Thank you. That's really kind :flowers:

:omgno: Just seen your avi is man utd :nono:

...even if your anxieties were in any way hormone related, Tarryn..it's still not something that you just have to 'put up with'..it's just finding the best for you to help you cope with your anxieties and it's not one of those 'one size fits all' type things because the causes and triggers for our anxieties are so personal to each individual...I think probably your not sleeping is exaggerating your anxieties as well because you must be becoming physically exhausted, which will have nothing but negative effects on your thoughts..so maybe looking into some relaxation techniques, to help for more rest and sleep could be something to focus on atm as well..?...just taking one step at a time../type thing and trying to do something about some of those 'accelerators'...aim for your sleep to be more restful and that may help to relieve your anxieties and help you break them down...

..and I'm glad that the walks are helping you, Jack..:hug:...

I did try relaxation techniques but they did not work, I also went to see a councillor for six sessions but even though she was really nice I just felt like I was talking to a brick wall.
You are right in saying my lack of sleep is adding to my anxiety. I find that every little thing just get's to me.

LVG has added to my anxiety :fist:

Jurgen Klopp has made me a lot less anxious at Liverpool :hee:

I don't what I will do in the winter as at the moment the weather is great for walks not so much when it's snowing :laugh:

My son is on those for migraines

I suffer with anxiety.

It's had various forms and triggers over the years. Like the OP said, simply being out and about used to trigger huge anxiety. Mainly through being self conscious (probably through bullying throughout childhood/teens.

I'd feel everyone was staring at me. Judging and laughing for the way I looked. To this day I hate crowded places.

In more recent years it's become more serious. Been a rough 5 years. Both parents died. Friends all had babies and simply vanished off the social radar. Financial worries. Having no family or friends to talk to has affected me more than I realised.

All those small conversations yout have with friends and family really help you to de-load and sort of like, de-frag the thoughts and feelings you have. Don't bottle things up.
Even a forum like this can help when you need it most.

I have resolved all the issues I mentioned above apart from friends/family, but the anxiety remains. I'm always mentally active with mostly bad thoughts. Worries about anything. Laying in bed wide awake worrying about everything and anything. Things that are out of my control.

Recently a British family got beaten up in thailand and I saw the cctv of it and it sent me into a depressed state of anxiety for a week or more.

As a byproduct I also get really bad insomnia.

Doctors. Useless in my experience. They're under a lot of pressure not to prescribe anything remotely addictive such as sleeping pills or tranquilisers because people have been suing doctors over becoming dependant on them. So now they won't. It doesn't matter if you've been awake for a week, torn your hair out and ground your teeth to dust. They still won't prescribe something to alleviate the symptoms there and then. They don't want to risk their career.

They will most likely give you an antidepressant and possibly a beta blocker, though.

Recently my GP said I should stop whatever im doing and focus on the moment. Listen to the birds. Feel the wind. Not really beneficial or possible when I'm in work or driving etc.

Exercise helps a lot. Really intense lengthy exercise. Releases enorphins etc. And the added benefit is after 3 months you'll feel and look much better. Things may snowball after that. Your confidence will soar.

Also, as much as possible, try not to withdraw from people and the world around you. Agoraphobia will kick in or get worse than it already is.

OP, I hope you overcome or at least manage your anxiety.

You're not alone.

Thanks for this :) really helpful.

What a beautiful, thoughtful and a little sad post :hug:

I agree so much with what you have said...especially the exercise part. It is my crutch rt now.
And this site can be a lovely place to find friends to connect with... Rob!, you are one of the best of the bunch

You're welcome. :)

Why sad? Don't want anyone to be a raincloyd so early after joining lol.

Yes exercise is very important in dealing with anxiety or depression and even insomnia. I feel sad when my workout is over as I just want to stay in the gym.

I do a good 3hr a day bit would do more if I didn't have work and commitments etc.

1hr weights then 2hr fast incline walk with good music or an audio book let's you just drift off and before you know it you've done 2hrs.

What do you do for exercise, Mokka?

Not much for the gym me... I need to be outside.

Currently I run 4-5 days a week 5-7 km (3-4.5 miles) depending on time and my body that day ( trying to get to 10km by summers end)
I cycle everywhere in the summer... to work or to fun. Have a 25km trip planned for tomorrow
And I walk! Where I can't run or cycle to :laugh:

outside of that I do pilates at home as a little extra for tone and balance.

And I didn't mean sad as a negative... I just empathized with what you said

I'd love to be able to run for distances like that. I'm far too heavy though, about 130kg, through weight lifting for the past 10 years on and off and have bad shins from when I used to box ages ago. Got shin splints from so much skipping and they seem to have stayed with me!

I hear running for a long time gives a euphoric feeling when you push past the plateau or the wall.

Cycling - nor sure my bum could manage sitting on those seats! Or the lycra/spandex shorts lol.

So kudos to you :)

No I know it wasn't negative. :)

I hope you get your 10k goal. I'm sure you will!

It's awful to feel anxious and panicky, but please see your doctor. If you can't bear the thought of waiting with a lot of other people, ask for a time to see him/her and then go into the waiting room about 5 minutes before your appointment.
A few tips to help are
Spend time in a calm peaceful atmosphere, out in nature is best.
Drink camomile tea, especially at night as it helps you relax and get a good sleep.
The rescue remedy lozenges suggested by Rob also sound like a good idea.
I hope you feel better very soon Jack.

Always have these in our house medicine cabinet!! They work so well

..yeah, I think that the out of our control is a big thing with anxieties, TT350..it's our minds focusing on those for the very reason that they can't be solved, so just increasing out helplessness and increasing our anxieties...I think what your GP said about focusing on the moment is great advice in that with anxiety, our mind focuses on where it wants to take us../the 'destination' as it were..and it's already pre-determined that, that destination will be a place of triggering our anxieties...?...but really and logically, we don't know that it will do that, how could we know that of a place that we haven't got to yet..?..maybe we're associating something in our heads of similar situations/experiences which caused us pain/sadness etc in the past..and leaping over bridges that we haven't reached yet in thinking that 'worst thing' will happen again.../our worst fears, you know...in concentrating on the hear and now...the focus starts to be about the journey, so helping to break down the anxiety...like, if we have to go to a crowded place for instance and crowds make us anxious...but we have no choice, it's somewhere we have to go..?...so our 'head monster'/anxiety takes us to how we'll feel when we're there, to that terrifying, anxious place...it's trying to control an outcome that may never be../it's skipped the whole journey and arrived already...for me, I think it's about breaking it down and taking away the power of the anxiety, weakening it by focusing on each step, bit by bit...so we have to get showered or whatever first, so we do that..that's one step and the first step of getting there..ad nothing 'bad' happened there...?..we get dressed etc and focus on that and nothing beyond that, only what we're doing in the here and now...then the journey we have to make to get to wherever../walking/bus etc..feeling 'in control' that we know the way to our destination and that's all we need to know...the walking in to somewhere, just opening a door and taking a few steps..nothing bad will happen in doing that..?...(I'm not sure if I'm explaining very well, t'is early..)...but it's all focusing on things which we're controlling ourselves so it's not allowing that monster called anxiety any room in out heads and thoughts for the moment...it's breaking and taking away it's power over us because we're going to get there, are taking steps and journeys to get there and we're going to find out ourselves, if there was any 'truth' in those anxieties or if, actually it's completely fine..(or not as scary as we thought..)...and when we do complete a step of the journey as well, we're gaining strength for the next step and the next etc....'here and now' isn't that easy though, I know...and understanding your thought processes../ typical behaviour patterns as well is a good thing..things like Hypnotherapy and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy can be something that can help with that..(for some people..)...so maybe something to look into as well..also use you strengths with things that you do have control over, where you feel in control to help 'build up your force' for tackling the more difficult things.../focus on things that you're happy in yourself with and good at/type thing...

I suffer with anxiety, it used to be more social anxiety and whilst I'm not so bad now my health anxiety is through the roof it's more than just being a hypochondriac in the past year I've had oral/skin/brain/cancer, meningitis, tuberculosis, lymphoma, luekemia, lupus I mean the list goes on. It sounds ridiculous when I think about it but I just feel like I'm going to die. Some days I don't want to get out of bed or leave the house and I know that makes it worse but I can't help it. I'm not as bad as I was, I don't tend to search up life threatening illness symptoms as often anymore. But we have to have hope that things will get better.

Wow a lot of people suffering from anxiety here. I have a problem with crowded places where you have to stay there for a period of time like restaurants, tubes etc even more so with that ISIS bullcrap. I'm thinking of cancelling an event tomorrow cause I'm always thinking is tomorrow the day they blow up the underground. I have nasal problems and my worst fears are death by suffocation so maybe either drowning or being stuck under the rubble in the underground.
I don't know a cure except maybe try slowly doing more and more of what causes you the most anxiety. Little things like going to the shops try doing that more and more. Allow yourself that mental space time aswell meaning give yourself time to get ready that way you can prepare your mind. Don't just rush into it. Everything you do give yourself that mental preparation.

I'll have to get some when we are in Britain again Mokka, as my son is often anxious and I'd rather use a natural remedy than chemicals.:wavey:

I'm so comfortable (to a fault :joker:) around my friends of years, but new people and situations I feel so anxious and awkward.. and I worry it'll affect my potential job interviews

Had a particular situation with a housemate earlier in the year and I just couldn't face leaving my room at all when she was around, I'd even go to sleep to avoid it :worry: