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...

23,095 Members
43,236 Posts
1 Online
Anxiety Disorders
/ Anxiety Support Group

Hi...I'm new to the group

Minny
Minny

Hi everyone, I am new to this group and am hoping to connect with others and find ways to help my anxiety. I am a mother of three, full-time employee, and I am working on my Master's. I am so overwhelmed all the time and every chance I get I hide in my bedroom and am easily irritated. I put on a happy face at work and do my best to get through the day but when I get home I shut down and don't want to talk to or deal with anyone. I just want to be alone. I have even started to make excuses to avoid social gatherings. If I do go, I sit and think about how much longer before I can leave. I know that exercise helps, but I have no motivation or desire for that. I do breathing exercises when I am feeling panicky and have tried meditation a few times. But, I usually just play games on my phone or watch TV so that I can be distracted and focus on something other than my racing thoughts. I feel like I am bitter and angry a lot and I don't like that. Other than meds, what techniques do you all use to help reduce your anxiety?


Thanks....and nice to meet you all!

JennAdeleK
JennAdeleK
WOW! It sounds like you have a lot going on. With everything on your plate, I think feeling anxious about it all is just a normal response. Each of us only has so much energy to go around and only 24 hours in a day. If you are overwhelmed already from work, school, and the demands of parenting then there is nothing wrong with taking a step back from your social obligations until you have more time and energy (like during a break from school or when you finish). Also, instead of big self-care practices that would take up a lot of time and energy to put into place, maybe try working in smaller self-care acts throughout the day... a nice bubble bath every evening, 5 minutes of yoga stretching, packing a favorite treat with your daily lunches, listening to music during your break times, and going to bed about 15-20m minutes early to allow yourself to unwind...
Jroj
Jroj
I think you may have some anxiety and also overwhelmed. It seems like you have alot on going in your life. All you can is take it day by day and hopefully have some time off for you . My therapist says lack of sleep, being overwhelmed and not eating right can affect our anxiety too. I hope you find something to help you out. And yea it's hard to find time and motivation to work out some times, that's what I am currently struggling with my self
Minny
Minny
@JennAdeleK thanks for taking the time to reply. I agree with what you said about the social obligations and just hearing you say that it's ok makes me feel better about not participating. But I feel that it is starting to take a toll on my relationships with friends and family when I opt out of gatherings. I do love bubble baths and will often do that when I need some peace and alone time. I don't know why, but I am reluctant to seek therapy. Have you gone to therapy and have you found it helpful?
Minny
Minny
@Jroj I appreciate hearing from you. My sleeping patterns and schedule are horrible! There are nights that I stay up all night doing schoolwork and then have to go to work the next day. A lot of times I fall asleep on the couch and then wake up in the middle of the night and can't fall asleep. My problem is that I am used to falling asleep to the TV. I was thinking I could try listening to music in my bed to see if that will help me fall asleep and be able to sleep through the night. How long have you been in therapy? Do you find it beneficial?