• missporkpie@gmail.com
  • Great Malvern, England
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My Anxiety – Let’s get honest

My Anxiety – Let’s get honest

Anxiety kicks in at the completely wrong time!! It’s taking me a lot of bravery to post this, as it is a very personal matter of mine. I find it embarrassing, and most of all, I feel like it shows I am weak, but I have had enough of feeling like this now and I need to get it out there! Maybe some of you will relate to this!

I’ve suffered with anxiety for years now, but it’s getting progressively worse. It all started off with my emetophobia (fear of vomiting). My anxiety would only flare up if I felt sick. Then when I’d not long had dinky, we moved to a house, and it got really bad, I don’t know whether it was the fact motherhood and the fact I now had a tiny precious being to look after had finally sunk in, or whether it was something else, all I know is, I dreaded being alone, especially at night.

After me and Dinky’s Dad split, I was referred by my doctor to cbt (cognitive behavioural therapy) to work past it. The therapist identified the key behaviours I was displaying when I felt anxious which were:

  • Chewing gum
  • Sipping ice cold water
  • Excessively deep breathing
  • Getting away from the situation I was in (for example, if I was out and I had an anxiety attack, I’d go home, because it felt safer)
anxiety

How I’ve dealt with it before

She then suggested that every week I try and cut out each of these methods, to challenge myself, using those techniques may have temporarily got rid of my anxiety, but the next time I had an attack it felt worse. She explained to me that anxiety will only get so bad, and then you will calm down, and if you could ride out the worst of it, you will feel better in the long run, and as time goes on the length of the attack would become shorter. She also told me to ask myself every time I felt anxious “what’s the worst that could happen?”.

When I thought about it that way I couldn’t give an answer, all I could say was something bad, so I used that technique every time I felt anxious. The first week I decided to stop myself escaping the situation, which, if I’m honest I found quite easy as that was always my last resort. The next week I cut out the water and the deep breathing, which I found a challenge because that week I had one of the worst attacks I’ve ever had, I spent the whole night trying to ride it out, and my therapist was right, it did go, and in the end I was fine. So the next week I confidently stopped chewing gum altogether, and every week from there on I felt stronger and more able to deal with it. I can honestly say after the 6 sessions I felt like a new person. She also recommended I use self help sites and the best place to start is www.nhs.uk

So what’s going on now?

It never went away but I knew how to deal with it, and now, nearly 2 years on its back, and with a vengeance. It mostly occurs at night, and the slightest thing sets me off. I still use the calming techniques, but they don’t really help anymore, I can’t help but feel like something terrible is going to happen, my heart races, I feel sick (which is awful especially when dealing with emetephobia), I shake, I feel faint and I sob my heart out. Mr pie is amazing at dealing with me, he tries to take my mind off it and most of the time it subsides pretty quickly, but there’s the odd times where I feel like I need to just get out, go somewhere, anywhere. I’ve started feeling like I’m pushing the closest people to me away, because I hate being seen that vulnerable, I like to show that I’m a strong person, and I loathe the thought of people pitying me.

So on a Thursday my boy goes to his Dad’s and me and Mr Pie go to the pub in the evening and chill (everyone deserves a break right?!). Normally I’m absolutely fine and I relax easily, but tonight for some reason I’m struggling to be here, I’m trying to fight it and keep my mind off it. Weirdly writing this post has calmed me down. I’m sure you’re all thinking “why not do what you did before?” – my answer is, I don’t know, it somehow feels harder this time.

Even though I know anxiety is a common illness to suffer with, I feel like I’m the only one who ever feels this way. Am I being crazy? They say it’s a battle that can’t be won, but I’m determined to because I’m so sick of being like this.

I’m really interested to hear from anyone who suffers with anxiety like I do, I’d love to hear any tips because honestly, I feel so alone.

Much love xxx

4 thoughts on “My Anxiety – Let’s get honest

    • Author gravatar

      Thank you for stopping by and reading my post on anxiety and school runs, I always feel like I'm alone or that people are rolling their eyes and thinking I'm being a drama queen, Mine also started from a fear of being sick years ago and I got it under control back in school but I came off my medication I started in 2O14 and it's back with a vengeance! We've done it once we can certainly do it again. I know you don't know me but if you ever need to contact me you can, There's nothing worse than feeling totally alone x

    • Author gravatar

      thank you sweetie! You too! I felt your post I think just as much as you do, and i know I can totally relate! It's nice knowing I'm not completely alone, although a lot of the time it does feel like it! I feel like some sort of crazy woman that can't control her breathing! Thanks for the comment it's lifted me up 🙂 xx

    • Author gravatar

      Oh hun, I don't know what to say. You are so brave writing this xx

    • Author gravatar

      It felt better when I did, at first I kept watching the post, I nearly took it down. I shared it on a few social networking sites. About an hour after I posted it I had someone contact me on Tumblr, saying how much it had touched them, and how they struggle with it too. We had a few days of messaging, and I felt much better afterwards, sometimes just writing it makes you feel better, and knowing you aren't alone and even people you don't know will happily talk to you about it and share their experiences and tips with you! I hope this has helped you and I hope you find the courage to post your post because I do believe you will feel better! xx

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