scared and alone

[Daisy425]

my stomach didn’t hurt while I was at school today (see previous posts, this has been a saga!) which makes me think it was anxiety. I had other stuff to focus on that distracted me and then my symptom went away. As soon as I left school and got home my stomach began to hurt. I took a nap to try to relax and now I’m awake and my stomach hurts. I’m scared and feel so alone. I wish I just knew if this stomach pain was from anxiety. To me it seems like it because at work it went away. I also feel hungry right now but I’m very scared to eat because I don’t want to get sick. I’m exhausted from this

[Agora1]

Hi Daisy, For most of us, our home is our safety place. But it isn't unusual for all our

pent up frustrations and adrenaline to follow us home. Do you look forward in

getting home after work? Do you have an evening planned each night OR do you

dread being alone and counting the hours until you are back at work.

The fact that you have both anxiety and insomnia tells me that your brain is

overwhelmed with intrusive thoughts. Negative thoughts that make you not

be able to relax. Evening should be about regenerating your mind and body.

A quiet, non stressful meal, some "me time" spent in quiet meditation and breathing

can help put your subconscious mind in a better place in getting some quality sleep.

Our stomach can react to our anxiety. Leave the day behind you as you attempt

to have something to eat. Try not to focus on the negativity of the day. Sipping on a

cup of hot tea and relax you both inside and out.

Breathe, relax by lowering your shoulders away from your ears. Come on the forum

later and talk with us in how we may help support you. xx

[Daisy425 in reply to Agora1]

hi!

I usually look forward to coming home from work but for some reason it had the opposite effect on me today. I was able to relax tonight but now that I’m about to go to bed I find myself not feeling well. I feel drained and my eyes feel heavy but that could be a result of my body being anxious all day ❤️

[Agora1 in reply to Daisy425]

Absolutely Daisy, you would be surprised in how our mind and body

take a beating each day in how we hold ourselves as well as think.

I wish you a Goodnight. Rest comfortably, tomorrow is a new day. xx

[CL3V3R-G1RL]

Sounds very much like anxiety. I get stomach cramps when I'm anxious and I think I really need to go to the bathroom. But in reality I don't. Like you I'm afraid of puking cause that isn't fun and when I'm anxious and there's something in my gut, it's going to come back out a little bit.

I work on breathing and reminding myself that I'm okay. I have survived this 10/10 times. I'm safe inside my own body. I'm okay. This stupid feeling will pass.

Don't get wrong I know this is frustrating and tiring. Sometimes this works for me and sometimes anxiety gets the best of me. Its still a very much work in progress for me.

Try to engage with something. Like writing out your feelings. How this stomach pain comes about? What were you thinking about if anything? Then write about what makes it go away. Put on a movie or show you like to watch or have on in the background. To help you chill.

These are some of the things I do.

I wish you the best and know that you are not alone 🫂❣️

[Daisy425 in reply to CL3V3R-G1RL]

thank you so much ❤️ “I’m safe inside my own body” stuck out to me so much. That’s something I needed to hear and remind myself of

[Artistfriend]

I just wanted to say that ive been going through a similar problem this past month, my stomach keeps getting getting irritated and triggering anxiety. There is such a huge mind-gut connection in us. I keep telling myself that im not really going to be able to tell whats anxiety and what isnt until my stomach gets better so im trying to hold onto that thought. Just wanted to let you know youre definitely not alone, hang in there and be good to yourself

[AnonymousUsername13 in reply to Artistfriend]

Yep, due to the Vagus nerve.

[Daisy425 in reply to Artistfriend]

thank you ❤️ Hang in there as well! I’ll be thinking of you!

[Artistfriend in reply to Daisy425]

Thank you 😊

[AnonymousUsername13]

No amount of worrying or concern will allow us to know if it's anxiety, so the best course is to try & get our minds occupied. Even when my anxiety is better, the stomach pain persists for a week or so at least afterwards. I don't get nausea much, mine is always just pain. Tylenol can help, or prescription medicine, if we need relief. I have meds for colicky pain, & sometimes take antacids, gas pills, & proton pump inhibitors (prevacid OTC, etc can work without a prescription). I have tried all of these things & they almost never make me feel normal when I'm panicking or have really bad anxiety, but they help me feel "less bad" during that time.

It's only after my mind isn't fixated that i finally start to understand that it was caused by anxiety. Then, i think i will know for next time, but nope, same thing all over again when i face this next time (as most of us with health anxiety understand). Hang in there, it will get better. I know it's from anxiety, from how u describe it , & how worried u are about it. U have to find something else to grab ur attention until it passes. Do things that won't allow u to think about it, like u already mentioned have made it seem like it doesn't hurt then. Anything like that where u can't fixate. Eventually, ur subconscious will get out of worry mode, & start to believe u are ok, & this will pass after a while.

[Daisy425 in reply to AnonymousUsername13]

I always think I will know for next time and be able to fight it off sooner but that’s never the case. Thank you so much for sharing your experience. This is the first time I’ve felt my anxiety in the form of stomach pain

[Darkhouse]

A really nice type of meditation to try before bed is called Yoga Nidra which is between asleep and awake. Ally Boothroyd has several videos on YouTube, and I find her voice soothing. I haven't actually made it through an hour-long one, I always fall asleep first, which is rare for me otherwise. Do you like baths? I love a hot bath, it helps calm me down too, and it's alone time. Light some candles, put some good-smelling lotion on afterwards, ya know, some self-care... It can help.

[Daisy425 in reply to Darkhouse]

thank you so much! I think I might try the meditation before bed