Exhaustion and anxiety
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| Wed, 08-17-2005 - 2:35pm |
Hi there everyone!
I haven't been around lately. I was traveling 1-2 weeks of each month for work through July and have my respite from travel now until the end of September. All of that was very stressful but I made it through pretty well, all things considered.
I live in a condo in a high-rise building and we are redoing the windows. The date for my unit kept getting pushed back because of weather but then I got a note under my door last Wednesday saying that they were starting my unit the next day. I called the vet that had agreed to board my cats and then they said that they couldn't because it is too stressful on the animals. My cousin said she would take them in and I moved the cats over there (not a fun experience) and she says they cannot stay over the weekend even though I had explained that it is a 3 day process and they don't work on weekends so the soonest I would be back in my apartment was Monday night.
So then I had to move the cats AGAIN to my ex-boyfriend's house (we are still close friends and broke up more than a year ago). More stress. He was out of town Fri - Sun at the funeral of one of his close friends from high school who had died in her sleep at 28 years old. So, wehn he came home Sunday night, I was up late with him while he was crying and just really upset. To top it all off, it rained on Thursday and Friday so they did not start my unit until Monday and I can finally go home tonight.
I have not been sleeping well and I am really exhausted. I find that, when I am just bone-tired and have not slept well in days, I feel a little bit of anxiety. Not enough to have a full-blown panic attack (at least, I don't think so), but the feeling lingers on the edge of consciousness all day.
Does anyone else feel closer to panic and anxiety when they are overtired?
Hope everyone here is doing well. I do think about this board but I just haven't been in the right emotional place to post here recently.
Jules

Jules, what an experience for you and for your little kitties!! I am at my absolute worse when I am tired. I've posted this before. Last night I went to bed at 8:30 and slept until 9:00 this a.m. & feel great. I'm becoming so much aware of when I am tired and am going to bed early when need be, just so I don't have increased anxiety. I hope you're all settled in your apartment again!
Sheri Ann
Sheri Ann
Jules,
When I am tired I am so much worse. Even my psychiatrist told me that if you have a bad night sleep then you are almost guaranteed to have an anxious/panic day the next day. Right now I am struggling with severe nightmares and that is causing me not to sleep well and I am noticing that my days are getting harder and harder.
I am about ready to listen to my Dr. and take a sleep med. I have been refusing to because I don't like to take anything but I may have no choice. I am starting to break and except the help.
Anyway, take care and try to get some rest...
P&PT
Nice to have you back. I'm sorry to hear about your situation. That was tough luck to get the note with barely any notice. Hope you & the furbabies are ok.
My anxiety & panic are @ the worst when I haven't slept well. In fact, I have had severe spells of anxiety after a long period of insomnia. I have often wondered if the insomnia was a result of my chemical imbalance first. Then, the anxiety enters the picture. I try very hard to keep to my routine & set bedtime. It's the best way for me to keep functioning. I never stay out past 10pm, as
Jules, I can totally relate to what you're saying. Much like everyone else who replied I get more anxious when I'm tired. I like to attribute it to the fact that fatigue and lack of sleep are associated with physical symptoms that feel weird and foreign. and as people with anxiety we are prone to be more sensistive to these physiological responses. I don't know if it's true or not, but that's what helps me fight through anxiety on tired days, just telling my self that it's only the fatigue talking and nothing more serious.
try to get some rest, and feel better :)
Mia
I have been overly tired lately and my anxiety is flaring up here and there. Not full blown, but it is right under the surface. I keep getting that anticipation feeling. I think when we are overly tired, our minds don't have as much energy to fight off the anxiety which leaves us vulnerable to it.
Kim
Mia,
I think that you have a really good point about the physical symptoms of being tired relating to anxiety. When I am really tired, I get that dissociative feeling and it's harder to walk and my muscles and joints ache - this definitely leads to anxiety.
Thanks so much everyone for responding. I am so glad that there is a place like this where we can talk about something that is very difficult to understand if you have not experienced it. I got back into my house on Wednesday night and I slept for over 10 hours that night then spent all of yesterday cleaning my house and unpacking my stuff. Just being back home and not worrying about my apartment or the cats makes a world of difference. I busted my butt cleaning all day and the apartment was still not up to my standards and so I called in Merry Maids to clean while I am in the office today. I don't spend money on cleaning services but I am using it as a treat for myself.
I hope that you are all having a great Friday and looking forward to the weekend. Take care!
Jules