Anxiety

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Another one of those anxiety threads...

So I had to come clean. I was due to be going to the phillipines with work tomorrow on a charity gig. I’ve been looking forward to it. 8 of us in a great team and our final fundraiser was last Thursday. As soon as this finished anxiety took over me. A situation I can’t control. I had to tell my work that I couldn’t go and it was upsetting that something in my head has stopped me doing something physical.

My work were very good about the situation but it has made me aware of my health and how I have felt in the last few years.

Looking back, I couldn’t enjoy my wedding day until the last guest left. I worry about one thing to the next.

Coming clean to others was very difficult and I now need to get help. I don’t see myself as a weak person, i’m the life and soul so can’t really see where it has all gone wrong?

The worst thing is now that I am not going, the fear has gone and I wonder what the fuss was about. I feel like I’m letting everyone down about nothing then I think about going again and get palpitations. It’s not flying all ok with that it is just... everything. I bloody worry about everything.

Anyone else with anxiety... sorry for the long read. I just feel i missed a great opportunity because I just well... can’t.

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Scabutz said:

Yep I've had it lots in the past.

You are not weak and no one whose opinion would count thinks you are.

I know what you mean about now its past you wonder why you were so worried. But that's the problem with anxiety, its irrational. Its your body going fight or flight mad for no reason. One phrase I like to remind myself of often is "Today is the Tomorrow you were worrying about Yesterday". I was.terrible for catastrophising, thinking the worst outcome. Its good to remind yourself that the worst rarely happens.

For me it was very physical symptoms, constant butterflies I couldn't control. Panic attacks.

Now what to do about it. There are plenty of ways to approach it. Self help: I took up triathlon, it was a way of burning the energy off and gave me something else to focus on. Your GP, their go to tool is anti depressants. Some people have found these to be great
Personally I thought they were fking awful. It might worth trying. Your GP might offer counselling. Depending on where you are that might take a while and might be st. If you can afford it go private, its normally about 40-50 quid a session once a week. Not all counsellors are the same so try a few and find one you like. I had two. One was great, one terrible.

For me as well some of my anxiety came from low testosterone. I am now being treated for that. Always worth a blood test at the GP to check for things.

You dont need to suffer in silence and you've taken the right step by admitting that you are struggling and looking at how to deal with it.

Thank you for your response, i’m sitting here feeling a bit of a mug when everyone is going to be off to the other side of the planet to help those more unfortunate than us who live in poverty and I couldn’t go because I was a bit worried. Irrational.

The only thing I can take solace in is we raised A lot of money. I got some kind words from others when I cited “personal reasons”. The chest pains have started to subside. I ended up in A&E when buying my house because the pains were so bad I thought I was having a heart attack.

Lets not forget the panic attack i had in thailand and thought I was having a heart attack. Who knew the brain could do some odd things. I just need to be back to that bloke I used to be.