Feeling of dred

[ResaLux]

Sometimes I am just fine. For the last week or so I have felt good with relatively low anxiety (at least the normal amount I usually have to deal with) but then there are bad days. I woke up and have a pit in my stomach. I havnt even left the house yet but I have this panicked feeling. I had a panic attack yesterday at work but once it passed I was ok again but I woke up today and the feeling of dred won't go away. It makes my stomach upset, and my hands shake. I really hate feeling like I'm on a rollercoaster. Does anyone else feel like this? What do you do?

[menagerie11]

Hello Resalux! I have those feelings of dread, especially in the morning, which is my worst time of day. My stomach is upset and I can't eat much until later in the day. I have trembling inside. Usually, what I do is have some tea, do abdominal breathing exercises, listen to calming music and/or calming affirmations....and then go for a drive and a walk to wear off the adrenaline that the anxiety has created. On days when I have to work, I get dressed and go to work. At work, I go for brief walks, again to wear off the adrenaline. On days that I don't have to work, I find things to do that keep me focused on the here and now as much as possible. I plan on taking a course in mindfulness. I am seeing a therapist and a psychologist and both are very supportive and helpful. Exercise and socializing are important elements of recovery so I am making a focused effort to walk more and to spend more time with people, despite the anxiety that I may be feeling.

[ResaLux in reply to menagerie11]

Thank you for such a great response. You sound like you have such a great game plan in place, I want to get more organized with this. I always feel so scattered and like every problem I face, big or small, is actually this huge thing. I think about all of the things that could go wrong and I get so worked up that I don't want to do anything but go to sleep just to shut it all out.

[menagerie11 in reply to ResaLux]

I don't always succeed ResaLux. I am having a difficult day today so far, and all I have done is go for a drive and a brief walk. I am hoping that things improve as the day progresses. I think what set it off was a phone call when I was still sleeping and that got the adrenaline rushing. I think about all of the things that could go wrong sometimes, but try to remind myself that it's only the anxiety talking, that it will pass, and that I can do whatever it is. It helps to walk, even if it's just a short walk, just to prove to yourself that you are capable of moving your body and doing things. I know the feeling of wanting to go to sleep to shut it all out....but don't usually go to sleep until bedtime - although I might have a rest during the day to do calm breathing and to rest my body. We can get through this!

[ResaLux]

I appreciate such a great response. It's so hard sometimes and you're right, I too, try to tell myself it's it the anxiety. I know that's true logically, buts hard to get your body and mind to listen and actually calm down. We can do this!