**The Mental Health Thread**

[caff]

Hi all,

My first time posting in this thread.

I've generally been absolutely fine with mental health throughout my life. The most I've ever had in the past has been feeling down or slightly depressed, occasionally a faster heart rate when nervous.

But in the last few weeks, I've been experiencing a lot of stress and anxiety which has started to result in my heart thumping once every now and then, weirdly out of the blue. Today the anxiety got so bad, my thinking became very confused, I felt faint and almost passed out in the street. Luckily had someone to talk me round and get me stable again. I've contacted the GP who are putting me in touch with a mental first aider, and also to get my heart checked with an ECG.

I'm sure it's all stress-related, given what's going on in my life, but it just feels odd to have physical effects for the first time ever.

I've just tried the Wim Hof breathing technique today (I did 5 reps) and it seems to have helped, so will continue with that daily - if I can remember to do it. Does anyone else here do that, do you find it helps?

 

[Hyburnate]

Hi all,

My first time posting in this thread.

I've generally been absolutely fine with mental health throughout my life. The most I've ever had in the past has been feeling down or slightly depressed, occasionally a faster heart rate when nervous.

But in the last few weeks, I've been experiencing a lot of stress and anxiety which has started to result in my heart thumping once every now and then, weirdly out of the blue. Today the anxiety got so bad, my thinking became very confused, I felt faint and almost passed out in the street. Luckily had someone to talk me round and get me stable again. I've contacted the GP who are putting me in touch with a mental first aider, and also to get my heart checked with an ECG.

I'm sure it's all stress-related, given what's going on in my life, but it just feels odd to have physical effects for the first time ever.

I've just tried the Wim Hof breathing technique today (I did 5 reps) and it seems to have helped, so will continue with that daily - if I can remember to do it. Does anyone else here do that, do you find it helps?

Breath work is massively proven to help so it’s really powerful.

Everyone’s here and to be honest I’d be more than happy to jump on the phone and talk with anyone here if they wanted to. I think it’s scary how connected our minds and bodies are and we forget there’s a brain up there, your brain is a muscle and if you keep putting it under pressure it’s going to tell either mentally or physically. I hope what you’re going through has an end in sight, try to focus on that and make sure you rest if you can.

 

[caff]

Breath work is massively proven to help so it’s really powerful.

Everyone’s here and to be honest I’d be more than happy to jump on the phone and talk with anyone here if they wanted to. I think it’s scary how connected our minds and bodies are and we forget there’s a brain up there, your brain is a muscle and if you keep putting it under pressure it’s going to tell either mentally or physically. I hope what you’re going through has an end in sight, try to focus on that and make sure you rest if you can.

Thanks for the kind words, and hope whatever you're currently facing is ok.

I'll definitely keep up with the breathing method. I had bookmarked deepbreathe.app a long time ago when I heard about the Wim Hof method, but at that time I never felt it added much benefit - but I didn't commit to it, or do it very often.

I think your comment about focusing on "end in sight" is great - I'm just so mired up in what's going on currently that I've lost sight of that.

 

[MOOGLEYS]

Yeah, I really don't want to think about the future. We've got two sons who we absolutely adore, a cat and a dog so the upheaval is already big, but the potential upheaval is huge.

My worry is that I don't really have an outlet (the last 10 years of my life have been dedicated to raising a family), and my support network isn't great. I'll probably join a gym and maybe start playing some sport again. I feel like I'm going to have even less time to myself than I did before.

I went through it with my Ex it was hard but it does get better it just takes time. If you need emotional support Mind can put you in touch with people to help I found it far more helpful than I thought it would be tbh.

 

[MOOGLEYS]

Thanks for the kind words, and hope whatever you're currently facing is ok.

I'll definitely keep up with the breathing method. I had bookmarked deepbreathe.app a long time ago when I heard about the Wim Hof method, but at that time I never felt it added much benefit - but I didn't commit to it, or do it very often.

I think your comment about focusing on "end in sight" is great - I'm just so mired up in what's going on currently that I've lost sight of that.

Try and concentrate on long slow breathing I think the short shallow breaths Wim says about would trigger my Anxiety. I have always found breathing in deeply through the nose for a count of four then holding for four and then exhaling through the mouth to a count of six works best for me. Repeat this 5-6 times then carry on as normal.

 

[bloodiedathame]

Just woken up, well an hour ago after a dream involving my wife, which has left my mind racing. I used to have insomniac episodes in similar times of stress, unease and confusion.

Getting back to sleep not helped by the fact I'm on holiday in a B&B in a double bed with my ill 11 year old son, my dog and the world's heaviest tog duvet. My left foot is currently on my inner right thigh and it has no where else it can go.

 

[Lightnix]

Between getting the IBD treated, the venlafaxine and treating the vitamin D deficiency my brain actually seems to be working pretty alright over the last few weeks. It's been a long time coming.

Going to try to get more exercise, more socialising and creating and executing my own plans. Keep some kind of positive feedback loop going.

 

[Psymonkee]

And just like that I'm back to 'normal' whatever that means! 2.5 weeks from seeing my psych to complete exhaustion to recovery.

Intensely frustrating but at least positive progress I guess.

 

[sb89]

I should probably ask my GP but I'd like to see if anyone suffers from the same, might convince myself that something is wrong.

Is it possible to be in a constant state of anxiety without knowing it? Over the past 3 or 4 years I've had a number of ailments that come and go: IBS, acid reflux and more. These things tend to come and go, even at a daily level. This makes me think that the cause may be mental. I do feel noticeable anxiety on some occasions and some episodes of where my heart feels like its racing but for the most part I feel fine. The problem is that I don't know if I am actually fine or if I've normalised the anxiety. I hope that all made sense.

 

[MOOGLEYS]

Wife is having a scan today and my Anxiety has gone into overdrive. Lots of intrusive thoughts, feeling hot and just horrible.

I hate this damn illness. Anyone fancy a swap…. Lol

Edit - Wife’s scan was ok now just need my nervous system to catch up…

 

[Beans on toast Dave]

I've really been struggling the last couple of weeks. Diet went to wall and my mental health just went into free fall. I'm trying again to cut back sugar as it makes me feel ill the next day with brain fog. I've put on nearly a stone in 2 weeks it's been that bad. Theres so much I struggle to write on here

 

[Hyburnate]

Wife is having a scan today and my Anxiety has gone into overdrive. Lots of intrusive thoughts, feeling hot and just horrible.

I hate this damn illness. Anyone fancy a swap…. Lol

Edit - Wife’s scan was ok now just need my nervous system to catch up…

Great news that it went okay!

Anxiety is a natural reaction to stuff like this, you'll get through it!

I've really been struggling the last couple of weeks. Diet went to wall and my mental health just went into free fall. I'm trying again to cut back sugar as it makes me feel ill the next day with brain fog. I've put on nearly a stone in 2 weeks it's been that bad. Theres so much I struggle to write on here

What do you mean when you say the diet went to wall?

Food is massively linked to your mental wellbeing don't get too hard on yourself, it's all linked.

---

I'm seemingly doing okay at the moment, therapy tomorrow which I'm looking forward to but my last session booked in... I've just got to get off the sertraline now, need to make an appointment to discuss with the GP as I really feel in a good place!

 

[bloodiedathame]

It's been a tricky few weeks, and I'm losing hope of things getting better any time soon, if ever. I want to run away, find a companion that I've been missing for the last 10 years of my life, and feel like an equal. But because of the kids, and the dog somewhat, I can't just cut all ties and go.

Weirdly I stumbled on an article this morning about Narcissism and it pretty much sums up our relationship. Really horrible to see it laid out in black and white in front of me. As someone who is definitely an empath (I seem to think I can fix people), it makes it so obvious when it's written down and really sheds a lot of light on how **** the scenario is. It's a 10-point thing, stating the stages one goes through. I'm literally in tears writing down all the things that are applicable at every stage.

'Once a victim of narcissistic abuse figures out there is a name for what they have been going through, everything changes'.

Very much feel like this is a turning point for me.

And the worst part? I don't blame her. She can't help being like that. How stupid is that?

FFS

 

[413x]

I should probably ask my GP but I'd like to see if anyone suffers from the same, might convince myself that something is wrong.

Is it possible to be in a constant state of anxiety without knowing it? Over the past 3 or 4 years I've had a number of ailments that come and go: IBS, acid reflux and more. These things tend to come and go, even at a daily level. This makes me think that the cause may be mental. I do feel noticeable anxiety on some occasions and some episodes of where my heart feels like its racing but for the most part I feel fine. The problem is that I don't know if I am actually fine or if I've normalised the anxiety. I hope that all made sense.

My anxiety (specifically health) is my worst mental condition. Depression etc is always there too. But the health anxiety is crippling.

I've been in hospital as I got so anxious that it caused my bowels to basically stop, twice in 2 months. I think the first one was from eating too much at a wedding. And I brushed. It off. But twice in 2 months? It kicked my anxiety in. It started with general anxiety and tat made me feel ill. Then it just spiraled. I lost weight, I had perpetual nausea, my mind went to dark places. This carried on for weeks. On an x-ray they could see the impaction. I could feel it.

I had days off work and the story is much longer. But it was all anxiety. It caused IBS type symptoms. It basically slowed my GI tract to stopping point.

Its insane what you mind can do.

Doesn't help I don't trust GPs much in general as my partners mum died of terminal cancer recently. GPs fobbed it off for months as "back pain". Then it was suddenly "terminal".


I actually think that may have been what amplified the worry.

See a GP Be prepared to be told its IBS. IBS should be the conclusion they come to last. Not first. I had t o push and push to get the FIT test etc. I even paid for private MRI I got so worked up.

 

[Ayahuasca]

And the worst part? I don't blame her. She can't help being like that. How stupid is that?

You can in a way. While people are born with or nurtured to have certain personality traits, there are plenty of narcissists or those with other negative personality styles or urges who manage to reign it in.

Around 1-4% of the population are rumoured to be psychopaths, plenty more sociopaths, but not all of them act on their urges.

 

[413x]

Yeah, I really don't want to think about the future. We've got two sons who we absolutely adore, a cat and a dog so the upheaval is already big, but the potential upheaval is huge.

My worry is that I don't really have an outlet (the last 10 years of my life have been dedicated to raising a family), and my support network isn't great. I'll probably join a gym and maybe start playing some sport again. I feel like I'm going to have even less time to myself than I did before.

This is really healthy.
When I went through my break up I eventually (after the hard bit) got to the gym.
Luckily I don't really like alcohol so didn't go down that route.

What also helped was classes. You meet people naturally over time. Got to know one girl who asked me out, but she wasn't for me. Kind of knew I was better then as I turned down an OK girl because she wasn't right.

If she had asked me 4 month prior id have jumped at the chance due to someone showing me attention. My self worth had gone up.


The structure, the gradual progress and filling time was great. Meeting people at the classes was great too.


Things I tried
-counselling - didn't really help
-gym - best by far
-talking to family - it's good to talk
-work - helped. Maintain structure

Sounds like you're going through the ringer. But as you've suggested gym etc definitely go for it when you're ready

 

[Jono8]

My anxiety (specifically health) is my worst mental condition. Depression etc is always there too. But the health anxiety is crippling.

I've been in hospital as I got so anxious that it caused my bowels to basically stop, twice in 2 months. I think the first one was from eating too much at a wedding. And I brushed. It off. But twice in 2 months? It kicked my anxiety in. It started with general anxiety and tat made me feel ill. Then it just spiraled. I lost weight, I had perpetual nausea, my mind went to dark places. This carried on for weeks. On an x-ray they could see the impaction. I could feel it.

I had days off work and the story is much longer. But it was all anxiety. It caused IBS type symptoms. It basically slowed my GI tract to stopping point.

Its insane what you mind can do.

Doesn't help I don't trust GPs much in general as my partners mum died of terminal cancer recently. GPs fobbed it off for months as "back pain". Then it was suddenly "terminal".


I actually think that may have been what amplified the worry.

See a GP Be prepared to be told its IBS. IBS should be the conclusion they come to last. Not first. I had t o push and push to get the FIT test etc. I even paid for private MRI I got so worked up.

Yeh, the state of the NHS is awful. They just like to continually brush off everything to be the least serious thing.

They just seem to only be interested in treating the symptoms and not the underlying cause of them.

 

[bloodiedathame]

You can in a way. While people are born with or nurtured to have certain personality traits, there are plenty of narcissists or those with other negative personality styles or urges who manage to reign it in.

Around 1-4% of the population are rumoured to be psychopaths, plenty more sociopaths, but not all of them act on their urges.

What's odd is that she spotted it in her own mother, I don't know if she thinks she might be too. She's on a path of introspection at the moment which is why there is so much change, she's getting help through counselling (and rapid eye movement therapy?) so there's still hope. But there's just been so much damage. Really struggling to see how to move forward with her.

 

[413x]

Yeh, the state of the NHS is awful. They just like to continually brush off everything to be the least serious thing.

They just seem to only be interested in treating the symptoms and not the underlying cause of them.

It really is shocking. Worst thing is, private mri is only 345. And partners family aren't short of cash. How early could it have been detected? All these things went through mine and my partners head. She had a pain for a year or more before.

What is more important than health? We'll spend 1000s on PCs and holidays and 10s on cars. But a cheap MRI? No.

Its been a hard year. Particularly for my partner obviously. All this was within 2023. Feels longer ago for some reason.

 

[moon man]

Was a total numpty last weekend so i downed a bottle of red buzzing and everything then very very stupidly ingested something that was given to me ages ago, so i could see the rooms in the house when i came around but had no idea what a room was or who i was then a 2 second landing where i was aware then back again, vaguely aware i was stuck in a loop of shifting reality.
took me until today to shake it off
I need to sort out my addictive nature as that one could have finished me but thrown the rest of the .... away