Hello, my introduction... I’am a GAD anxiety sufferer. I have been feeling so overwhelmed lately and I don’t know what to do? Everything gets to me, I’m so tired trying to fight this illness all the time. I have so many fears and thoughts that it scares me. I don’t sleep well these days. I went through a traumatic event 10 years ago which my GP believes that is where my anxiety started from. I’ve come to beyond blue for help and guidance.

Hi tntomo,

Welcome to the community here. It sounds like you have a few things happening for you, feeling anxious, being overwhelmed, tired, not sleeping well and experiencing many fears and having a past trauma.

Has you GP recommended some kind of therapy for you to attend to help with some or all of your issues?

Is it possible to write down your concerns and choose one to work on today. Maybe "sleep" for instance. Have you heard of "Sleep Hygiene". If you Google this, there will be ideas that may help you to sleep better.

Gaining more sleep will help you feel less tired and less stressed.

A psychologist has told me to stop fighting my depression, stress and anxiety and to just accept them. Sometimes that is easier said than done. When I do try to accept my down days they do not feel so horrible.

In all you are experiencing, can you think of one thing to be thankful for and one thing you can do to help you through the day?

I don't want to overwhelm you! A lot of what I have mentioned here are things I am working on myself.

Wishing you well on your discovery of finding ways to help yourself!

Cheers from Dools

Hello Dools,

thank you kindly for that informative information. Being on this forum has helped (although I haven’t been on here too long) I’am currently on medication to pan out the anxiety but feel I might need to see my GP again and seek some more assistance.

I have so many fears that take over me, and when the what ifs travel through my head I find it difficult to stop them. I get so scared. And some days I feel like such a burden to my husband and feel weak as a mother to my children. The older I’m becoming the worse I feel my anxiety is getting.

Hi tntomo,

Thanks for your reply. It may be very beneficial having a chat to your Dr about how you are feeling. I am extremely fortunate to have a very supportive Dr. I don't know that I would be doing so well if I did not have his understanding and support.

This morning I was feeling so depressed and anxious I didn't want to get up. I kept telling myself how nice a lovely hot shower would be, then breakfast. I then made plans for how I would spend the day.

It helps me to have a rough plan for the day, or at least for the next thing I want to do or need to do.

Have you tried Cognitive Behaviour Therapy? You can Google it to see how it works if you haven't come across it.

There have been times where I have written over many pages thinking of all kinds of solutions and ideas that I might be able to out into practise, from the feasible to the down right stupid! Sometimes it helps.

Using CBT skills may help you to break down some of your fears. Think of one that is the least distressing and have a go at nutting out what it is that is really bothering you about it and how you could deal with it.

My depression and anxiety has been heightened lately so I am trying to accept that and cope when I am able to and try not to be too annoyed with myself when I am not coping so well.

Small steps is what it takes sometimes!

Wishing you well and hope you find your way around the forums okay.

Cheers from Dools

Hello Dools,

i will look into that cognitive behavioural therapy sounds interesting. I’m sorry that your day started out with anxiousness! I hope it got much better for you.

My GP is good, always listens and is always trying to seek ways to help me feel better.

Definently baby steps indeed! I have good days and I have bad. Trying to except my bad days is a struggle as my anxiety is so over powering.

Hi tntomo,

Thanks for your kind words. I totally understand what you mean about having good days and bad days.

My Dr recently put me on to a web site called "Centre for Clinical Interventions" based in W.A. I don't recall now if we are allowed to offer web addresses here. I am sure if it is not the case, the moderators will remove it.

Try looking at www.cci.health.wa.gov.au

I'm not very good explaining technology, but there is a section on the site where you can access information about all kinds of mental health issues.

I have started to read about Self- Compassion and what I have read has made a lot of sense to me and helps me understand myself better.

You may like to have a look at that as well.

Hope you find ways to accept and lower your anxiety! I had a better day today!

Cheers to you from Dools

Dear tntomo

Hello and welcome to the forum. It's really good you have come here and Bev has given you some great suggestions. The Self Compassion web address is https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/Looking-After-Yourself/Self-Compassion Copy and paste in your search engine. It looks like a lot to read so take it slowly. You can download it to your own computer.

At different times I have had various intrusive thoughts which cause me lots of anxiety. My wonderful GP has suggested that when this happens I should stop fighting, stop trying to push it away and instead allow the emotions to wash over me. Sounds a bit scary I know. Trying to make it go away is a bit like stopping the tide. Instead, let it come and let it go, just like the water coming in and out. This is how I see acceptance. The more I fight the worse it gets.

Even trying to replace those thoughts with others does not work well and instead we have two things to worry about. One is the original fear and the second is when we tell ourselves how silly we are for having these thoughts. Anxiety and depression are no respecter of persons. These thoughts come out of the blue almost like a physical blow and leaves us gasping for breath.

In that instant all our panic reactions kick in and we want to get away, fight, scream or whatever. Instead take a deep breath, sit down if you can and do nothing. It may help if you practice when you are in a good place. It may take a little while to stop acting on instinct but you will learn to take charge and relax. It's a bit like getting a 'flu vax. You know the needle will sting but it hurts less if you can relax. Same principle.

Hope this helps.

Mary

Hi Mary,

Your words have helped me! Thanks!

Cheers from Dools

Hello Dools & tntomo

Glad I could help Dools.

tntomo I forgot to say (until after I had posted) remind yourself that these thoughts and feelings have gone away before. They do not stay forever although it can feel like that. Tell yourself you have survived this before and no matter how yucky you feel now the memories will go away. I guess you can call it a positive affirmation.

When I was going through a really bad time all I could was to sit, remind myself to breathe (which was hard at times) and say "This will not last. It has gone away before and will go again. You know you are getting better". After a while I began to notice I was not in a mess for 2-3 days. Instead the recovery time slowly got shorter. That was amazing because sometimes I thought this was going to last forever. Try to take notice of the decreasing time you are so very distressed.

My GP also noticed I was not as distressed as I used to be. She was so supportive and pointed out how I was improving. There were times when I was seeing her that I could not speak without lots of tears, so I tried my best not cry and it was so hard. This was holding on to my hurt. May be it would have been better to let the tears come but I felt so ashamed of myself.

Looking back I giggle a bit at my old self and the desperate efforts I made to appear OK. At the time it was so important to 'behave'. So my feeling is to let the tears come, especially when talking to GP or psych. We use far too much energy trying to be in control. We need this energy in other areas such as keeping as balanced as possible or doing something different. Resilience is what we are aiming for.

Mary

I totally understand. It's the exhaustion that gets to me, so finding a way to sleep, for me at least, is always the biggest struggle, but the one I think would help with anxiety.

I really hope you get excellent advice.

Dominique

Hi Mary & Dools,

thank so much for your positivity and uplifting words. Coming into this forum was one of the best decisions I made. It has made me realise that I’am not alone with this awful illness and that I have a chance to help others like minded.

I currently have a slight bit of anxiety atm, and as usual it’s come out of the blue. So I’m trying some strategies that we’re recommended to me, it’s hard I tell you. My what ifs are high and I feel that gut wrench feeling like something terrible is wrong with me. So I’m looking to the positives, my husband will be home from work soon and he always grounds me. And I’am thankful to have my two beautiful daughters. I came good for a couple of days, but it seems when I find myself getting on track my anxiety needs to find something to bring me down.

thank you both so much for your informative information. It has given me some glimmer of hope xx.

Hi Dominique,

thank you for reading my introduction post. Pleased to me you along with all the other lovely people I have come across in this forum.

Anxiety/depression is a horrible illness and I wouldn’t wish it upon anybody. Have you found any techniques that help you relax at night?

Tanya/tntomo