Tips for constant ongoing low level anxiety attack

[FauxLiz]

How to know when the ongoing anxiety attack is wrecking havoc on your body... my first fever blister in 4 1/2 years. Through all the stress, anxiety and SI during that time in a toxic work environment, multiple major health issues multiple hospitalizations both medical and behavioral health and here I am with a raging fever blister, a panic attack that has been going on in some form or fashion for a week and no therapeutic support.

 

[blackemerald1]

What can you do to help yourself IRL right now? How can you break this all down to manageable?

I am asking about your own resources rather than looking outwards for help. If looking outwards for help is too much for you, what can you do that you KNOW helps you?

 

[FauxLiz]

What can I do now in real life, reaching out here, trying to motivate myself to do small things around the house to distract, as simple as taking out the trash, cleaning the litter box and doing laundry. I am journaling, considering joining a gym to get more active and reading books again. Those are the small but real steps that I am taking here and now.

 

[blackemerald1]

They all sound like a solid start. I take it you have moved into the nicer place now? I hope so :) Sorry I have been a bit hit and miss on this site sometimes.

The gym - could you see how you go on a casual basis as a pay as you go client and tell them you are thinking about a membership so they will be helpful to you?

I only suggest this because if I had a dime for every person I knew that flung themselves into a full membership and started well but stopped going (for lots of valid reasons!) - I'd be a really rich person. lol And then also, you don't have to pay so much money in one hit till you are convinced you can use it more and pay less with the membership.

Some things that help me when I have peaking non-stop anxiety attacks are....

Change my bed linen (Idk why.... :hilarious:)

Buy a useful pot plant. (Chilli plant or whatever you like)

Bake a cake or biscuits - makes me focus on one thing and smells nice

Re-arrange my furniture in lieu of not being able to afford a holiday :) (But if you have just moved no! )

 

[mumstheword]

What's worked for me; various art therapies, singing, drawing, colouring, writing poetry, journalling.
Talking to someone kind and supportive, who listens.
Exercise and yoga
Worst case scenario, at present, small amount of red wine, valium, distraction through movies, having a cry in the bath.

 

[mumstheword]

Oh, and also, preparing and eating vegetables, especially green ones.:) lots of vegies makes me feel better :).

 

[FauxLiz]

@blackemerald1 the gym membership is a month to month for $35 unlimited use accessible 24/7, it would be cheaper per month for an annual but I don't trust myself so I will try the month to month.

I have moved but the daunting pile of boxes left to unpack remains, most night I get home and just want to curl up in a ball somewhere so that is slow going.

I am struggling to motivate myself to eat let alone cook or bake something its hard having not lived by myself for 25 years.

@mumstheword all great ideas but I can't seem to motivate myself to unpack the box that has my markers and coloring books in them and actually am not sure I even know where they are.

 

[blackemerald1]

Ok well just one thing at a time. I moved into my home um 14 months ago and still have cardboard boxes sitting around everywhere. It's slow going doing everything on your own. So I get that bc I am in that situation. If anyone came to visit (who didn't know) they would easily assume I have been here a max of two weeks. lol

The gym membership sounds good. I'm glad you are considering that. I hope you decide to go.

Do you think you could find your slow cooker or a deep casserole dish and make yourself some soup? I'll come over and give you a hand... :hug:

Curling up on the couch is an okay option when you are too tired. Sometimes that is all we need to do until we are ready to take on something else.

Just keep reaching out here and writing about stuff and we will listen and hold you here.

Thinking of you... :hug:

 

[Stephernovas]

I woke up this morning with what can only be described as a low level anxiety attach that I can't seem to kick. I have taken all my meds and don't want to take more than I should/prescribed but nothing seems to be helping. I am constantly short of breath unless I take the time to focus but once I think things are under control and focus on other things it is right back. I have an awful sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach and what can only be called the jitters/tremors.

I don't know what is going on but I do know that this is driving me crazy, I am struggling at work today and its not a day I can leave early.

Sounds like my everyday. Best thing for me is to remove all stimuli and “go chill”. You’re overloaded. Well that’s what happens to me anyways

 

[blackemerald1]

its hard having not lived by myself for 25 years.

^^Do you think this is a really big factor in how you are feeling atm?

When I started living with myself (by accident or design) it came as a bit of a shock. I am terribly good at looking after other people and hopeless at looking after myself...

So I have been on a quest to be better at living with myself and...enjoying it. It started off small and I have a long way to go but I am improving (I think) Once I decided that I mostly like living with myself, it's got easier and enjoyable.

 

[FauxLiz]

@blackemerald1 I think living alone is a factor but just one of many, the move, new job, new town, new T that isn't working, feeling like I am failing at my job and should never have taken it. I started freaking out having a massive panic attack at work first thing this morning faked food poisoning and left for the day because I couldn't get it under control and couldn't stay where I was. I even called current T's office to see if he had any openings this week he didn't

 

[blackemerald1]

Everything is so incredibly new, strange and immediate for you right now. I understand that feeling. Your tolerances for anything and everything in your life are low.

When I was young and was transferred to a new work location (happened a lot bc of nature of work) I used to get an excited thrill...Yay new work location, new people, new, new, new!!! Yay!

Now....I cannot tolerate change AT ALL. Even when I instigate that change for myself.

When I moved to the place I now live. I was such a misery guts I could not get out of my own way. I could not see any good in my life and I sunk into alternate cycles of depression and anxiety. Nobody could understand why I was feeling so badly... nobody I know has ptsd either. I wanted to run, run, run. Pack up and move on...

I doubted my own ability to look after my needs, make decisions etc., etc.,

I still have those days but less than I used to and apart from staying and not running - nothing much has happened really. I think I am suggesting you are still adjusting to EVERYTHING!

So today you are taking a MH day but they don't have to know this. Today you are dipping out of all the expectations that your employers have of you. That doesn't mean that you should not have taken the job or that you cannot do it. That type of self-talk is really harmful so please redirect it to something less toxic. Like "today I am taking a day for myself because I deserve it'. Or whatever but it's got no self-loathing in it.

Everyone takes those types of days. It's just not recognised very well. It's a shame that you had to say you had food poisoning to get a MH day but so be it. It's their system after all - if you had some say in it I'm sure you would call it for what it is and everyone would agree. :hug: