Ever wake up feeling more exhausted than you did when you went to sleep? My anxiety was in overdrive last night and I don't think I got more than 15 minutes of continuous sleep all night. Yet I was so tired. My worries just kept repeating over and over and over. I tried to just get up out of bed and just forget about sleeping, read a book or something, but I couldn't focus on anything. It just made it worse in this case because that weird lonely feeling of being up in the wee hours of the morning just made me feel worse.
My anxiety has been in overdrive lately. It is particularly disheartening because I have been doing so well. I have been exercising every day, eating healthy, even got out and did some fun stuff with my family, getting ready for holidays. and still, my anxiety has gotten worse and worse. I haven't had an anxiety attack yet but I'm trying hard to ward it off as it normally leads to a more prolonged depression for me.
It is more than just general anxiety. I have been having issues with several of my appliances breaking down seemingly at once, and I have no money to replace them. My cat has been acting really strange and peeing everywhere. It got to the point that I was losing sleep wondering how much pee I was gonna have to clean up the next morning. Eventually had to lock him outside though I feel horrible about this cause he has always been an indoor cat and is very nervous about everything. I will bring him to the vet to rule out any medical issues but of course that costs money.
Even just writing out my issues they seem somewhat trivial, and defenitely not the worst I've dealt with. However, there is nothing relative about anx/dep, it always feels like the worst thing every time.
Hi,
I think the holidays brings up anxiety for many people and we may not realize why. But they always pass. I try to make them as low key as possible.
I do as many nuturing things as I can, baths, tea, walks, sit by the fire, and know that I need to be extra nurturing to myself in this and the next month.
I understand about the cat, you sound very caring and want your cat to be happy and comfortable, understandably. I find if I just can focus on something soothing for a short time, it sometimes takes my attention off the worry and sometimes some of the things solve themselves. ( By the way, my kitten has been pooping in my bed each night! So I put her in the bathroom during the night, and let her in my room part of the day) But if your cat is older and suddenly starting to urinate, good to check it out. Or call a vet and ask what it could be...not sure, if it could be anxiety in the cat...I am going to ask my vet today!
I have worry box that I write down my worries and put in it. Incidently, I need to do that!
It may help?
I hope you can nurture yourself with things and take is easy so the anxiety lessens. I understand, I have it too.
Have you been journaling about your anxiety? Or meditating? I need to do these too!
wishing you peace,
Marishka
I do have little things I do when I am anxious, and they do help, but sometimes it takes over a bit. I am not much of a journaler, but I do like to write down a list of my worries and then tear them into little pieces or burn them. Sometimes I do a sort of visualization where I imagine all my worries as a big black ball in my chest, and imagine I am removing that black ball and throwing it over a cliff or something. It works sometimes. Mostly just fighting like heck to maintain the healthy habits and routine of my life and not just wallow in self pity.
I made an appointment to bring my cat to the vet, though he will have to wait a week due to the thanksgiving holiday. I just have to remind myself that he is just a cat and he is not doing this on purpose, poor thing. I do think that animals pick up on our anxiety and that will just make things worse.
Hi, that sounds like a good anti worry strategy.
Do you feel some better just having an appt. for your kitty? I just took mine and just got back. They said her pooping in the bed may be because she was a stray. It just feels better to check things out with the vet like that.
I know when so many things seem to add up, it seems like anxiety takes over, me too. And for me, then my body hurts like hell... and this makes meditation or others things very hard. At that point all I seem to be able to do is take baths and rest.
I really don't know what I would do for work and I have these symptoms a few times a week, which is really getting old..maybe I have cancer...don't know...
the pain is very very bad with stress. One day at a time I try to remember and just be glad for a day without pain or depression or anxiety.
When do you feel the best? the most relaxed? the least anxiety?
Marishka
Sorry about your pain. It is like an added blow when you already deal with anxiety and depression.
Actually, I feel least anxious when I am at work right now. Everything that is stressing me out most right now involves something at my house, so it is a relief to be away for a while. Normally, I love home because it is a safe place but not so much right now. Normally, I am most anxious in the early morning and least anxious in the evenings at home.
I just had another sleepless night even though I took some Benadryl. The sleep deprivation is just making everything worse right now.
Hi am10079,
Least stressed at work? Wow, what do you do? I want to do that! :)
What about home is stressful right now?
I take 5 grams of melatonin each night and usually sleep through unless the kittens wake me. Have you tried it?
What are you worrying about most right now?
Marishka
I actually like my job except for the fact I wish I made a LOT more money doing it. I work in the public sector in accounting, have my own office in a quiet area. Mostly spend my days on the computer, not much of a people job, so I don't mind it. Sometimes it is just a matter of finding the right job for you. My employers don't know of my issues with depression/anxiety and I won't tell them because I don't want that stigma placed on me. However, by taking some strategic vacation days here and there to recharge, I can manage. I used to have a problem with calling in sick too much everytime I felt bad and didn't want to get out of bed. Almost lost my job. Now, I just remind myself that the stress of having no job and no money would be way worse than going to work when I am a bit anxious.
Right now mostly the thing with my cat is stressing me out. I can deal with any animal stuff but cat pee on the furniture, no can do. I guess I fear that he will never stop and I will be forced to leave him out or give him up or worse. I don't know that that will actually happen but that is how the anxiety works I guess. Also, my washer/dryer and my water heater were all giving me issues at the same time. Then I need to worry about where to find the money for the repairs and the vet bills etc etc. Being at home just reminds me of all that right now I guess.
I did try melatonin a while and I felt like it made me have headaches but I didn't stick with it enough. I have had a lot of people tell me it works well. I want to try it again and maybe start with a half pill a night see how it works.