Isolated and Anxious

[AnxietyAlex]

I'm tired of being the only one to take care of me. I am exhausted. I have had to be strong on my own for so long and I don't know how much longer I can do it. Am having severe anxiety and panic attacks that interfere with work and that makes it even worse. Isolated and alone. it's becoming too much.

[Agora1]

Hi AnxietyAlex That's one of the hardest things about dealing with anxiety and that is the isolation and loneliness we feel. It can be just as overwhelming as Anxiety itself.You are about to change those feelings by having taken the first step forward in coming on to this safe and caring forum.

Let me extend our hand in Welcoming you. You are no longer alone new friend xx

[AnxietyAlex in reply to Agora1]

Thank you so much. I feel so very alone. If it weren't for my dig, I don't know where I'd be right now. I want to make connections but my anxiety keeps me from it . I'm trying. Really trying hard.

[Agora1 in reply to AnxietyAlex]

Many feel alone as you do. Once you feel comfortable enough to post or respond to others, the comfort they can provide should help you feel better. We learn from each other through their own experiences. Looking forward in talking with you xx

[Zyxx in reply to AnxietyAlex]

Like Agora said, many people feel as you do. I also have to go it completely alone. I am trying to learn, now, in therapy, to not make things worse by creating my own bad dream that I live in. It’s an uphill battle. My partner died (young), my best friend died, my other best friend will die fairly soon through some kind of cosmic bad luck. I don’t even have a contact person anymore should I end up in the hospital. What a way to live, right? It’s not just you, Alex. On here, there’s people who understand you.

[Agora1 in reply to Zyxx]

Zyxx, I am so truly sorry for all your losses. We certainly understand what you are going through. A contact person?? I hear you regarding that issue as well.I'm glad you are here with us. xx

[Zyxx in reply to Agora1]

Thanks, Agora. You wouldn’t have a contact person either, if you had to go to the hospital?

[Agora1 in reply to Zyxx]

Sometimes Zyxx, it's a matter that no one cares and everyone is too busy.Either way we end up alone. They say not to worry until something happens

but it's better to be prepared. Please turn these worries over to your doctors

so that you can focus on each day instead of anticipating the worst.

You are not alone as you can see on this forum. One day at a time xx

[Zyxx in reply to Agora1]

I’ll try, Agora. Thanks.

[AnxietyAlex in reply to Zyxx]

I really feel for you Zyxx. I have my grown children, but they are busy with their own lives. People say they are there for me but then when i reach out there seems to be some reason they aren't able to help. It's hard to stay positive. I tend to worry about all the What ifs. I try to do one day at a time like Agora suggested but sometimes it's one hour at a time, one minute at a time. My GP wants me to see a psychiatrist so I found one and she wants me to have a therapist as well....how am I supposed to pay for all this...

[Zyxx in reply to AnxietyAlex]

Damn, Alex, that sucks…yes, the financial side to these things is something a lot of practitioners forget about. I’m lucky that in my country it’s free, but you only have so many sessions per year. Not nearly enough.And it’s hard to bring up, isn’t it? To say to the shrink: a therapist would be wonderful, but how am I going to pay for it?

Like you, I’m reduced to one minute at the time, at the moment. I can only hope the meds are going to work….

Are you doing meds, too?

[AnxietyAlex in reply to Zyxx]

You are fortunate to live somewhere where at least you can go for some treatment without worrying about paying. I live in the US and I have no option but pay or don't go. My general practices won't even discuss my mental health with me. The psychiatrist I'm seeing has me on some meds. I don't know if they're working that well, but I'm trying. I have had bad reactions to SSRI's so she's trying gabapentin on me.

[Marysblue]

Same here, I've been dealing with life by myself. I understand how you feel. Exactly how I feel tonight.

[AnxietyAlex in reply to Marysblue]

It's really hard when you're alone. I'm so sorry you're going through this too. The last few weeks have been horrible for me. Having panic attacks at night that keep me awake and then another in the morning before I have to start work. I work from home as well, so there really is no one around. I feel the anxiety creeping in while im working and that makes me worry about losing my job. Its debilitating at times. Been dealing alone for years now and don't think i can do it much longer. I recently started seeing a psychiatrist and hoping the meds she's trying will help. Looking for a therapist too but worried about how I'm going to pay for it all. One thing runs into another and just builds

[Zyxx]

As it does for all of us. Vicious circles. If paying for a therapist is tough, try Moodgym.au. It won’t give you the comfort of another human being sitting with you and listening to you, but the cognitive therapy, they say, works as well as if you were with a therapist. And it’s $25 a year or so. It can help take the sting out of those fears as you try to work.

[Ryubug]

I literally just said this the other day to someone I was talking to. They tried to help by saying I'll get through this, I'm strong, etc. I kinda snapped (I apologized after) but I said I'm tired of being strong, I'm tired of doing this alone. I just want someone to take care of me for once. I'm the caretaker basically for my whole family. And I love being that for them but it takes it's toll and I don't really feel like I have that person for me.

[AnxietyAlex in reply to Ryubug]

I feel the same way. I'm always taking care of everyone else...no one takes care of me...

[samack]

For some of us, the isolation comes out of traumatic shame. Everyone out there triggers me, especially in coming out of deep depression. Its a vicious circle. I gave up being strong, so I became weak, not wanting to face anything. Caregiving is gone. Its been a Helilsh existence. I am slowly turning this around, and pray I get stronger with every step. I think we finally realize that all healing paths lead us to the same place. Becoming truly ourselves.. Being alone makes this journey more intense. Meds can make a huge difference. After years of treatment resistance I can finally feel the difference.

[CoderMom]

Hear you. I'm dealing with health issues and am alone. I have a wonderful man friend that helps me occasionally, but not the same as having a husband by any means, and now my health issues are really causing me to re-evaluate. Funny thing, not having anxiety over them, although am looking to come up with a game plan before it all tanks. For me, my faith in God is what gets me through. His peace is amazing!