Don't know where to turn, feel isolated, but don't want to interact with people.
I am struggling with my anxiety at the moment. It has been fairly well controlled for a while, but just lately it has returned with a vengeance and I am finding it ever increasingly harder to interact with people, but I feel so lonely at the same time.
It first started a few weeks ago when I had a panic attack on the way to pick my son up from school. It started as I took a different route to the school, I suddenly started thinking what if I am late to pick him up? What if I get lost? (The route I took was only the next street up as I was a little early to pick him up) I had to stop in the middle of the street and just focus on the fact that I was early and if I was late they would simply call me to see where I am. I had my phone so it isn't like I couldn't contact the nursery if I was going to be late, still didn't stop me panicking. It took me a few minutes to realise that there was no problem and I was panicking over a what if.
Ever since I have been wary of the school run even when I have gone the regular route. I try listening to music to distract myself, but that simply doesn't work. I am fine when he is with me I just get worse when I am on my own and I won't ask my partner for help as he thinks I should just snap out of it.
@Tellr1 Hello, I am sorry to hear that you are experiencing anxiety on the school run, it can be stressful at best without the anxiety! It sounds like youre overthinking this experience and the fear of feeling that fear again is creating more fear, so it is a case of breaking the cycle, I am glad to see that you have tried some coping stratagies like listening to music, going early and going a familiar route, I wonder if there is a friend you can walk with, a parent of another child at the nursery? It is important to accept these feelings, create your arguent then let them go, try not to ruminate on those thoughts too long, If they come up let them come then let them go. Dont give tham any focus. You are doing the right thing by continuing on, I thinkt hat after a while these thoughts will just shrink back down and things will feel better though for now I think the way that you are working with it is great, perhaps googling anxiety coping skills may also be helpful? things like distraction and breathing.
-sunshineKitty :)
@Tellr1
It may be helpful for you to spend some time listening to the mindfulness audio in the path menu here on 7cups. It helps me when I'm feeling a spike in anxiety and has helped prevent it from escallating to the point of panic. In the "education and assistance" catagory there's one specifically on panic attacks. Being mindful that your breathing is more with your abdomin instead of upper lungs should help too since shallow breathing tends to create more anxiety (if you put hand on both areas abs should rise first). Naming objects around me also helps if I'm worried about what's happening inside of me, just to get my mind thinking outward or on something different than what I'm worried about.