Hello

[Coni]

Hello everyone,
I'm new to this site and stumbled scross it through a link on another website. I was off work for months last year with stress/anxiety/depression. I've now been back at work for 4 months and am almost off all medication (was on antidepressants and beta blockers.) I should be absolutely fine now and am still having counselling.

Thing is I'm finding my feelings of anxiety starting to get out of control again. I worry excessively about silly things. Work is a particular problem as my job is quite stressful. I just dont seem to be able to switch off. My mind starts racing, stomach churning, heart pounding, unable to sit still or relax but unable to concentrate on anything for all these thoughts going round in my head. Last night I was reduced to tears cos I didnt know how to stop thinking and I was really tired (does that sound mad?) And I cant switch it off. Its horrible. Ive got relaxation cds but I find it really difficult to lie still and quieten my mind enough to use them.

I've always been a 'worrier' and have had panic attacks in the past. I really thought I had conquered it after being off work but here I am going backwards again.

Thanks for reading
Coni

[darkangel]

Hi Coni

You have came to the right place, Coni.

You will get some great support and advice here. I think we all go through blips at some point but we are not back to square one. Try not to give yourself too a hard time, and please do not think you are going backwards as you are not. I always tend to think when I am going through a blip that it is an indication that I may need to address some issue that is going on.

Take care and once again, welcome.

Darkangel

........life is for living not just for surviving

[Robertc160882]

Hi Coni,

You may find it is just natural for you to be worrying the way you are because the stress of your job. Some times with our conditions we attribute everything to anxiety when what we are feeling is a normal symptom of everyday life.

If you feel this is not the case I would definitely speak to your GP and advise him of your current thoughts and see what his opinion is about you coming of your meds. It may even be that you need to increase your dose of antidepressants to see if that works. It is important to discuss it with your GP just to ensure it isn’t the stresses of everyday life taking over.

Well all the best and welcome to the site.

[Alexandra]

Hi Coni

Welcome to the forum.

You will find lots of help & advice here.

Take Care



Alex

Many People Will Walk
In & Out Of Your Life
But Only True Friends
Will Leave Footprints
In Your Heart

[trac67]

Hi Coni,

Welcome to the forum you will get a lot of good advice here and make some new friends.

Take care

Trac xx

'Live your life with arms wide open, today is where your book begins, the rest is still unwritten'

[Karen]

Hi Coni

Welcome to the forum. Well done for getting as far as you have and it does not sound mad at all that the constant ruminating brought you to tears. It is a challange to stop endlessly going over the same thoughts but practising at saying "stop" to yourself can help, as can distraction.

I also find writing these thoughts down can help and this is one reason I keep a daily journal, as well as to be able to look back on and recognise my progress.

You might find these posts on thoughts helpful:

Thoughts
Lets try to keep our thoughts in perspective (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=283)
Mind Games (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1789)
obsessive thoughts & anxiety (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3096)
Still suffering this damn "suggestive" thing.. (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4288)
How to CURE yourself ! The definitive guide here.. (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5357)
Its happening again ! (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6094)
Things to consider for success! (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6165)
[Link removed as post deleted]
Thoughts (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7187)
image projection in my mind (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7358)

Negative thoughts – dealing with
Dealing with negative thoughts (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7821)

Too much neg thinking
Living in my head 24/7 (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6491)
ITS ALWAYS AFTRWARDS (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=775)


Karen



Happiness is not a state to arrive at but a manner of travelling.

You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough ~ Christine Cagney, Cagney & Lacey

[sal]

Hi Coni

Welcome to the site

Love Sal xx


Dont mess up the best things in your life, just because at present you are unsure who you are.


"Life is a distance and to travel that distance you were given the strength and guidance to do so".

[clickaway]

Welcome aboard, Coni.

It often takes a long time to get back to where we were beforehand, and maybe you are just finding everything so overwhelming.

Yes, go and discuss with your GP.

Cheers,

Ray
http://www.anxietyrelease.org.uk/

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance.
~Mark Sanders and Tia Sillers

[Coni]

Hi all,
Thanks for all your replies. I may go and see my GP but I feel I spent so much time there in the last year that he must be absolutely sick of me! It becomes almost like a test i set myself to see if I can manage on my own. Though i must admit i still have some betablockers left and I was very tempted to take one to see if it would help but I spose that really would be a step backwards.

Thanks again everyone

Take care
Coni

[nomorepanic]

Hi Coni

Welcome aboard. Hopefully reading some of those links Karen gave you will help you realise you are not alone.

Let us know if you have any specific issues we can advise on.

Nicola

[jackie]

http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/default.asp?t=cms&c=reading

hey coni, welcome to this great site. well done about the medication and getting back to work

many of us fear the anxiety symptoms, have you read claire weekes books on how to overcome your fear of them, you can get it from the above site

hello again
jackie

[sueiamnew]

Hi Coni and welcome to the site.

[Meg]

Hello Coni,

Taking the odd betablocker is not going backwards, just giving you some self support and help.

Get acouple books of our reading page and do a bit of self help CBT or get yourself a few sessions to top you up on how to challange your negatively charged ' what if' thought patterns



Meg
www.anxietymanagementltd.com

Your anxiety is the human representation of the pictures that you paint using your many vivid colours of revolving and reoccurring thoughts.
How big is your gallery ?

[sal]

Do that hun and see what advice you get there.

Love Sal xx


Dont mess up the best things in your life, just because at present you are unsure who you are.


"Life is a distance and to travel that distance you were given the strength and guidance to do so".

[Jodieg]

Hey there Coni.

Please dont worry about your anxiety coming back, believe me, it will make it 10 times worse than before.

Accept that it may come back, and in doing that it automatically means it wont be as bad as before. Thats where i made my mistake.

Do you know your breathing techniques? I was taught that in and out through the nose relevels the chemicals in your blood, and i find it does generally work.

When you find yourself feeling a little restless and panicky, just take a few minutes and focus on your breathing and Nothing else! You may still feel panicky for a few minutes, but in my experience it does calm you and relax you.

I too worry about stupid things. Thing thats getting me at the moment is I think that my mum is going to have a car crash. My mum is the most important thing in my world and I'll try not to be too morbid, but I panic incase she does have a crash. I feel that I am becoming over protective of her, and the amount of stress that we put on our families and friends is incredible, and they just never seem to understand.

What you have to know Coni, is that however irrational our behaviour and thoughts may be, to us, they seem real and totally rational, and I think,... Although im no Einstein!.... thats where we have to make the changes.

All I will say is relax as much as possible, and without being to patronising, Dont worry. I too am a worrier and i know how hard it is.
Good luck babe, email any time
Lots of love Jodie xxxxxx

[Coni]

Hi everyone,
thanks again for all the advice. I think I'll try the Claire Weekes book (books are one of my weaknesses). Also the breathings a good idea but when I'm panicking all rational thought and clear thinking go completely out the window!
Jodie I know what you mean about worrying over family. I lost my mum last year suddenly, and my dad and older brother both died suddenly some years ago. Now everytime theres an unexpected knock at the door or car drawing up outside, or even phonecall, I'm scared its going to be something bad. You know that sudden knot in your stomach and feeling on edge all the time. I have a friend who gets really angry with me but instead of making me less anxious I just end up feeling really lousy about myself as well as anxious.

Anyway its good to know I'm not alone.

Thanks again everyone

Love Coni X

[sal]

Hi Hun

You have being through a lot and it will only be natural to feel how you do. I think you have coped great and we are all here to support you.



Love Sal xx


Dont mess up the best things in your life, just because at present you are unsure who you are.


"Life is a distance and to travel that distance you were given the strength and guidance to do so".