Scared and needing a friend

[Anxious_City]

Hi. I haven't posted in a long time, but am dealing with some serious anxiety.

I'm 60, and can't yet retire. I am worn out from working, but do my best to manage it.

I also have serious anxiety issues. A couple of days ago I was eating with a friend, when I experienced chest pains, pain in my arm, and a panic feeling. My blood pressure shot up too, so I was scared it was a heart attack. I went to the ER and they didn't find anything too serious.

Every day it is such a struggle just to get up in the morning. I am scared of losing my job, scared of pain in my chest, scared of Dental pain, scared of pain in my lets, etc. I have friends, and have talked to them, but these days it just feels like catastrophe is around the corner.

Does anyone have similar issues? Any ideas, thoughts?

Thanks.

[LoveforAll41]

Hi Anxious_City. Are you going to therapy or taking meds currently for anxiety? You have made it this far with/without meds so I applaud you. It helps me to acknowledge that my worries are valid. It is always valid to feel whatever you feel, but I can really empathize with worrying about the job. If I lose my job we will be in dire straights and lose the house... I guess you let it motivate you to prepare as best you can. I also love therapy.

[Anxious_City in reply to LoveforAll41]

Hi. I have been in therapy off and on for a long time. It is nice, but my worries always seem to win out. I just wish I could feel "normal" again. Seems like the last 3-4 years have been very stressful for a lot of people, and I'm one of them. I am also taking citalopram, but it seems to be weakening. Thanks for responding.

[Bermudagal]

Anxious City, I too am 60 and too young to retire. I have friends, but they don't seem to understand, and I think they have their own problems, they don't need to hear about mine all the time. I have health anxiety. It reared its ugly head a month ago, after life seemed to be settling down. My husband was in ICU and a ventilator for 28 days due to a surgeon mistake. It was alot of hard work but he is home, but some things will never be the same. I am seeing a therapist for all the changes. My biggest source of listening comes from my sister. She is the only person who understands and has been through OCD years ago. I can work from home some days, but I have to make myself go out.

I too am scared. I too have been in the ER with a heart attack. I know how you feel. I have been watching Anxiety Guy on You Tube. He seems to help. You are ok, and will be ok. Feel free to reach out to me at anytime.

[Anxious_City in reply to Bermudagal]

Hi. Thanks for responding. Let's hope we can both hang in there. These days it is literally one day at a time.

[Downinil]

I do have those same symptoms at times. I have gotten used to it over time. You were smart by going to the ER though.

[Anxious_City in reply to Downinil]

Thanks for responding. I am just trying to get through each day.

[Anxious_City]

Hi. Thanks for responding. I am male. Just trying to get through each day. Some days are better than others.

[Hidden]

Wow, someone just like me. I have the same tension pains. I believe they are related to my acid reflux. Taking medicine for that seems to reduce the symptoms. I use exercise to push away some of the stress. I don't have a job right now, and I have lots of evil thoughts about how I should have made different decisions so I would be better off right now. Lots of feelings of inadequacy.

My thinking rational side says that you make choices and move on. My little boy side wants to regret and be afraid. My rational side says keep doing the right things, stay busy, learn new methods of looking for work and do your best to not regret and drive yourself crazy. My little boy side wants to be sorry and crawl into a hole.

I am an adult and I do my best to keep putting one foot in front of the other and not listen to the little boy who only knows feelings. Feelings are real, but I have to move on anyway. So I try to find activities that make me feel stronger. A friend has encouraged me to have coffee with people I know, but may not know well and just ask them 'Who could you introduce me to that would expand my network'. The hope is that a bigger network will lead me to a job.

There will be joy in the future. Today I must struggle to keep the little boy from crying and keep the man working to find a path. I must be brave.

Thank you for asking the question. It gave me the chance to write this and remind myself what I should be doing.

[hope-123]

Hi anxious city, I'm 23 and from India. You know where the most of poor is concentrated but still we are thriving. In your case, first you have severe intention to live long. Any human at any point of time can experience health issues, no one can live till eternity. So death is a part of our life, if it comes you can't stop. So stop worrying about when some disease gonna attack you, it's inevitable. I would say worrying about things which are not in your hand won't lead anywhere. I will agree with your genuine concern of loosing job. I'm sorry if I misinterpreted your feelings. Open to discuss about how you feel. Some love to you, from a random place on earth 😅

[Anxious_City in reply to hope-123]

Thanks for your response! Hope your day is great.

[secrets22]

You are not alone, I suffer pretty well from everything you mention, and it just eats away at me, and i would find it so easy to just shut myself away.