Mental Hell

[miso89]

I really need help with my thoughts and emotions. I am constantly in anxiety and ruminating about worries, mostly in terms of animals. I worry about animals a lot. I am so sad for the abuse stories I see while glancing at the news, it just ruins my whole day. I am not able to concentrate at work because I start thinking about this and even while sleeping I have nightmares with horrible images of animals getting abused. I have told my parents, sister and they jsut tell me to get over it, to not think about it. But, how can I? I cannot stop my brain from thinking about this.

For example, I volunteer at an animal shelter and I went on their page and read that an animal abuser stole a cat from shelter and that they are looking for the person and giving money award for information. So I have been thinking about this everyday and feeling awful for that cat and what is happening to her.

Another example, every night I go out to feed the raccoons because I feel bad for them if they are hungry. I worry about them and then if I go somewhere overnight I feel anxious of not being there to feed them and that they will go hungry.

I also ruminate about stories I read and heard on news about child abuse and other unbelievable disturbing stories around the world. It seems like I cannot handle this evil world. I do not know how to stop my brain.

THIS IS DRIVING ME CRAZY AND RUINING MY LIFE. I do not go anywhere, except to work and my parents are getting worried about me.

I have isolated myself from friends and do not feel like answering calls because I feel so bad about the world and the constant anxiety/worry causes me to isolate myself from society and I will be bad company to others and am not able to be present in social interactions.

I see a psychiatrist and am taking 300 mg of gabapentin 3x per day, 40 mg citalopram, and 37.5 mg of venlaflaxine. This is not helping me that much. Psychiatrist recommended to me to see therapist, but my co-pay is too expensive to visit therapist weekly.

I honestly need help because I am making my life a misery and feel horrible everyday. I know I am a good person and deserve to feel happy and excited about my future and engage in hobbies like I once did, but this is killing me. The anxiety is causing me stomach upset, and I start crying around a couple of times a weeks because it is too much to handle. I feel like the worries of the world are on my shoulders.

Could someone please help me and tell me how you managed to feel better while you were dealing with similar situation?

[anxiouslady13]

Look into state assistance for therapy. It will do you a lot of good. Most states offer help for free if not then for a small sliding scale fee. Also I would suggest taking a break from the news. I had to stop watching it for almost an entire year.