Im feeling anxious/sad

[katesmom]

I havent posted for a long time. Ive been extremely anxious about everything over the past couple of months.

My OCD/hypochondria/panic is back with a vengance.

I havent prayed in a long time & have been feeling really lonely! Over the past month Ive changed my hours at work from 1st shift to 2nd/3rd shift - Im not sleeping well at all. The kids started going to a babysitter. Im just not liking these new hours at all!

Ive been worried about everything. From my health to my coworkers - everything is causing me anxiety! To add to the stress, we had to put our 9 year old dog to sleep two weeks ago (he was not doing well) - weve been sad & missing him!

The lack of sleep stinks. I used to sleep great! I hate my new work hours - but I changed them to have more time with my husband & kids.

I need prayers & some encouraging words tonight - Thanks

 

[Feanaro_s_Wife]

**Prayers for you, and some hugs too:hug1:

I ask for a lot of prayers and encouragement here and everyone always comes through.

I hope that my tiny little prayer for you does something to help ease your anxiety and stress.**

 

[Boss_Playa]

Please pray for my ex-friend Brian (became an atheist today)

 

[Just_wondering]

Prayers for you, Kate(name removed by moderator). I switched from first shift to second a few months ago, and it can really wreak havoc on your lifestyle. It takes a great deal of time and effort to adjust to the change. That’s for me, as a single woman - I imagine it’s much harder for you, with a family needing you, too. It took me about two months to get into a reasonable sleep schedule that worked for me. (It didn’t help that my boyfriend was working third shift and the only time we could talk on the phone during the week was either his lunch break at 2am or after his shift at 7 or 8 am. )

I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your dog. It sounds as if you’ve had so much stress piled on you for the last couple of months. Tell me, have you had the chance to do anything nice for yourself? It sounds like you need to take a moment to yourself and enjoy some peace and quiet. Maybe you could go somewhere peaceful, like a park or church (or a bathtub), and spend an hour recharging your spirit. Even if you have more time available for your family now, you still need to spend some of that time alone - it’s not stealing time from your kids if you go for a walk in the park alone before work while the kids are with the babysitter.

It takes a while to find a new routine that works for you. In the meantime, try to pray and don’t feel bad if you have to make adjustments to your routine. You need to look after yourself.

 

[Donna_Mc]

I’m so sorry to hear of you troubles Kate(name removed by moderator). I do understand how you must feel. Our 18 year old daughter has OCD, panic
and a problem with her stomach. Our 15 year old son suffers from anxiety related to school, and I have had anxiety problems all my life off and on. We are also animal lovers and have been where you are where that is concerned too. I’m sure it is hard enough for you and then having lack of sleep on top of it is really tough. I will keep you in my prayers. Please take care of yourself.

 

[pentecostbaby]

Prayers for you from someone who has an anxiety disorder as well . My only advice is to try really, really, really hard to pray - I know it’s so hard! Even if you just say, “Please, God, give me the strength to pray”, this is enough, and it will happen.
The only thing that’s been getting me through the bad times lately: when I felt really good, I started saying the Rosary at night. Since I did it then, and got in the habit, I can manage it when things are tough. This is an immeasurable comfort (and can put you to sleep without your mind racing into twelve different, terrifying directions).

 

[GhostMan]

I too suffer from General Anxiety Disorder; at times it causes me to have such tremors that I initially believed I had Parkinson’s. My symptoms are panic sensations and having strong beliefs in things that cannot happen (i.e. getting a phone call saying our home has been repossessed when we are not even late on a mortgage payment).

My symptoms come and go; I can go for months and have none at all, then - like the last few weeks - I feel like they are returning with a vengeance. Medications can help, but for me they had such side-effects that I got off them. Now, I try and rationalize myself out of them. Sleeping is the worst. I lie awake and the thoughts seem to almost crush me at times.

I generally pray myself to sleep, but I confess my prayers are a jumbled mess at that point and only God could sort them out. I hate this phase, but I now know it is a series of peaks and valleys. It will recede, and something closer to normality will return. I must be on constant vigilance, though, to make certain my decisions are made using rational thoughts.

It would help to have someone to turn to, but - in my case - my wife dismisses it with a general “get over it” mentality; it’s her general diagnosis for anything that ails me. That means I have to suffer in silence and not let her know when I’m in turmoil. I hope that you have someone you can turn to who will just let you know they are with you.

My real point was to tell you that it is a passing phase. It will diminish, but it will also return. Watch for the signs, learn to find coping mechanisms. Find someone to share your thoughts and fears with.

 

[Salonika]

With all that has been going on for you, I don’t think its surprising your anxiety is back. Change of shift, new workmates and ways of doing things, kids with a baby sitter, making the decision to have your dog put down, having it done and missing your old friend each time you come home - and on top of that not sleeping.

Think sometimes we forget that good things about change don’t cancel out the bad and that good things can cause us stress.

Take care of yourself, try to get some time to yourself, do things you like doing - and ignore people who tell you to “pull yourself together” - they wouldn’t if they knew what a panic attack is like.