just generally having a rough time in between two stressful events - can anyone else relate?

[alwaysworried]

It seems that once I get a "vacation" or a few days off, my anxiety gets even worse than it usually is because it doesn't have anything to latch onto. I just finished a difficult and fast-paced neuroscience class for my degree, and now I have a couple weeks off until I have to return to school for the fall. I was extremely stressed and anxious toward the end of the course, and now, even though I've had a few days "free" without the stressors of exams, papers, etc., I feel more anxious than ever. The past 48 hours I've been convinced that I've had a bladder infection, diabetes, had a persistent air bubble feeling in my throat, felt weak, shaky, lightheaded at times, random pains in my chest and throat, poor digestion, and tension headaches. Sometimes I'll feel fine for a few hours, but then it all comes back - especially at night.

I've been feeling extremely burnt out - to the point of having near-daily breakdowns at the end of the spring semester - and now I'm done with my summer course, but the fact that I have to return to campus soon amongst all of the covid panic is weighing heavily on me as well. My hair has been falling out due to the stress of the past few months. I know that it is more important for me now than ever to just get some rest and find something that distracts me and makes me happy, but I just feel so scared and anxious all of the time that it feels impossible to settle down. I am really looking forward to being back at university, but of course I am incredibly anxious about covid, keeping my job, and the fact that I'm very alone at school and don't have any friends who will talk me down if I'm beginning to spiral. I do have an easier semester lined up for me at school, so I should be able to take better care of my mental health. But what with everything going on, I'm just afraid that I'll spiral out of control.

I've been living with anxiety long enough that I know this feeling is temporary, but that doesn't make the fear and panic any easier to handle. I just really needed to get this off my chest. Does anyone else experience this, where the second you get a chance to take a break, even though you desperately want and need one, your anxiety gets even worse? Also, if anyone has some nice/comforting TV shows, movies, music, books, etc. to recommend that are nice distractions I would love to hear about them.

 

[Pandora593]

It seems that once I get a "vacation" or a few days off, my anxiety gets even worse than it usually is because it doesn't have anything to latch onto. I just finished a difficult and fast-paced neuroscience class for my degree, and now I have a couple weeks off until I have to return to school for the fall. I was extremely stressed and anxious toward the end of the course, and now, even though I've had a few days "free" without the stressors of exams, papers, etc., I feel more anxious than ever. The past 48 hours I've been convinced that I've had a bladder infection, diabetes, had a persistent air bubble feeling in my throat, felt weak, shaky, lightheaded at times, random pains in my chest and throat, poor digestion, and tension headaches. Sometimes I'll feel fine for a few hours, but then it all comes back - especially at night.

I've been feeling extremely burnt out - to the point of having near-daily breakdowns at the end of the spring semester - and now I'm done with my summer course, but the fact that I have to return to campus soon amongst all of the covid panic is weighing heavily on me as well. My hair has been falling out due to the stress of the past few months. I know that it is more important for me now than ever to just get some rest and find something that distracts me and makes me happy, but I just feel so scared and anxious all of the time that it feels impossible to settle down. I am really looking forward to being back at university, but of course I am incredibly anxious about covid, keeping my job, and the fact that I'm very alone at school and don't have any friends who will talk me down if I'm beginning to spiral. I do have an easier semester lined up for me at school, so I should be able to take better care of my mental health. But what with everything going on, I'm just afraid that I'll spiral out of control.

I've been living with anxiety long enough that I know this feeling is temporary, but that doesn't make the fear and panic any easier to handle. I just really needed to get this off my chest. Does anyone else experience this, where the second you get a chance to take a break, even though you desperately want and need one, your anxiety gets even worse? Also, if anyone has some nice/comforting TV shows, movies, music, books, etc. to recommend that are nice distractions I would love to hear about them.

I’m like this too!! My anxiety is what kicks my procrastination to the curb so i can get things done like school work, but my anxiety is AWFUL when I’m at work. It’s a fairly simple job but the amount of work and tediousness is what burns me out both physically, mentally, and emotionally. Towards the end of the day i find myself shaking, sweating, nauseous, and on the verge of tears. Yet when i take an extra day off on the weekend or even an extended “staycation” i still have that lingering anxious feeling. I’m anticipating reliving the stress even if it’s days away. I guess you just gotta find ways to distract yourself. I may go for a run, or more commonly, I watch a craappp ton of horror movies and stories. Putting that fear, that anxiousness into something other than my own problems is like an outlet for me I can use the pent up energy on fictional or ,sometimes real!, scary stories. Strange, but It definitely helps me or the opposite! Ill watch reassuring stuff like dr phil haha seeing other peoples problems get resolved no matter how difficult makes me feel better knowing ill get through these feelings too. Sometimes ill do diy projects, sometimes ill sing until im sure my neighbors will complain lol, sometimes i go for a drive, anything to divert my attention and to expel energy helps me !


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[alwaysworried]

I’m like this too!! My anxiety is what kicks my procrastination to the curb so i can get things done like school work, but my anxiety is AWFUL when I’m at work. It’s a fairly simple job but the amount of work and tediousness is what burns me out both physically, mentally, and emotionally. Towards the end of the day i find myself shaking, sweating, nauseous, and on the verge of tears. Yet when i take an extra day off on the weekend or even an extended “staycation” i still have that lingering anxious feeling. I’m anticipating reliving the stress even if it’s days away. I guess you just gotta find ways to distract yourself. I may go for a run, or more commonly, I watch a craappp ton of horror movies and stories. Putting that fear, that anxiousness into something other than my own problems is like an outlet for me I can use the pent up energy on fictional or ,sometimes real!, scary stories. Strange, but It definitely helps me or the opposite! Ill watch reassuring stuff like dr phil haha seeing other peoples problems get resolved no matter how difficult makes me feel better knowing ill get through these feelings too. Sometimes ill do diy projects, sometimes ill sing until im sure my neighbors will complain lol, sometimes i go for a drive, anything to divert my attention and to expel energy helps me !


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I'm so glad to see I'm not the only one feeling this way! What you said about anticipating reliving the stress...I think that may be my problem too. I don't know about horror movies for me personally (I'm a big wimp ) but I love your other suggestions -and can relate about singing loud and worrying about annoying the neighbors, haha! Thanks for replying to my post, it helped me feel not so alone anymore. I wish you the best of luck and hope that you are able to combat the extreme anxiety you feel at work soon!

 

[anxiousmenina]

Sorry you're under so much stress at the mo. Cut out caffeine if you are reliant on coffee to keep you awake because it might just feed some of these impulsive thoughts you've been having. And, try not to worry about Covid too much; I stopped reading the news and figures some time ago, and feel much better for it! The media really do not inform or provide nuanced reporting these days so much as stir emotion. You might think it a form of denial, but human beings manage to persevere even in the knowledge that what happens tomorrow is almost total uncertainty. Just look at Beirut this week. You can't live life thinking about the Sword of Damacles hanging over your head; you simply must live your life to the best of your ability.

I was also extremely stressed through my degree. I felt everything was out of my control, but what helped was a side project (a newsletter, actually). It sounds crazy when you have such a big workload as it is, but actually this might be a way to take back control; having something to call your own and that gives you purpose, especially once you have other people validating your efforts and make a positive impact. Ironically I found my time management got better as well because when it was time to study I was really focussed... Maybe you could try starting a society at uni or a student publication (maybe holding sessions online to start with). That might help you broaden your social circles too.

Also—try high-EPA fish oil. Just wrote a thread post about it earlier.

Take care!

 

[Joshua1]

Michael Jackson and harmonious songs can help you. Little mix works well, or perhaps christian/gospel music.