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My anxiety is a bit different, but I would definitely give counselling a shot! I've only done three sessions, but it really helped me with my anxiety on airplanes. |
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I'm going to look into a place I used to go for counselling when I was younger, for other issues. So hopefully that will be helpful. |
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Trivia Team |
Good luck, Kiwi. Definitely get some professional help. Everybody's anxiety is different, so while one advice here might work, another won't. It's best to have an irl team to help you out with managing it. I'm like Eve, my anxiety is/caused by a severe lack of magnesium (I was taking 8 times the recommended dose and my bloodwork still came back so low the doctor was shocked), and B12. Sometimes it helps to know that, because then you can reason your way back to sanity (in my spirals I'll be like "oh, no, go take your pills" and even though I feel anxious it helps knowing the reason why). I hope you find the thing that works for you and you feel better- it's definitely not a fun thing to live with! |
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I've got an appointment with a GP later this week, and I'm hoping they will reffer me straight to the places that can help me, as well as set me up with something that might help in the meantime, otherwise appointments are months away for anything else. I feel like all my anxiety over the past week has been through the roof especially because, I've had a freind staying with me dealing with her own issues as well as 2 assesments I had totally forgotten I have to do one of which I need to film myself completing activities which terrifies me and I want to cry so much as thinking about it. I also started working again (most weekdays 10+ hour shifts, I am exhausted), I felt so overwhelmed with everything that I had an axiety/panic attack over it earlier today, which is kind of why I'm writing this. I feel like I have been absolutely going through it over the past week lmao. |
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Hey, love. I had anxiety bad enough for a while that I was (and still am, though to a lesser degree) considered a selective mute. You're welcome to reach out anytime, as I'd rather not speak about my stuff in public. I'm willing to listen and try to assist where I can <3 |
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Versailles said:
Hey, love. I had anxiety bad enough for a while that I was (and still am, though to a lesser degree) considered a selective mute. You're welcome to reach out anytime, as I'd rather not speak about my stuff in public. I'm willing to listen and try to assist where I can <3
Thank you <3 |
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So counciling was a no, Couldn't get in, something about the waitlist being too long and they reccomened me something else which I declined. My GP helped to the best of his possibility but he reccomened me to a therapist instead because he beleives my lack of confidence (and anxiety) is rooted and caused by experiences and thing that I didn't want to share as well as how I was raised. (however appointments are $200 and I'm yet to get a single one). So he put me on setraline, which I think has been helping to a certain point but I have much larger but less frequent 'dips' in my mental health. As I'm getting closer to the end of my semester I'm starting to panic quite a lot more. Like I've got so many assesments to do and like a skills taskbook from my placement that I need to fill out (which I've since been told also that about 14/15 of my experience reflections were not good enough to pass and I need to fix them before June 16th) so I'm just like drowning. I know I should really talk to my lecturers but I don't know how without overwhelming myself and just crying lmao. Especially because they can see my lack of engagement with the programme resources lately. I'd hate for their immediate thought to be 'well of course you're behind, you don't look at a single thing outside of class besides assesment results'. Which also speaking of, for the absolute first time in my life I felt happy and confident to submit my work to my lecturer. Like I'd never felt so good about an assesment. And I legitimately ended up getting the lowest grade of my life from it. Which has just eradicated any sense of confidence I had for that class completely. I'm starting to heavily consider dropping the course as a whole. I can't keep up and don't feel competent enough anymore. I'm starting to feel like no matter what I do it won't ever ease, even just slightly. |
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Oh Kiwi, I'm so sorry. One of my friends has VERY bad anxiety. Medication, after years of trying different things, transformed her from crying every day to almost never. Please, please try and use medicine. Also, (if you can afford it) try to find a good therapist. Someone who has a heart, and won't break the bank from appointment prices. The one who helped my friend is such a good person - only empathetic people can really help. They are invaluable. Also, it depends on the person, but my friend went into one of those hospitals for people with anxiety and she got worse, so that should be a last resort if you were to consider it. But please don't give up! Loosing hope will just make it worse. Now of course, it isn't easy not to, but please don't totally give up. Sending prayers, and feel free to PM me if you need someone to talk to 🙏 ❤️ |
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Thank you ^^ It's always nice to know that at the very least I'm not the only person who's delt with anxiety, and that people managed to work through it and get a lot better. |
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Thank you so much for sharing this, Kiwi. It takes a lot of courage to open up about what you're going through. I just want you to know you are not alone. I also struggle with anxiety, a few different types that I have been diagnosed with, and I can completetly relate to how exhausting and overwheleming it can feel, especailly when it comes to new situations and being around people.
Please know that you are not weak or pathetic for feeling this way, it just shows how hard you've been pushing yourself despite the anxiety. That's actually really strong! If you ever need someone to talk to who understands. I am here. Sometimes just knowing someone else gets it can make things feel a little lighter 💙
Just a few things that might help you cope... some of these have personally worked for me, some have not. Everyone is different.
Daily Coping Strategies: - Breathing Exercises - simple deep breathing (like inhaling for 4 counts, holding for 4, exhaling for 6-7) can calm the nervous system during anxious moments
- Grounding Techniques - try the 5-4-3-2-1 method (name 5 things you see, 4 you feel, 3 you can hear, 2 you can smell, 1 thing you can tast) to anchor yourself when your mind races. - Sometimes, I just randomly list things to help while forcing my eyes to look around like: wall, blue, red, sky, grass, dog, brown, car
- Journaling - writing thoughts down can help process worries instead of letting them spin in your head. - I recently found an app that has helped me more than I thought, not just for my anxiety but for daily struggles and my other mental health struggles as well, maybe give it a try, it's called Honestly.
Thought Management: - Challenge Anxious Thoughts - ask "what's the worst that could really happen? What the best? What's most likely?" This can shrink the power of the "what if" spirals.
- Reframe mistakes - instead of "i failed", try "I'm learning". It takes practice, but can reduce pressure.
- Limit Comparisons - everyone's journey looks different, focusing on your progress (no matter how small) matters most.
Lifestyle Habits: - Movement - gentle exercises (walking, stretching, yoga) can help burn off anxious energy.
- Sleep Hygiene - setting a good routine and limiting screens before bed can ease nighttime anxiety. Try a book or calming music too to relax before bed.
- Limit Caffine & Sugar - both can amplify jittery and/or anxious feelings.
Support: - Talking to someone - weather it's a friend, family member, or peer who understands, sharing can also make you feel less alone (Look, you are already doing it, so :))
- Professional Support - if possible, talking to a doctor or therapist (Psychologist, Psychiatrist) could help with long-term strategies or treatment options. Even writing down what you want to say and talk about before an appointment can make it less overwhelming. - I have been in therapy for mannnnyyy YEARS.... it's not easy at first but, you get there. Main thing, is to be honest and don't ever beat yourself up if you not liking a certain therapist, you can always switch and find one that you feel more comfortable with or one that you feel understands you the best or one that you think provides or will provide the best options and techniques for you. I have had to switch up many times mysef. Also, if you don't want to go in person * looking more for telehealth* or have finicanial issues or have no insurance, there are free ones out there like betterhelp.com I also find that watching others on tiktok that have anxiety and listen to what they have to offer and stuff can help too, this may sound crazy but, one said to always keep like super sour candy around like in a purse or whatever you carry and to pop one in your mouth during an anxiety attack and it's so post to help shock your nervous to regain your focus or to get your focus off the anxiety. I love sour candy but, surprisingly it has worked for me a few times especailly during my panic attacks.
- Small Steps - facing fears gradually (instead of all at once) helps build confidence over time. Make sure to celebrate your wins! Even the super small ones.
These are things I have done on my own/ things that have been suggested to me by my own therapists if you want to give them a try. They aren't a quick fix, most of these take time and conistent work. Just don't beat yourself up while doing it. Remember, the fact you are still showing up and pushing forward is a huge sign of your strength! If you ever need someone, again, I am here 💙 |
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Breezy and Pleasant
