Anxiety Support Group
Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...
I'm not sure to start here but I will give it a go...
In my mid to late teen years I suffered with anxiety and panic attacks. When I first started having them it was the absolute worst experience of my life, especially at that time not knowing what a panic attack even was. As I got older and into a stable career it basically went away. Fast forward to March 2020. Happily married with a 1 year old son, who I love more than I can even describe, and financially stable. I feel it necessary to say that in my position at work I typically visit anywhere from 30 to 50 people a week. That has obviously came to a halt. I have now been working from home for over 4 months. About 1 month in I started to feel the effects of the isolation and the anxiety was starting to return. At first it wasn't too terrible but I still felt it. June 1st, my wife returned to work and daycare reopened. At first it was great because I found I was able to concentrate and get more work related items done. That was short lived. The anxiety intensified and eventually led to full blown panic attacks. I started talking with a therapist mid to late June and I will say he has been great. We think what is causing my attacks is the literal feeling of being alone and the disruption in my daily routine ( that apparently I created as a coping mechanism subconsciously years ago to manage the anxiety ). I now find on Sunday evenings knowing I will be alone for the next 5 days it spirals me out of control. So this morning I find myself in the same situation. Feelings of fear, panic, and thinking the absolute worst. One thing I have found is that guided meditation does help. It may be a brief relief but it is something. In some strange way even writing this post seems to help, which I assume is because of just simply acknowledging the issue and not trying to hide from it. In summary I guess I am just looking to see if there is anyone out there experiencing the same thing or has any recommendations on ways to cope / manage the negative thoughts. Even if this post gets zero replies thank you for taking the time to read and if there is someone out there in the same position who is hesitant to reply know there is atleast 1 other person fighting with you.
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It's going to get hotter here with Thursday being the hottest. It's noon and 75f feels more like 80 or more.I've been cleaning up the deck in this morning and cleaning the windows outside. Then I cut up a pallet in half, I've decided to call it quits now because I went a bit light headed. Joanne, some drugs we take have an effect on us in the heat, I know a couple of mine do, maybe yours...
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I confess I was not able to read too much of your post. My tired old eyes tend to turn long paragraphs into big black smudges on the computer screen, so I was only able to read the first and last sentences. That was enough for me to send reassurance that you are far from alone.
Welcome aboard. Hope you find stabilizing companionship here.
It seems that you've already figured out that being in lockdown and working from home has led to these. Being alone so much isn't good for anyone, and I know many people (including myself) who are suffering emotionally/mentally from all this isolation. We humans are designed to interact with one another! At least we know it's not forever.
In the meantime, some things you can do are going for a walk mid-day, listening to music, journaling, praying, and exercising. Or if you have a hobby that makes you so focused that you aren't even aware of the passing of time, that could help. Anything you do to break up the monotony of being home alone will be helpful. Being inside our own heads for too long usually takes us in a downward spiral. For me, the more I can get my mind off myself and either do a project or be around people, the better.
If you absolutely feel that it's out of control, you can go on meds short-term until life resumes it's normalcy. Personally, I try to avoid meds because as an RN, I'm very aware of all the side effects, but I also don't condemn anyone who feels that they can't cope without them. One of my daughters can't function well without them.
Another thing I tried as an experiment one time was I listed all my fears and worries about all the things that might happen. Then I paid attention to how many of them came to pass. It was virtually none of them. We waste a lot of time worrying about all the "what if's", and we rob ourselves of today's health, today's blessings, today's joys. And because I trust God with my life and my future, I also find peace in knowing that if/when any bad things DO happen, He will be with me and walk with me through them. I've seen many of my Christian friends go through very difficult things, but because of their faith in the one who loves and knows them best, they were able to cope, to experience God's grace, and to heal.
If none of my ideas or anyone else's are helpful, I recommend that you continue with your therapist and see if there's anything deeper down that is consuming you. Sometimes our busy lives keep us from having to face something traumatic from the past, or something we feel guilty about, or an unresolved relationship or issue. If that's your situation, you might as well take the bull by the horns and deal with it. It won't go away unless you do, and it will continue to manifest itself in often negative ways. I speak from experience....I tried for years to suppress childhood sexual abuse, but when I got to the point of harming myself and being unable to function in a healthy way, I had to face it, conquer it, and come out victorious. So if this is true for you, I really encourage you to find the freedom you so long for. I wish you well.
Make a list for the five days of solitude. Most of us have learned techniques to "calm" by going places where nature is first, the sound is quiet, and the feeling is comforting.
What makes you feel comfortable when, where, how, and who? Answering this privately in a journal will help you sort through the emotions, feelings, thoughts, and options.
Fear of fear itself is something to write about in a private journal. This will help you unlock how the anxiety moves into panic. The more you write it out, the easier it will be to find the clues to unlock the trigger, the scent, the word, the scene that pushes it into overwhelming.
Best wishes as you find your better balance.
Just as I was getting comfortable and meeting new people, along came the virus. All groups shut down.
I did not take it well at all. To compound matters, I am a recovering alcoholic and I coped by relapsing. I ended up in the hospital and had psychiatric help.
I am better now thanks to therapy, AA meetings, and trying to stay out and about with my photography hobby.
So, my advice is to find people to talk to, professional or social, grab an activity that interests you, try to exercise and eat properly. Meditation also helps.
Hang in there!