Sad and anxious

[SelfSoothe]

Hi to whoever is listening! I’m struggling with racing thoughts, social anxiety and a whole load of other compulsive symptoms. Is there anyone around to talk to?

[gajh]

Welcome. I am here if you want to talk.

[SelfSoothe in reply to gajh]

Thank you…where in the world are you?

[gajh in reply to SelfSoothe]

United States and you?

[SelfSoothe]

Scotland

[gajh]

Oh I see that you are from the United Kingdom.

[SelfSoothe]

Can I ask what LENS is?

[gajh in reply to SelfSoothe]

Low Electrical Neurofeedback System. I have had 10 treatments.

[SelfSoothe]

As in ECT?

[gajh]

No it is not ECT. It is a form of Neurofeedback. It is done in office. They clip 2 electrodes to your earlobes and then move 2 other electrodes around to different sites on your head. They read your brainwaves and then do a very short low electrical stimulation to interrupt your brainwaves. You can't feel anything at all.

[SelfSoothe in reply to gajh]

Oh..ok then. Thanks for explaining that 👍

[SelfSoothe]

I have suffered anxiety/depression for many many years. I came of my medication for a few months there thinking I was needing a break from it. However, after a few horrible encounters and stressful situations I’m right back where I started years ago and back on meds again in the last few days 😢

[gajh in reply to SelfSoothe]

I have also suffered from anxiety and depression for many many years. It has been worse the past 4 years. I have been on medication the whole time. Are you ok about going back on meds?

[SelfSoothe in reply to gajh]

I’m sorry to hear that gijh! I understand wholeheartedly. I said years ago that I’d never come off meds for the rest of my life as if I had any other illness that I needed to take meds for! I do have other health issues and need to take meds for them too so why do I mind so much about taking them for my anxiety/depression? The answer is yes!! I’m ok about going back on them after having a few months off. But I do know that it’ll take a while to help again. Plus I don’t do well coming into the winter. The weather here right now is horrible and always makes me feel sad and lonely

[SelfSoothe in reply to gajh]

Ps…what time is it where you are? It’s 21:35 here

[gajh in reply to SelfSoothe]

it is 4:37 I guess that is 16:37 military time.

[SelfSoothe in reply to gajh]

That’s good. I’d hate to keep you from sleep 😀👍 I find that when I don’t sleep well I don’t cope well. Are you the same?

[unicorn8553 in reply to SelfSoothe]

my meds don,t work.what meds are you on?

[gajh]

I am glad that you are ok about going back on meds. Yes it will take a while to help again. Did you go back on the same meds or are you trying different ones? I have a HappyLight it is a bright light that mimics the sun light. It is supposed to help with SAD seasonal affective disorder. I use mine for 30 minutes every day year round. I don't know for sure if it is helping, but I don't get any sun light without it so I figure it is worth doing. Have you ever tried it?

[SelfSoothe in reply to gajh]

I have not gone back to my previous meds but gone back onto one that helped many years ago. Fingers crossed it works after being off of it for a few years! No I haven’t tried a light lamp but I’m thinking of trying it. It can’t hurt right? Lol

[gajh]

I will keep my fingers crossed for you with your medication. The light definitely can't hurt and it might actually help. I just can't say so for sure. Maybe I would be worse off without it. What coping skills are you using while you are waiting for your medication to work?

[SelfSoothe in reply to gajh]

Thank you! I try all sorts of relaxation methods. Deep breathing, box breathing, body scan, sleep stories on Calm, distraction tactics like tv, reading and music. However, they all work when I’m feeling not too bad but when I feel overwhelmed I kinda freeze and lose concentration. It’s so frustrating! I’ve been referred back to the Adult Mental Health Team so hopefully I’ll get some CBT again and actually engage properly this time. I give up too easily when I start to feel a bit better or if I lose faith in my therapist 😬

[gajh in reply to SelfSoothe]

Wow you are using a lot of coping skills. Good for you for trying. They definitely work better when you aren't feeling too bad. I hope that you get a therapist that you have faith in. I hope you stick with it for the long haul.

[SelfSoothe in reply to gajh]

I do too. Thank you

[SelfSoothe in reply to gajh]

What helps you? I’ve hardly been over the door in the past couple of weeks. Apart from visiting my elderly mum and going for food shopping. Although I did get a delivery this week so I can’t even say I left the house for food 🙈

[gajh in reply to SelfSoothe]

I have a really hard time leaving the house too. I believe that the LENS is helping. I have been challenging myself to go out more in baby steps. Right now I am only going out with my boyfriend or father other than I did go for 1 walk outside by myself 2 weeks ago. I haven't pushed myself to do it again yet. I do not go food shopping, my boyfriend does. My coping skills are walking on the treadmill, doing yoga, and being on this website. This website has helped me so much.

[SelfSoothe in reply to gajh]

I’m glad that you have some support at home. I unfortunately don’t which sometime is a help and a hinderance all at the same time lol. Sometime I like to lock myself away to try and soothe and heal but at other times I just want a little company. But sometime I don’t have a clue what I want! Lol

[gajh in reply to SelfSoothe]

I am very grateful for the support I have. I agree that sometimes it is a hinderance. If you don't have the support you have to keep doing things for yourself. It forces you to leave the house. Do you have any company other than your mother?

[SelfSoothe in reply to gajh]

I’m sure you are grateful. I didn’t mean that to sound bad but realise it might have. Sorry, no offence meant. I have a daughter, 2 granddaughter, a brother and 2 friends but they all are very busy and have their own problems so I try not to bother them with mine. Which make for a very lonely life but I’d rather that than have them think “oh no…what’s wrong this time”

[gajh in reply to SelfSoothe]

Oh that didn't sound bad at all. No offence taken. I am glad that you have family and 2 friends. I am sorry to hear that you still feel lonely. I wish you could get more support from them. I would like to think that they wouldn't think “oh no…what’s wrong this time” and that they would be happy to offer you support. Have you given them the chance or have you always held it all inside?

[SelfSoothe]

Hi

[kenster1]

Hi and welcome from a fellow Haggis muncher.

[SelfSoothe in reply to kenster1]

Lol…thank you!

[hannah1987b]

I’m here . You are not alone xxx

[SelfSoothe in reply to hannah1987b]

Thank you Hannah1987b. That’s really kind of you! I’m feeling slightly less panicky this morning….I hope that lasts 🤞

[SelfSoothe in reply to hannah1987b]

How are you?

[SelfSoothe]

So sorry I didn’t get back to you last night. My battery died and then fell asleep waiting on it charging 🙀😂

Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me. I really appreciate it 💖

[hannah1987b]

that’s ok ! I only just saw your post in here 😊 I am so happy you are feeling some relief this morning ! I find nights are always worse. Something about the night time….. majestic, mysterious yet quiet and lonely sometimes. It’s important to sit with those feelings and listen to them and try work out why you’re feeling like that otherwise in my experience, it only gets worse. I love your user name And that’s exactly what u need to try and do in moments of panic. Easier said than done I know xx

[SelfSoothe in reply to hannah1987b]

That is very true! I try to self-soothe every minute of every day lol. I struggle with being nice or kind to myself even after years of therapy though. I’m a people pleaser tbh but when I can’t please people I get down on myself! I’m hoping that I can find a therapist this time that I can learn from. I do far too much ‘thinking’ and sometime that makes me worse 😬 I’m glad that it helps you though! We’re all so different I suppose. Crikey…I’m different from one minut to the next sometimes! It’s all too frustrating and confusing sometimes but I do try to have some hope everyday 🙏xx

[unicorn8553]

i would love to talk to you.i suffer from the same things.and it is very hard.

[unicorn8553]

i am hear to talk

[unicorn8553]

i,m here if you want to talk.have same problems.;

[Hollick]

With social anxiety, the only real solution is to face it head on and get out there and keep going until eventually you do become comfortable around others... There is no magic pill for this, it's up to us to get ourselves to a better place, the longer you leave it, the harder it's going to b.., that comfort zone turns into a prison cell and your world begins to shrink, people will tolerate it for a while and then they just move on as far as friends...🤞 good luck, remember you've got this, it is achievable 🙂

[SelfSoothe in reply to Hollick]

Thank you for your gracious words! That’s very true! I have experience of this and I try not to let it go on too long! I battle with myself every day to ‘show up’ to life. It’s harder when I'm like this but know that if I just give myself a little time and patience to heal the cloud lifts. I believe that ‘things comes to pass’ always! I do feel a little better every day now that im back on my medication and won’t ever come off again no matter how good I feel.