Relapse! Coping, Symptoms and Tips.

[DustingMyselfOff]

I have an ad-blocker so I don't see ads on the right (just blank space) but the messages are squashed to the left more than they used to be.... at least now I know why.
Sue

[Carnation]

Yes, Alex made some adjustments to the Site last weekend, although I under he may be tweaking them this weekend.

So, I have a daily anxious period. 4.30pm to 7.30pm. Why? I don't know, but can't relax, on high alert and very agitated. It's nothing to do with being hungry or thirsty because I'm doing mountains of both.
The only thing I can think of is a time trigger.
This time bracket is when I've had most of my panic attacks in the past. So whether my mind / body goes into prep mode as an anticipation state, it could well be that.

Mr C is not coping very well with this virus / lock down situation and wants life to go back to normal. Being realistic I can't see that happening for a long time and with huge changes. He's very much a free spirit type of person, like a wild horse. So am I to a certain extent, but living with anxiety changed my lifestyle drastically.
Adaption is hard when you are set in your ways.

Changing the subject, I've had some quite interesting dreams lately where I am a fee spirit with no anxiety. Does that mean there is hope for me yet?

Sue, your tic phobia is completely understandable but because you are aware even more than normal, the likelihood of you picking up a tic is very minimal. If you are that concerned about the clothes picking up something unwanted, get a decorator's jumpsuit and take off before you go inside and leave in a shed or garage. Same with your boots. Have a pair for outdoors only.
Eliminate anything that will cause you worry. x

[DustingMyselfOff]

Hi Mrs. C.
Yes, I went over and read some of the other threads about the change in the forum formatting.... now I understand. Normally this is the ONLY thread I visit on this site... I was always afraid reading any of the other posts would be a trigger for me and would give me more things to be anxious about simply through the power of suggestion. But wow, it's a big forum with lots of interesting people and a wide variety of issues! I may have to venture out more in the future.

Luckily both my husband and I are "OK" with the pandemic quarantine. He LOVES that he's working from home and hopes that never changes, but I fear a lot of people will be losing their jobs once people are invited back to the offices. Companies may discover just which employees are essential and which they can do without. My life hasn't changed that much: I still go to work, I still enjoy being home, and I love having excuses NOT to attend social events. So, I'm in no rush for things to loosen up. I do miss the casino, though, and they are opening I believe June 1. Not sure if I will go or not but out of curiosity I would love to see what they are doing to keep patrons and employees safe. I know they are insisting on masks, and they will also take your temperature as you enter. And since they want everyone 6 feet apart, did they remove a lot of machines and chairs? Plexiglass? Will be interesting to see.

Of course there is hope for you..... I'm not sure what the dreams are telling you but maybe if your mind "practices" being a free spirit while you're sleeping, then it will start to carry over to your waking moments. And I'm sure that time frame where you are most anxious is definitely a time trigger.... remembering when the anxiety happened the most and fearing it will repeat itself.

I never worried much about ticks before and would be the first one to rummage around in the woods behind our house digging through the leaves and shrubbery and wading in the brook and overturning rocks to look for critters. But having found one embedded in my hip last week was a huge eye-opener, and since I have family members and friends who have suffered greatly with Lyme Disease, some who can't seem to get rid of it since it wasn't caught early enough, I am much more "careful" now. Yes, I'll use careful instead of "phobic". These things are as small as the point of a pencil so there is no way to examine every inch of my body and scalp regularly and efficiently.... I'm just going to have to let go of the worry and hope for the best.

Anyway, I hope everyone is doing as well as can be expected.....the thread has been rather quiet so I'm going to hope that means people aren't having too many issues.
Sue

[Carnation]

Thank heavens you come on Sue, I'd have no one to talk to. Mind you, I'm quite used to talking to myself.
It's been hot here today. 26c and 25c is my limit for being out in the heat. The strong winds make my hay-fever worse. But I'm a window opener, even in the winter.
It has been quiet on this thread and not heard from Darksky in ages. You'd think it would be busier considering.

[DustingMyselfOff]

Mrs. C... we've always commented on how much we have in common (and most recently just heard that you have long, THICK hair, as I do) but now we even have identical weather even though we are MILES apart. We are at 78F degrees here which I think converts to about 26c. And yes, too hot for me. Thank goodness the animal shelter has air conditioning or I would probably have to quit my job. I just feel awful in the heat (and especially humidity) physically and mentally. I get faint, angry, tired, and just need to crawl under a rock and hide till it cools down. And I, too, am always opening the bedroom windows at night (sometimes even in the dead of winter) and my husband gets up after I fall asleep and closes them. I guess they just don't realize they are married to Hot Babes!

You would think there would be lots more forum posts with all the extra time on our hands, but it seems to be working the opposite: the "too much time on our hands" is making us all lazy and unmotivated. I go both ways.... energizer bunny on days I work and couch potato on the days I don't.

And me talking to myself is what I was famous for at my last job, and they're quickly learning at my shelter job that I talk to myself non-stop, too. However, here I blame it on the cats.... I pretend I'm talking to them.
Sue

[Carnation]

Yes Sue, thick curly hair, that is also flyaway and hates the humidity, the bane of my life, lol.
I have a correction to make on my last post.
25c my limit? What am I talking about, more like 22c.
I don't cope well with humidity either, even in the winter.
Probably the thick hair doesn't help either.

It seems like you have the perfect set up at home. The best of both worlds. Escape to the animal shelter to get out of the house, hubby at home working so not entirely under your feet.
The word round my way is that people have got so used to the new regime that they are reluctant to accept getting back to the new normal and shouting about pedestrian only areas and keep any strangers out! So much aggression and self-centred people have arisen and only confirmed my opinion of humans as a race.
Which is why I have always been more comfortable with animals than people. IMAO, its the people who tend to be the animals. ok, shut up Carnation, you'll get more hate mail.

I'm so struggling with my anxiety at the moment so decided a new hobby was needed.
So yesterday I started my first collage.
If nothing else it certainly kills the time. It also makes a mess, but I quite like that.
Mr C humours me by telling me it looks good when I'm really thinking "what the hell am I doing", lol.
The only thing with a hobby / craft with me is that unless I can sell it, use it or give it someone, its pointless doing.
Whatever you do it must have a point otherwise its pointless!
Some people might think this thread is pointless, but for me it makes me feel connected to others that perhaps feel the same way. I've met some lovely people on here that have been my rock through hard times and if just one person is helped by reading something they can relate to then it makes it all worthwhile. x

[DustingMyselfOff]

If this thread continues to be slow and quiet, we can always revert to e-mails throughout the day (and night) to stay connected.
Sue

[Carnation]

No matter how quiet Sue, I'll continue the thread as I have PMs telling me they follow it. x

[glassgirlw]

Hi gals (and guys)- thought I’d type out a quick message.

My anxiety has been a little ramped up over the last couple days, but surprisingly not related to Covid or lockdown. My sister in law (age 34) has been battling non-Hodgkin lymphoma for the past six months. About a month ago she received a very promising treatment and the cancer had almost completely gone. But I received a phone call from my brother on Thursday evening that her heart just gave out and she passed away. So I hopped in my car at 8 pm and made the 12 hour drive south to Texas - drove all night. Lack of sleep typically feeds my anxiety and this was no exception I’m afraid. But my brother lives in Houston, which is HOT. and so humid. Today it was 92F with 98% humidity. Heat also fuels my anxiety. Add into that everyone must wear masks in public, which make me feel like my breathing is restricted, and it’s just really rough. Trying so hard to remember this isn’t about me and my many neurosis, just to be in the moment and support my brother however I can. Definitely not easy though.

I hope you guys are doing well, or as well as can be expected during these crazy times. I’ve enjoyed taking a few minutes and catching up on the thread!

amanda

[pulisa]

Oh God I am so very sorry, Amanda...Words on a screen can't begin to express how awful this must be for you..Please post on here and tell us how you are "coping" (what a meaningless word this is).

I'm sure you are a tower of strength for your brother but you are suffering too and if we can help in any small way then just say...xxx