Peri menopause and major anxiety
Today has been rough. I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder and see a therapist. I am actually a mindfulness mentor and practitioner of many years and have many tools under my belt. For some reason, my tools are not enough, lately. A big trigger of my anxiety is extreme weather, in general, but I think I’m having hormonal shifts because coping with my anxiety has been really difficult today (and just lately). My body and brain are really wearing themselves out. We have some super cold and inclement weather coming this week (like much of the US) and all I can think about are the “what ifs” and catastrophic thinking. Rationally, I figure we’ll be fine, but I cannot stop preparing and ruminating. It’s getting in the way of other things and my ability to feel joy (which feels like depression setting in, too). Anybody have some long term coping strategies or things that help them? I know breathing techniques (box breathing, meditation, etc), but I’m looking for all I can. I’m really sick of this. Also, if you specifically had/have peri anxiety, I’d love to hear how you cope. It’s never been this bad.
@ChiChiMcGee95 Hi. I suffer from what if’s too. Reminding myself that today is ok and what will come is out of my control and the nature of our changing world is change. Stay in the moment?
Thank you. Mindfulness/presence practice hasn’t been fully helpful, lately, but thank you for your response. It is helpful to tell myself that a bad day is okay and it will end. I feel better, today. I appreciate the response and that reminder.
@ChiChiMcGee95 I have a spotty meditation practice, but I keep trying to remind myself to the prescriptions like staying in the moment. But I understand that sometimes it doesn’t feel like enough, but it’s really all I know. There are so many external forces that feel like they can and will likely go wrong. So I get it. I’ve been told by more experienced practitioners that the practice isn’t going to solve everything. It certainly worked better when all I was worried about was my internal state. Still I’m encouraged by the thought of Thich Nhat Hanh and his students practicing through war torn Viet Nam. They certainly must have been experiencing a lot of stress from external forces magnitudes worse than mine. Anyway, my rambling way of saying I understand. May we find what we need to get through. Wishing you many blessings this holiday season.