DEAR DEIDRE: MY anxiety is taking over my life, and I’m struggling to cope.
Every day I wake up on edge, and no matter what I do, I can’t shake the worry. I feel constantly overwhelmed, and it’s making me unwell.
I’m a 32-year-old man, and while I’ve struggled with my mental health for most of my life, the last year has been a nightmare.
From losing my dad to cancer to being in a car accident, it’s been an uphill battle, and my anxiety has gone through the roof.
Finding the motivation to get up every morning has become impossible, and I can’t remember the last time I got a full night’s sleep.
I’ve started to have panic attacks, and I’ve stopped going out as much because I’m worried I’ll have an attack.
[authenticated-scripts src=”%3Cscript%20type%3D%22text%2Fjavascript%22%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fthesun.formstack.com%2Fforms%2Fjs.php%2Fdear_deidre_problem%22%3E%3C%2Fscript%3E%3Cnoscript%3E%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fthesun.formstack.com%2Fforms%2Fdear_deidre_problem%22%20title%3D%22Online%20Form%22%3EOnline%20Form%20-%20Dear%20Deidre%3C%2Fa%3E%3C%2Fnoscript%3E%0A” type=”embedded” width=”100″ /]I’m a nervous wreck, and it’s getting in the way of my daily life.
How do I get through this?
[read-more title=”MORE FROM DEAR DEIDRE” article_ids=”32956503,32878410″ shortcode_id=”3b88a441-af60-4d25-86b9-95f69cab604d” /]DEIDRE SAYS: Living with anxiety can be debilitating and can make you feel there is no way out.
But with small positive steps you can start to overcome these thoughts. Understanding your anxiety and recognising the route of where it’s coming from will be essential in finding a way through.
Please see your GP, who can discuss options with you. They can offer you cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to help with this.
You also can find support through Anxiety UK (www.anxietyuk.org.uk, 03444 775 774).
I’m also sending you my support packs, Living With Anxiety and Coping With Panic Attacks, to help.