I was signed off work last week due to my anxiety and am due to go back in tomorrow but I am so anxious just at the thought of it!
In the week I have been off I have been to my friends house and my aunties and that's just about ok as I get straight in my car and then go straight in their house. My daughter has been with me when I've needed to go to the local shop. But just the thought of being around all those people at work is making me feel so anxious and uncomfortable. I feel so stupid as I am a 41 year old woman and I feel guilty about work. I am currently on sleeping and my doctor has spoken about anxiety tablets and referring me for some kind of therapy and I have got to go back to doctors on Thursday for a review but I keep having panic attacks, breathing problems and I don't know what to do!
Please help me as I know I should go to work but it is making me feel sick just thinking about it.
I'm your age had this type anxiety on and off for years. Have learned to live with it. In past thought of going out and bumping into someone or having to socialise terrified me . Just wanted to stay at home . Talked to docs therapists,could tell you more. My doc sees me regular and gave small amount of meds when I was at worst( can be addictive) then I pushed myself. My mum made me go out , felt safer with her. My best therapy as I always go on about is talking on here to people who have this and know how it feels. I don't feel alone or like a strange mad person anymore. Lots of people like this so glad you reached out. Hate to think some people are scared to ask for help this is such a lonely scary illness❤️
If l were you l would try to ring the doctor's surgery in the morning and try to get an appointment and tell them how you are feeling and see if you can have a bit longer off.There is no point in guilt you are unwell at the moment.If you do get more time of work don't isolate yourself keep pushing yourself to go out and try some relaxation which you can find on Take care.
Sorry you find relaxation tips and recordings on YouTube.
I agree you should take more time off this is an illness. Do push yourself thought don't just have even more time to think and worry . Talk , read, see if you can speak to doc ( I can ring mine anytime,some aren't as lucky. Talk anytime ❤️
I have just had two weeks off Ill with anxiety.
Due back in work tomorrow myself. Feel depressed about it but I am going to go back in.
I feel for you, I suffer the same, but I feel it best I go back in tomorrow. It'd only be postponing the feeling another couple of weeks if I got signed off again.
I do agree with the other reply about the you tube videos, I have also bought a couple of books recently about mindfullness etc.
Just go to keep going and try everything.
Good luck, I hope you feel better soon 😊
Hi Nadine,
Don't be embarrassed about anxieties. I'm 40 and last year my anxieties it me hard. I had it under control for quite some time but for whatever reason it resurfaced. I took a month leave from work. My anxieties were so high, every day was just one long panic attack. I lost 20 pounds because my adrenaline was running so high. It was tough to return back to work but i'm not so sure I would've done any better or worse had I returned sooner. If you can take some extra time off, I don't think it'll hurt so long as you're active in your treatment. Isolating yourself will do you no good.
Thank you for your reply Edwina. I am glad that you are feeling better in yourself. How have you learnt to "live with it"?! I don't want to live with it, I just want it all to go away. I have had depression since 18 and the anxiety has been on and off for about a year and feel it is just getting worse! Also the anxiety is worse than my depression in the way that I cant control it! I am so grateful to be able to talk to people on here as no one judges me! I haven't spoken with my family for nearly 5 months now partly because they don't understand me and don't feel like I can explain to them how I'm feeling. The one friend that I haven't pushed away annoys me as everything is about her and just says that she knows how I feel but she doesn't have a clue! I am able to speak to my auntie who says I'm just living too much in the past and that I just need to stop and get on with my life but it's just not that easy.
Sorry for the long reply and thank you again.
Thank you for you reply.
I emailed my boss last night (as I can't talk to people on the phone right now) and told her that I would be at work today. I didn't take my Zopiclone (sleeping tablet) last night for fear of not waking up on time this morning. My head was racing so much, my legs were aching and my body was itching so didn't sleep much and felt terrible this morning so I didn't go to work. I did email my boss again but I am so angry with myself for not going to work!
Hi . Glad you replied. I've learned to live with it bacause I now know after all these years we have to treat it , we can have very good times but I know I have an illness called anxiety (which can cause depression as it gets us so down). I have an illness millions of people have . Other people live with many other terrible illnesses/ disabilsaties etc. At my worst I thought I would go mad and thought people were sick of my moaning so I talk here as people know what this feels like . I never felt so lonely in my life before I told doc and found similar people . So glad your asking advice shows you want to get better( in past I could have given many times) glad I push forward. And yes it's hard not to worry about past but just go day by day , think positive and don't panic if something sets you back . ( know it's hard). Talk anytime❤️