Looking for some company

Hey there,

Anxiety is really something that can be super tricky, right? Like, I mean, even a shrink told me once that stuff from way back when could pop up and totally mess with you without you even knowing why. So yeah,I'm 49 and dealing with all this PoTS nonsense where I barely make it out of bed, let alone anything else, plus the anxiety on top of everything? Not fun at all.

So, do you ever feel lke your body goes haywire or whatever when the anxiety hits, kind of like how mine feels?

Finding a group can be suepr helpful, honestly. Doing things that make me smile is basically my only way to keep going some days-like putting together puzzles, reading books, listening to music, or just hanging out online for a bit. It's all about having that support too, it's pretty tough on your own. Getting the right kind of help definitely makes things easier.

There are these YouTube channels I've really dug into over the past couple years. The Anxiety Guy and Trey Jones both know what they're talking about because they've been there before-pretty cool how they turned into ambassadors for all this stuff. Another channel called Therapy In A Nutshell is also pretty neat, full of interesting videos that might help you out.

I just love watching The Anxiety Guy's videos. He has such a calm way of explaining things and he calls us 'warriors' whhich kind of makes me feel like I can handle it better. Check out this one where he talks about anxiety and depresssion-it migth give you some good insights.
[youtu.be/TGc-VHgQiw0 (This link isn't working for whatever reason)]

It's wild how depression can be completely quiet one moment and then BAM, it's back with this heavy cloud hanging over you. You know those days where you just feel so off that the last thing you want is to talk to anyone? For me, it ties right back to growing up with parents who were always arguing and controlling my life as I got older. Plus, I never get a good night's sleep-these crazy dreams keep me awake way too early in the morning feeling exhausted even before the day starts. But then just like that, something shifts and things start looking okay again. I've been seeing a therapist and trying to stay active with exercise, but it can still be tough for my partner to get what I'm going through. Writing about it here might actually do me some good-and yeah, there are definitely tons of others out there feeling exactly the same way.

Hey there, yeah, opening up can be a game-changer. Over the last couple of years-especially since I became bedridden-I've really felt the blues and it's kinda made me feel like I'm missing out on life.

I get the whole tumultuous childhood thing too. I was an only child with parents who were never on speaking terms. One day, when I was 10, my drunk dad tried to cut my mom's head off with a saw in the kitchen. That was the last straw and they got divorced right after that. For a while, I bounced around between foster homes and being back at our house.

Those early challenges can definitely hit you later on down the road, like how mine might be linked to me feeling this way now. I also have those wild dreams where everything seems so real and loud. Plus, I'm pretty sensitive-I could startle easly and get grumpy about small stuff.

I find myself spending a lot of time alone, just quietly in my thoughts, and not really wanting to chat with others much either. When my partner's family drops by, I usually put on headphones because it's just too overwhelming sometimes. And trust? Well, outside my home base, I've got none.
So yeah, does any of this sound familiar to you?

Yeah. My wife acts like she's being nice, but that's not what I need. Jut want to be alone. No real friends and kids are grown up. Hating getting old though. You're not doing great either, thanks for chatting.

thx 4 replying. my kids r grown up now too, in thier late 20s. i hate getting old & feel like im wasting my life. only got 1 freind who has anxiety issues.
my partner tries to be nice but sometimes u just wanna be alone. we do stuff together but then im back to being by myself most of the time.
i ask myself what's really wrong with me all the time. will i ever get better? why is tihs happening?
doc keeps pushing antidepressants but i dont want to go that route

So, I've been on mirtazapine for like three whole years, man. First year was cool,no issues at all. But after that, it made me kind of lose my mind a bit-reckless adn grumpy. Coming off it has been such a drag though. Luckily, I don't touch alcohol since I had a heart attack five years back. It's scary how one thing can mess up your whole life like that. So, where are you from?

Aw, sorry to hear about your experience. It sounds like something you'd always be on edge about. My dad was pretty rough when he drank too, so I get why you might steer clear of that.

I'm in the North West close to Manchester myself. You mentioned having some Sertraline? My partner picked it up a few weeks back, but it's still sitting untouched in my drawer. Guess I'm not quuite ready for that step yet.

I asked where because of all the UK drama over the past few years-retired myself in 2015. Then came the general election, Brexit, and now we're dealing with COVID and financial chaos. Mentally? Financially? It's been a nonstop rollercoaster. Open up any news app, it's basically just celebs who all look alike, no real personality there-BBC pushing some kind of lefty agenda-and these boats full of people getting comfy in hotels while our homeless folks are freezing on the streets.
It makes me so mad sometimes. No one seems to respect anything or anyone anymore. But man, it feels bettter letting off steam like this. Haha
Anyway, stay in touch. At least there's some sun out today!

I guess we're on the same wavelength here. It's just so frustrating sometimes when there's no respect or discipline around anymore. Kids can pretty much do whateevr they want these days.

You mentioned being unable to get TV reception, and I haven't watched terrestrial TV in about five years either. The last time was for reruns of Bullseye on Challenge. Newspapers are too depressing for me, so I stick with my own collection or classic shows on Pime.

This lefty stuff kind of pushed me away from football as well. Everything seems to be changing and not always for the better. Society feels pretty unstable right now.

People sometimes call me Alf Garnett, but it doesn't bother me at all. I really admire your old-school attitude. I can have conversations with my partner's dad-he'll be 71 this year-and his views are even more extreme than mine,though I couldn't repeat them here!

It's nice to chat with someone who sees things the way I do. You've made my day a bit brighter.

Where are you from by the way?

I'm Vctor Meldrew, love Steptoe and Fawlty Towers. Ian here

I also enjoy Victor and appreciate watching "Love Thy Neighbour." The British sense of humor in those days was something special, which feels less prevalent today. There's so much that one can no longer say.

It was nice meeting you, Ian. I'm Neil from Wigan

Definitely, nice chatting with you, honestly!

Totally get where you're coming from,. It feels like we can only talk if we toe the line on what's deemed politically correct these days-and that's super annoying. Where did everyone go who used to be kind and sensible?

I've had anxiety and depression for ages now, plus sciaatica is just adding to my misery. At least I hve someone at home who understands.

Can't even watch the news anymore; it just makes me feel worse about everything. It's not helpful for mental health at all.Same here, I'm from the northwest too