Feeling Down About Feeling Anxious

[Blue Survivor]

Last week my carbon monoxide detector went off, so the fire department came to take a reading. There were dangerous, life-threatening levels of carbon monoxide in my living room, and even higher levels in my basement. The gas company had to come and shut off my gas as a safety measure. This was all thanks to my apartment's sketchy furnace, which has been not functioning correctly since the fall. Maintenance has "fixed" it five times, all fruitless because the entire thing was so full of soot that the flames in the furnace were shooting out and up the front of it. So had I not heard the CO detector, I could have died.

This past week I have been a nervous, anxious mess. I'm sleeping like crap, I either can't get moving or I can't keep still, and I am just all over the place. It isn't helping that my never-understanding boyfriend keeps flaking on our plans (that's nothing new though).

I just am having those days where I want to give up on everything, you know? Someone please tell me they've been here, they've had these days, and that these days will pass. Its so hard when people in my life don't understand how little it can take to overwhelm me sometimes.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

I used to have such bad anxiety attacks and it was a full time thing. Things have improved greatly and now I am more stable so there is hope for you. You do not know what good is around the corner for you.

Sounds like a very scary experience because it was out of your control and you had a close one. I am glad that it is being addressed now and understand why the law says every home should have on.

Hang on, everything will eventually be ok for you.

 

[Heather]

I went through something similar like this. When my daughter and I first moved out of my mother's house (8 yrs ago). We rented an apartment and it was the middle of winter and the furnace kept breaking down. 8 times in 6 weeks we were without heat and all the landlord would say, "I have a service contract call them" Meanwhile I had a 4 yr old and it was 56 degrees in the apartment.

Then the carbon monoxide detector went off and high levels were reported through out all three apartments. Fire department came out and landlord was mad because fire department threatened to fine them. I said to the landlord do you realize we all could have died? He was an a**hole.

I had, had enough and we ended up moving after only living there for 3 months.

I hope your situation works out. I truly feel for you.

 

[Justmehere]

I'm so glad your CO2 detector went off! What a crummy situation to be dealing with.

Chronic exposure to even low levels of carbon monoxide can actually cause anxiety, depression, and other health problems. Much, if not all symptoms, are reversible for most people over time. It might be a good idea to get a work up by a doctor as the exposure may have increased already existing anxiety and depression symptoms and could be affecting your body in other ways.

I know this is something you really didn't need to have on your plate. If you are suffering any effects of it, it will likely get better with time.

Even if you have no physical effects, it makes sense you would have anxiety after something like this. It makes sense that this would be a really triggering event too. Not a small thing at all.

And yeah, it will most likely get better.

I'm glad you survived and I have had some very dark days myself, and some especially long nights fighting/enduring anxiety and wanting to give up. I never thought it would get better, but it did.

I hope things get better for you very soon. Keep hanging on. :hug:

 

[Blue Survivor]

Thank you everyone for your kind words, shared stories, and most of all fkr your understanding. I really appreciate it. I had no idea there could be long-term effects from exposure, thank you for telling me. I will definitely be following up. And how awful to have a small child in a 50 degrees apartment, no wonder you moved!