I'm not exactly sure what this site is for. I googled anxiety support groups and this site popped up. This really good friend of mine has seen my anxiety levels sky rocket and me taking on more than i can handle emotionally and in life. She suggested that i should join a support group reminding me that everyone needs help and that nobody can do it by themselves.
I'm great at asking for help when i need help with something that can be physically done or advice on a very specific subject. i'm apparently not that great at asking for help to "lighten my load" emotionally or stress wise. I guess this is me reaching out to a world of strangers for help with my anxiety.
I just need/want to know how this works. Please help.
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Sajo87
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Hi Sajo87, and welcome. This works exactly like how you started. We all come here to ask questions, share our concerns, and receive feedback from others. I wound up here by looking at the Anxiety and Depression Association of America's website and searching for support groups in my area. There weren't any sponsored by that organization, but it did suggest this site. On a whim, just like you, I joined and posted.
We are here to help how we can. We can provide you with some emotional support as people who understand what you're going through, and we can make some suggestions about what has worked for us in the past. We cannot make medical suggestions as most of us are not qualified to do so.
You did a great thing in seeking help. It all starts with that first step. Can you share what has been going on to make you so anxious? If you don't want to share specifics, you can leave out names and locations and just give us the idea of what is going on so we can see if we can help you.
I have PTSD, ADHD, and anxiety. My PTSD stems from long exposure to physical and emotional abuse and I'm going with so does my anxiety since PTSD is a specific form of anxiety. I'm also a teacher. I just finished two years of middle school math and am hopefully moving onto high school math. On top of that, I'm a single mother of a child who has ADHD and oppositional defiance and something else that i can't even remember. My son's father entered his life again last August and returned to his asshole-ish behavior which has my anxiety higher than high. Plus my move between middle school and high school isn't voluntary. I guess it's just been a lot.
That is a lot. That's a lot for anyone to handle, let alone someone with PTSD, ADHD, and anxiety. I'm also a teacher and can commiserate about how difficult it is to do your job and manage stressors at home while riding the roller coaster of anxiety. Are you seeing a therapist/counselor for your PTSD?
I'm not seeing anyone right now. I couldn't keep up with the copays. Plus I have kaiser. They just want me to take classes but offer no childcare. Without my support group, which I left when I moved here, it's very difficult for me to do things that my son can't go to. I've tried seeing different psychologists within the last decade but it's never worked out. So I've been doing my best on my own (which is how I do things best except when I'm not doing my best).
Is Kaiser different than Kaiser Parmanente? My HMO was just bought out by Kaiser Permanente and I'm seeing a therapist for my anxiety.
If you're going to manage without a therapist then my advice would be to keep coming on here. Come here when you need to rant or need a listening ear. We'll be here.
Also, practice self-care. Do something for yourself once a day, even if it's just for 15 minutes, that will help you relax and unwind. You're a teacher, so you probably work through your lunch, correct? If so, I would advise you to stop. My stress immediately eased when I decided that those 25 minutes were mine for me to eat and relax. It does wonders.
Additionally, there are many workbooks available for anxiety that don't cost a lot of money ($15-$20). The classic is "The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook" available on Amazon for ~$18 USD, and the one my friend (with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, and Depression) recommended to me is "Retrain Your Brain: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in 7 Weeks" ~$13 USD on Amazon.
I hope you find some of this useful. PM me whenever you need.
Kaiser is kaiser Permanente. I generally don't work through my lunch unless my kids come in for help which they rarely do. Thanks for the ear and the advice
You are certainly welcome and we do a lot for each other by giving helpful tips.
I am wondering if your school has an employee assistance program (EAP)?
An EAP is a work-based intervention program designed to enhance the emotional, mental and general psychological wellbeing of all employees.
You are able access to a free confidential counselling services by phone, online or face to face, enabling you to receive support wherever you are based.
I have accessed mine and I had 6 sessions without cost. A report was written asking for 4 sessions more which was funded. I was so grateful to avoid the copays.
I would also like you to consider checking in with a primary care provider to a health check. Mental illnesses and disorders can play merry hell with your physical health e.g blood pressure. It will be important to ask for a longer appointment to make sure you can cover everything. While you are waiting, check with the receptionist for support groups in the area (I have found the reception team very knowledgeable).
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Something I need to say: This site is not meant to be some kind of dating app!!!
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