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Need help with anxiety

Legylo

I really suffer bad with my anxiety. I always have but it's a lot worse now than it was, it causes me a lot of physical problems when it gets triggered. I've seen the doctors but they can't really help, they offer pills and therapies but none of that has helped me. I'm doing ok but I feel anxious most of the time and have been unable to work and I stay in pretty much all the time because I'm too anxious to go outside because of germs and fear of having to meet and talk to people.

What helps you with anxiety?

I have a comfort bear that I carry round with me. It doesn't stop the anxiety but I feel calmer and happier when I'm carrying my bear. Sad really but it helps, so I do it.

My anxiety has always affected me but now I realise it's actually ruining my life and I'm missing out on so much of it. I really want to be anxiety free but I don't know how to.

Parents

  • I‘m sorry you’re struggling with your anxiety so much. I can really relate to this. Here are some strategies that help me hopefully you can try some :) 

    •I‘m on medication, I know you advised this hasn’t worked for you but maybe you could ask your doctor if there’s other ones you could try.

    •Therapy has really helped me. I‘ve had similar issues to you where I‘ve had many unsuccessful therapy sessions. However, like with medication it could be worth asking your doctor again and trying different types of therapy. It took me years honestly to find a therapist that works well with how my brain is.

    •Exercise really helps me. For me this looks like going to the gym or for walks around my local park. If you‘re too anxious to leave the house you could look up home exercises like yoga and YouTube is filled with fitness videos you can follow at home.

    •I find puzzles really helpful. This is a new strategy I have tried and it’s been great. I find it helps to redirect my anxious thoughts as I’m having to focus on the puzzle. I have a word search book at home and a crossword app for when I’m on the go.

    •Writing my feelings in a notebook helps me. For me it helps to write out what I’m thinking as it’s like I’m removing the anxious thoughts from the head and can examine them and rationalise them when they’re on paper.

    • Speaking to people can help. I find this is useful for making sure I’m not stuck in an echo chamber of my own anxiety. I tend to speak to my partner but I sometimes utilise this forum for that.

Reply

  • I‘m sorry you’re struggling with your anxiety so much. I can really relate to this. Here are some strategies that help me hopefully you can try some :) 

    •I‘m on medication, I know you advised this hasn’t worked for you but maybe you could ask your doctor if there’s other ones you could try.

    •Therapy has really helped me. I‘ve had similar issues to you where I‘ve had many unsuccessful therapy sessions. However, like with medication it could be worth asking your doctor again and trying different types of therapy. It took me years honestly to find a therapist that works well with how my brain is.

    •Exercise really helps me. For me this looks like going to the gym or for walks around my local park. If you‘re too anxious to leave the house you could look up home exercises like yoga and YouTube is filled with fitness videos you can follow at home.

    •I find puzzles really helpful. This is a new strategy I have tried and it’s been great. I find it helps to redirect my anxious thoughts as I’m having to focus on the puzzle. I have a word search book at home and a crossword app for when I’m on the go.

    •Writing my feelings in a notebook helps me. For me it helps to write out what I’m thinking as it’s like I’m removing the anxious thoughts from the head and can examine them and rationalise them when they’re on paper.

    • Speaking to people can help. I find this is useful for making sure I’m not stuck in an echo chamber of my own anxiety. I tend to speak to my partner but I sometimes utilise this forum for that.

Children
  • in reply to Wib

    Sorry! I only just got a notification for this.
    Thanks so much for your very helpful tips. These are really good ideas and I will give them a try.....I love the puzzles idea...I used to do puzzles when I was little, with my mum...reading that brought back some happy childhood memories for me.

    I've thought about asking my doctor for more help, I worry about the side effects...they were so bad last time, it was awful....I am waiting for therapy but how long it will be I really don't know. The NHS waiting times are crazy long rn.

  • in reply to Wib

    The puzzle thing is a good idea will take a look at that one thanks

  • in reply to Wib

    Hi Wib - just want to comment that I find some of these things helpful too. I find getting outside is really good for me - especially on a lovely sunny day when the brightness and birdsong do me so much good and just settle me somehow. But also a really crisp cold day gives a sort of shock to my system and that can be good too. I also find that any activity that requires my focus (often someth8ng mundane like tidying up or whatever) is really good as it gives me another focus other than just focusing on what I’m anxious about. And also speaking to people - yes - it’s surprisingly effective even if it’s just chatting to someone at the bus stop or something. It gets us ‘out of our own heads’ - opens up our perspective and makes us focus on others rather than on what going on in our own heads.