CAN'T FOCUS WHEN I'M STRESSED OUT

[DustyBlue]

Whenever I'm stressed out and anxious about something I get very unsettled to the point where I can't eat, I can't drink, I can't sleep, I can't do anything until something happens to help resolve what it is I'm stressing about and sometimes I don't even know whats causing me to feel so anxious all the time.

Recently I had a meeting with 3 housing officials where I live regarding some bullying that has been happening to me from another resident. It's sheltered housing and everyone here is over 55. I'm 62 and the person who's been bullying me is 72.

Anyway, to get back on track and to my point, I literally couldn't do anything for the days preceding the meeting from the day I was told of the date of the meeting. The anxiety takes over me completely. It's like I just stop functioning and all I can do is keep going over things in my mind and it feels like I'm going crazy. This along with stomach anxiety cramps that are there all the time and the above symptoms already mentioned along with others.

I just seem to stop functioning properly. I've described it in the past as....... If I'm a fuse board with 20 fuses ( Each representing a function ) ....... 19 fuses have blown and the last fuse is half blown and I'm hanging on by a thread...... I can't focus and I seem incapable of most functionality traits.

After the aforementioned meeting I seem to get some functionality back but it takes a while and usually something else occurs to rock the boat again and the fuses again start blowing...... I never get to the point where all 20 fuses are functioning properly.

I was just wondering if anyone else also experiences this sort of diminishing functionality brought on by anxiety ?

[jessiejakes]

Hi I completely understand what you are saying if my anxiety is really bad I struggle to eat can't face food don't even feel hungry my stomachs gets tied up in knots I get tummy cramps doctor told me its IBS irratable bowel syndrome and its very painful and you need to rush to the toilet with it.so I know exactly how you feel.

[jessiejakes]

Hope it has now been sorted out.one thing about sheltered accommodation is they will not tolerate bulling or any abuse I also live in sheltered accommodation there are 40 flats I have my own stairway up to my flat its not like normal sheltered accommodation where you walk along corridor to each flat.we all enter our flats via the communal garden .

[jennicole31]

Hello friend, I'm sorry that you've been going through all of this. Have you tried praying? I know that prayer helped me overcome anxious feelings in the past. I am praying for you to overcome too!

[DustyBlue]

Thanks for all your supportive comments. I had a meeting with the housing officers and they have advised me to report the threatening behaviour to the police which I did 6 days ago....... They said they would send a PC round to see me........ 6 days later I'm still waiting !

[HopeinGod]

Hi DustyBlue, I’m really sorry you are going through this bullying. A 72 year old, maybe is just bored and has nothing to do or maybe not mentally well! Yikes, I’m sure that’s a stressful situation. While you wait for the police, is there any way you can avoid this person, maybe eat meals far away from this person or perhaps not be alone when this person is in the same area? Do you have family members that can encourage the police to come see you immediately?

You mention that you find yourself anxious all the time. I’m very close to your age so I’m wondering if the anxiety is caused by medications you have to take? Check the prescription information for that possibility. Perhaps medication to help you with this anxiety? Another person posted prayer and I also believe in the power of prayer.

One of the issues that is evident among us older folks is isolation and loneliness. Are there other residents that you can spend time with doing projects or playing board games? Is there a gym there where you can relieve some stress by bicycling or using other gym equipment? I hope you consider some of these ideas, blessings.