Need better coping skills ASAP
Generalized anxiety disorder has been a problem pretty much my whole life. It just didn't get a name until I was 15. It's acts up more during my bipolar or BPD episodes. Well I'm in a worsening bipolar depression and there are stressors out of my control and it is making my anxiety worse. It has been sickening since Tuesday. I will become shaky. Some moments I feel like I'm going to be sick. But even when those symptoms are gone I've developed obsessive thinking and clenching my hands in fists and pumping them. There are deep marks from my fingernails on the palms of my hands. I typically don't realize I'm doing it until mom tells me to stop. I take a benzo for anxiety that is good but it's temporary. My psychiatrist just put me on an older antidepressant that is supposed to be very beneficial for anxiety as well, but it's not ready yet. I need more coping skills. I love reading the most but I can't concentrate if the anxiety is high and the obsessive thinking is acting up. I need something that doesn't require much concentration.
@TrueSight perhaps walking, exercise or sport? I can't really think of anything else to suggest sorry. Personally I do art and crafts to try focus and calm my mind. I really hope your new meds. Come soon, and they work well for you ❤gives you a giant tiny hug ❤❤squeezes you tightly ❤
@Tinywhisper11 I will get my paints out. I have plenty of canvases. Something abstract wouldn't require paying attention to tiny detail. I make paintings I call "quickies". Only eat up about an hour and they are expressive of how I'm feeling at the moment. Creative writing is my favorite outlet but I can't wrap my mind around it. Thank you for bringing up art. I hadn't thought of that. In my library I have a lot of art books. Sometimes looking through them is soothing. Going to the art museum itself is amazing but I don't get that opportunity very often with tickets being $18 now. Today I noticed the essential oil diffuser has been helping some. Especially lavender. I had a really good therapy appointment today that helped me put some things into perspective.
@TrueSight abstract/quickies are a great way to capture your feelings and express yourself ❤❤ I'm glad therapy went well today. I don't know about you but I get so anxious about appointments, but generally come out feeling happier. Creative writing is awsome, but yeah concentrating is kinda needed. Lavender is my favourite scent, but I can't use oil diffusers and scented candles, they start my asthma off😞I'd love to see some of your art one day, and here about what things you write. I'm glad your feeling a bit better today 🙂❤ gives you a giant tiny hug ❤❤
@Tinywhisper11 I usually don't really look forward to appointments but feel better upon arrival. I have given a good deal of my art away but do have some. I don't paint as often as I used to which I need to change. My mental illness fuels and inspires my writing. I've been writing poetry since the 5th grade. In the past couple of years, I have seriously got into writing fiction. When I'm struggling, I put it into a fictional story and resolve the problem in the story. It often helps me resolve and issue in real life. I've published some. College starts up in the Fall which will give me more access to publishing outlets. To me writing is self-exorcism.
@TrueSight that's awsome ❤ that's a great way to help put your issues into perspective. And write a little bit of your heart into each story and poem ❤ did you say your a published writter!?!? Are you rich?? Cause of you are I love you 🤑🤑🤑🤑 😂😂😂😂😂 college, what are you gonna study?? And how are you feeling today?
@Tinywhisper11 I'm not rich. It takes a long time if and when that happen. I'm an English major concentrating in professional and public writing Minors in psychology and literature. I get plenty of creative writing courses. For my film studies course I'm picking French cinema. I feel ok this morning despite only sleeping two hours. My home health visit is this morning. Strange they scheduled it on a weekend.
@TrueSight oh do they have to come and check in with you daily for a while? And wow! College will definitely keep you occupied, your a brainy one ❤❤ my sleeping meds are starting to kick in, so I'm gonna go sleepy ❤ I hope you have a great day ❤ hugs you tightly ❤
@Tinywhisper11 the home health visit is just something my insurance is doing once a year on my plan now. Finishing college is really important to me. My problem is becoming more practical in certain expectations at college.
I'm so sorry you're going through this. Apologies if you've already thought of this, but on reading - have you tried audiobooks or podcasts? You could do other things while listening, and can tune in and out as you want to. Maybe putting on something that is easy to follow along with, or maybe a book that you've already read but love?
@LittleGull I never could get into listening to books. I don't like being read aloud to. I can't say that to my literature professors. Things have gotten somewhat better. I'm trying to schedule a time where I avoid distractions and focus on the book and usually get into it when I start. If I wouldn't get the no sleep/food/drink spells I wouldn't get into such a state. My psychiatrist can't figure these little spells out.