Overwhelming anxiety

[laurafazz]

This is my first post. I’ve been having overwhelming anxiety and panic for a couple weeks now. I just bought a house and moved in about 10 days ago. Stressful, but positive thing in my life. It was overwhelming but I was doing ok until I adopted two kittens on Saturday. My cat Lily who was my absolute best friend in the world died in April. I had been wanting kittens so badly before the move, but now that I have them in the new house it seems incredibly overwhelming. I know these are good, positive changes in my life, but I can’t stop myself from getting this debilitating anxiety.

Does anyone have this experience where even though everything is ok, your anxiety makes you believe everything is wrong? It’s like a fight or flight response and I want to flee. If someone asks me what I’m anxious about, I have no good response because I just don’t know. It’s just so overwhelming. Yesterday all I could manage to do was sit in my house and cry.

Also, has anyone else had this type of post-pet adoption anxiety? Is that a thing?? I’m a great pet-parent and I know they will be happy and make me happy, but right now all I see is omg look at these two little responsibilities.

Also, I take meds daily for anxiety and depression, and I have Xanax for panic emergencies. I’ve been taking the Xanax often and it doesn’t help. It just makes me tired. I tried making a therapy appointment but they can’t see me until next week, and I feel like I need to talk to someone now.

[olivejane]

Hi Laura-I’m sorry you’re going through this. I’m having an upturn of anxiety lately-ironically (or not) a few weeks after I was remarking to myself how content I was with how life was going. I don’t think we realize sometimes how positive stress and change is still stress and change. Try to be patient with yourself. Little steps at a time, and try to push back any guilt for feeling like you are even when things are “going well” otherwise!

[laurafazz in reply to olivejane]

Hi olivejane, thanks for your reply. I think that’s a big part of my problem too. I’m so angry and frustrated with myself for feeling this way.

[Julianacita]

Hi. I can relate to how you are feeling. I ride a roller coaster of anxiety, sometimes out of nowhere I will hit a 2-3 week rough patch. I always remind myself that I have been through this before and it does always lift. I have a few tools that help me if I have the energy to employ them: exercise, limit caffeine and alcohol, get rest and be very easy on myself ... Be easy on yourself. I think change - even when positive, can throw us out of whack.

[artistofmysoul]

A lot of people suffer with great anxiety in the first few days and weeks after adopting a new pet. It is very common, almost like postpartum depression after birthing a baby. It will pass. I belong to a dog forum and so many members post about the overwhelming anxiety and/or depression they feel right after adopting a pet. After a few weeks, they can't believe that they ever felt that way. Hang in there! Things will improve!