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...
Hi everyone! Since the pandemic began in March I've had dozens of panic attacks, meltdowns, and breakdowns. When it was declared a pandemic I was in the middle of my senior year of nursing school. I immediately flew back home and was weirdly okay. I've always suffered from Anxiety (social) but suddenly a week in it all hit me like a pile of bricks. I began to feel short of breath, chest tightness, and immediately believed I had COVID and was going to die. On top of it, I understand the patho physiology behind this virus - which doesn't improve my anxiety whatsoever. As the semester went off, thousands died, and our classes kept talking about it, my mental health deteriorated. I went back to my university state and I am working at the community hospital and living on my own through this, away from family. It is awful. I tear up constantly. I feel so lonely through this. No one takes this virus seriously and my anxiety is constantly creating physical symptoms: muscle tightness, chest pain, abdominal issues, excessive swallowing causing sore throats. It's constant and it comes in waves. Some days it will be okay and others it will hit me and I can't leave my apartment. I do talk with a therapist. I need to see a doctor and have been contemplating taking anti-anxiety meds since it gets awful some days. Any support or experience would be so reassuring that I can get through this. Thank you!
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I haven't written in my diary on my computer since May because I thought that my computer was dying. I got away from writing but my computer is hanging in there. I think that I will start writing in it again. It's so therapeutic.
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Years ago, I won a mirrored armoire from my job. It's in my bedroom but I rarely stand in front of it. Yesterday, I had to have a dexascan done so I had to change into a gown. There was a full length mirror in the changing room. I'm aware that I gained 5 to 7 pounds over the last year from cheating on Keto but I didn't know what it looked like. It was a reality check.
One thing I have learned is that taking time out for relaxation is key. Anxiety triggers our flight or fight instinct which causes our symptoms. In order to improve our symptoms we have to learn to relax and calm ourselves. Deep breathing using the lower belly is a natural calming technique that can be used anywhere, meditation, gentle exercise or a favorite activity. If you feel restless try exercise. Journaling also helps get your thoughts and emotions out and can help you identify triggers. I have provided some links that may be helpful. I hope you find serenity and peace. Post as often as you need for support.
https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/fight-or-flight-response/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/prescriptions-life/201709/7-ways-calm-your-worried-mind-and-reduce-anxiety
From my sensory perception, you are way ahead of the mainstream curve on recognizing the source of your increased anxiety. Four months of this historically unprecedented series of events is quite allot, whichever side of the social distance you stand on.
I might well be on the side you accuse of not taking all this seriously. I still can't look at a mask without reliving medical trauma. The designer masks are taking me places I still have no words for. Do those masks come with matching sets of surgical tools you keep hidden behind your masks? I still can't bear the thought of putting one on my face. Not to worry. I have a quarter mile driveway for my proper social distance, so my handicap doesn't have the opportunity to frighten you too often, nor does your mask have the opportunity to trigger me to flashback hell very often. A quarter mile is a right proper social distance.
These be crazy times we live in. Prayers in progress that we can pull out of the social experiment with a modicum of shared sanity. As it is, I feel like our social distancing is breaking down to The Masked against The Unmasked. Both sides are taking ^it^ seriously. Are differing coping mechanisms still allowed?
Keep a private daily journal to sort through your thoughts.
One way is to write out your feelings, emotions and thoughts about a single sentence.
Then go sentence by sentence separately.
This will help you see the patterns of your thoughts and give you a natural way to find a better balance.
Understanding that studying and learning can give you insight on ways to work through everything is normal.
You are on the right track to improving your well-being naturally.
Do even breathing, Breathe in through nose, out through mouth. Breathe in through nose, out through nose.
Stay hydrated.
Best wishes as you find your better balance.
I work in the medical field and unfortunately that means we have to constantly be updated on current events/news/procedures/protocols,etc.
One thing that helped with me anxiety is to limit the amount of social media and news you see everyday. ( And I know how dumb that sounds ) given we are right in the middle of a pandemic. ( which is serious by the way).
So what I did was limit how much of the COVID news/articles/ or discussions I wanted to have that day. For me I only focused on the virus for about one hour a day, then I would switch my focus over to my patients, job, and what I can improve on that day.
If the covid virus is a trigger for you then limit the amount of time you are willing to focus on it.
Hope this helps and best wishes.