anxiety

RipleyContributor28 June 2017, 4:47 pm AEST

Re: anxiety

I've never tried meditation. I find for myself, walking, bushwalking helps. I call it my "free therapy"!!! Thankyou @Former-Member for your reply because sometimes you feel alone. I think the medication has helped keep the extreme high level under control. I'm still very nervous, unconfident, and sort of I guess I feel it's just a part of who I am to a degree?? Does that make sense??

In response to: anxiety

Unknown userMember28 Aug 2017, 1:33 pm AEST

Re: anxiety

Makes sense @Ripley, you might be an introvert, a quiet private person and confidence issues comes with life experience and understanding. You'll get there. Are you still checking in on the forums?
Sorry I forgot about this thread and didn't reply to you back in June. I lose myself sometimes, who i am, what I start and intend to finish. Only popped back because @Former-Member mentioned my name, the thread with a link.

Lunar, Is it 'normal' to just forget like this? Must give the wrong impression to people. I am sorry 🌷🌿

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