Not Normal

[Patientlywaiting5]

I'm a 33 yr old female with big polar 1 disorder. I'm also a emetaphobic. It's been 16 years and I'm tired of it. I just want to be normal. I'm afraid to do just about anything especially during flu season or around anyone who is ill or who has been. I don't know why I really don't but I hate it I just want to live a normal life and not worry about getting sick I typically don't get sick and when I do it's very mild but the fear is intense and controls a lot of my life and I just want to be normal.

[MAS_Nurse]

Hello Patientlywaiting5,

Welcome to our supportive community. I'm sorry to hear how difficult your life has been due to your mental health problems. Hopefully you will folks here, many who share similar conditions and experiences as yourself, will empathise and come alongside to offer support. Do have a look at our free mental health guides in the pinned posts section, also, keep our international crisis helplines information handy should you need it. I wonder if you tried or thought about trying some talking therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), as these can be helpful to address the negative thought processes and unhelpful behaviours brought on by anxiety. It may help to ask your doctor for information about this and where to access help from your local mental health team. You may find this info from MIND UK useful too:

mind.org.uk/information-sup...

Keep us posted on how you are doing.

Best wishes