Someone keyed my car. Twice
I can’t cope
I’ve been going through a torrid time recently. Probably the most challenging period of my life and at times it’s a genuine struggle. And I’m not one of those people who really struggles much so it’s definitely an alien feeling to me.
But I can’t say enough how much this place serves as a release and a distraction. And even though I’ve had my run ins with people over the years this place is genuinely my little escape.
So if you see my activity le do increasing just know that I’m enjoying just having a space to escape from the real world. And if I’m a little more prickly than usual forgive in advance.
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Always people here for you to talk to bro. One thing about this place is that it’s more than a forum sometimes, people do genuinely care from what I’ve experienced in this thread alone.
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we’re glad to help, this place is seriously great for that 
especially since we’ve all known eachother for years (well online anyway)
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Honestly feel your pain.
It’s very hard for so many people nowadays.
And it angers me that there are simple solutions that can be done to help many people that aren’t done (in fact the opposite - real harm and then no accountability or punishment for willingly causing that harm).
I am the same I had never felt this kind of way until recently, it has been awful as a year. What gets me is that sometimes you don’t see how things are gonna get better which is hopeless.
But again I’ve taken some time off work which has improved my mood immeasurably.
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Always here to fight you bitch
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do hope things go good for you, you are a top bloke…take it easy on yourself! 
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Sorry to hear you’re going through it brother, but I’m glad you have an outlet to channel some of that emotion. And same for you Elec.
You are both big personalities on the forum, and it’s quite surreal when a little round avatar becomes a human through one simple post.
We’re all living and breathing and getting through the day as best as we can. I guess this place is such a great escape that we forget that sometimes.
There’s always folks on here to banter / argue / talk shit with, so this community will always be that escape so long as you continue to post your bollocks here.
Talking about things is always the first step. So good on you both. It will get better in time.
This is a bit lame but I got sent this by somebody recently. No problem is ever too big.
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Hope you get well soon, man. The pressure on healthcare professionals is unbearable 
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So I’ve suffered with anxiety for a long time now and I have medication for it. I’m sure I didn’t used to, or at least I wasn’t predisposed to be as easily triggered as I am at this stage of life.
A couple of years ago, just before the pandemic it got really bad and my brain would just lock onto the same unwanted repetitive patterns (I am also on the ASD spectrum so anxiety is like a double hit on that front). At the time I didn’t know enough about the condition or how it works. I’ve read a few books on the subject since then, had some therapy and talked with a very knowledgable and qualified relative on the subject many times and understanding the theory behind how the brain processes anxiety has helped me to recognise and cope with episodes of anxiety.
However, recently the symptoms have been on the rise again. I think this is due to an operation I have coming up with a fairly long recovery and rehab period where it’s going to be difficult for me to get out and about for a while and although I live alone I’m going to lose some independence in some areas because I won’t have the freedom to drive for a while. The thing is, anxiety is an absolute bastard. It doesn’t just manifest as thoughts about the thing you are worried about, in fact most of the time for me it appears as worries about familiar threats like being unable to see my daughter, money, work etc. I end up with thoughts about everything that could possibly go wrong and my brain starts working overtime on solutions to non-existent problems. Trivial tasks seem huge and time off work (it’s half term at the moment) just opens the door for these things to manifest.
I cannot describe how utterly frustrating knowing what my brain is doing but being unable to stop it at times is.
I’m not sure what I’m going for there but the takeaway seems to be that anxiety is an absolute bastard.
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That fucking sounds hard man. I can’t even imagine what it’s like to be in that position. Can obviously only offer words of encouragement but I don’t know that they mean much when you’re in that position.
Hopefully the surgery is smooth and the recovery is rapid so you can maintain as much independence as possible.
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Sound like a horrible mental state to be in. Really feel for you.
Really hope that your operation goes to plan and that your anxiety levels will decrease as a result of that.
As your are constantly in a fight or flight state its key that you take time to find activities that can put your stress and adrenaline down. It could be meditating, yoga, walks in nature. Anything that puts your out of your head a bit.
its easier said than done in the state you are in, but start with small steps like listening to calm music for 30 mins while having your eyes closed. your body and mind needs a break from the worries and stresses.
I dont know if you take medication, but it could also be a short term solution know that you are waiting for the big operation.
Take care and remember that it will be better some day.
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Appreciated guys. I do take my medication and that definitely has given me more control of the brain lock than I used to have and makes sleep a lot easier.
Sometimes it’s a bit like a migraine, and I just have to take a while to be in a darkened room (which is an ASD thing) and have an easy show or something on.
I’ve definitely struggled with this. Do you like any sort of distraction or fidget device? Sometime if I feel myself starting to spiral I’ll try to do something extremely simple like making a cup of tea or coffee. There are apps out there that have small games or guided meditation prompts which can sometimes help too.
If you’re worried about your recovery time, do you like books on tape? Sometimes I’ve had success keeping anxiety and panic attacks away listening to trashy mystery novels.
It sounds very obvious but sometimes I just have to keep reminding myself what one of my therapists told me years ago. “I will not feel like this forever. This feeling will pass.”
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Like a lot of people, anxiety really hits me first thing in the morning, and as you said actually getting up and doing something is the best way to bring it under control. During term time my anxiety is generally far more under control because I’m very busy and have a routine to follow.
Playing FIFA or something like that is one of my go to responses, or sometimes watching easy going shows or shows that I know very well.
It does help to remember guidance I’ve been given by therapists before as well, especially about how the brain stores threats and why they appear so large in your head.
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@SRCJJ, @Electrifying, @Leper, very sorry to hear about your troubles and am glad you’re able to talk about it here and find some comfort.
I personally have never struggled with mental health issues, or at least nothing significant enough to keep him awake or disrupt my regular life in any way. I guess a combination of having a stable family life, a stable job, and not being a very emotional person have something to do with that. It’s very hard for someone like me to even begin to understand why people struggle with mental health issues or how serious they can be, until a few months ago.
Earlier this year, someone reasonably close to me and my family, took their life over something that I thought was very selfish and ultimately trivial. After the initial shock of it wore off, I was filled with anger about this whole situation, especially as this person left behind a hapless mother, who is also a widow. What’s worse, this person had tried something similar a few months earlier and I and my wife had spoken to her and tried to counsel her but clearly, we didn’t fully understand the pain she was in, or the significance she attached to this problem that she was dealing with. This incident was a big eye opener for me. I’ll probably never fully get over what happened but for sure, I now have a better appreciation for how serious mental health issues can be.
So take are guys and I hope you find a way to get over your issues.
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I find my cure for depression is the same for my anxiety. Good sleep, healthy diet and rigorous daily exercise routine.
For me the exercise part is key. If for some reason I have to skip a day, I can feel my anxiety rising straight away. Exercise keeps that monster at bay.
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This is really underrated. If I have a lazy day, my mood actually gets worse.
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You don’t even have to go to a gym. Most of the time I will simply fill my backpack with books, and then walk up and down the stairs outside my flat, until my legs start turning to jelly, and I have a good sweat on.
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Maybe this is how it works when you enter into it voluntarily.
I spent over an hour yesterday helping with delivery of a new kitchen, carrying it some way down the street and then upstairs and into my flat, and I don’t feel better for it.
Fucked up definition of delivery in my book, when it what it essentially means is they’ll send just one man to bring all the boxes to your street and you then have to help him to carry them way down the road and up flights of stairs.
There also isn’t a room or passage of my flat which is not now lined with cardboard boxes. Gonna be a cramped few weeks til the fitter gets going.
The more I type, the more I realise I should perhaps have taken my delivery based gripes to the “What Grinds Your Gears” thread instead 
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