Am I the only one to feel like this??

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-24-2006
Am I the only one to feel like this??
7
Wed, 11-22-2006 - 9:14pm

Hi Everyone,

I was just wondering tonight if I was the only one to feel anxious/stressed and sometimes panicked because my husband is going away for an entire week and I will be alone taking care of both kids. You see, I'm still on mat. leave which means that my days are spent at home and then night time comes and I will still be alone. My week started like this...on Sunday night I was just anxious and sometimes panicked at the idea that my husband was going away for work for the entire week...my appetite was not good and my old scary thoughts would come into my head. Then Monday morning came and I was being cautious...of what or for what reason I don't know, it's as if the sky would be falling on my head at any minute...my appetite was not good and my energy was low. Then Tuesday came and it was a better day, I felt motivated to do stuff...which was nice!! Don't get me wrong, eventhough I don't feel like doing much when I'm anxious I still do. I had something planned for everyday....which is a good thing considering that my husband would be gone and that I only had news of that on the Friday. Now today was not a very good day emotionnally wise, I felt like doing nothing, a bit anxious and low energy. The thing that bugs me the most is that I do sleep good but I will sometimes wake up in a cold sweat and then I remember or not what I was dreaming about....when I then wake up in the morning it's as if a train has gone over me and I feel shaky all over as if I had not eaten for days....The shaking seems to be more internal and then it will become external...my legs feel wobly and shaky. I just hate that feeling!!! I don't feel solid on my two feet and I hate it. Also my heart will beat faster. So anyways all the mornings of this week have been like that and it makes me a bit sad because I was over these shaky mornings. Is it really because I don't feel secure alone??? It's not like I've never been alone for days...that is not new to me!!! I'm going through PPD right now and I'm doing a lot better than I was let's say 6 months ago but when I feel like that it's as if I'm going backwards instead of forward.

Anyways I just wanted to know if any of you have ever felt that way when a loved one or a stressful situation occurs??

ciao
Sonia

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Thu, 11-23-2006 - 12:10am

(((Sonia))) I am sorry to hear about how you're feeling. Many times I have had a return of my anxiety symptoms. Generally there is some sort of change in my life. Even a small one, like a change in my routine. Inside shaking is hard to cope with. I always refer to it as my inner motor. I use it as a gauge to determine how stressed I really am.


Here's some tips that I have used. Keep my schedule as close to normal as possible. Keep busy in mind & body. Allow myself time to recover by doing something I enjoy, music, needlework, reading, etc. Be kind to myself. Keep angry feelings out of the picture. This is a chemical imbalance & I'll get *righted* when I can without putting myself under more pressure.


Have you tried listening to a relaxing CD or doing some meditation before you get up? How about having a glass of juice or a little Gatorade before getting up? What about taking an adjunct med such as xanax, klonopin, etc. before arising? It will get better.


Please keep in touch & let us know how you're doing. Good luck! jan


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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-21-2006
Thu, 11-23-2006 - 6:08am

I think it's normal to be scared and lonely when a loved one leaves for a bit. I personally became very paranoid when I had to stay alone in my apartment when my boyfriend left for a few days. I had trouble sleeping and was worried that someone would bust the door down and had nightmares and whatnot. The thing that stank about that, was that I was in college an hour and a half away from my family with not too many friends nearby. Yuck!~

I think it's good that you have plans to keep yourself busy. That should help. Just remember to take care of yourself, try to eat properly and get as much rest as you can. Call friends if you get lonely.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-28-2004
Thu, 11-23-2006 - 8:54am

(((Sonia))) Yes I get anxious when DH is away from home too. Although I often find a few peaceful moments too. Sometimes I forget how simple it can be when I only have to please myself and not coordinate plans with DH. But I'm always happy to get him home too. ;)

Smiles,
Dee

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-24-2006
Thu, 11-23-2006 - 6:37pm

Hi,

Thanks for the support. I indeed keep busy but I find that when I'm anxious it gets me down and I don't enjoy my activities as much and my motivation is not there. I also try to eat smaller portions of good and healthy food and drink more water because the anxiety decreases my appetite!!!!

Thanks
Sonia

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Fri, 11-24-2006 - 10:13am

(((Sonia))) My dh does not travel, but does work over an hour from home.

Sheri Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-24-2006
Fri, 11-24-2006 - 9:40pm

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for all your kind words and support. I think it's the only thing I needed. Plus after 3-4 good nights of sleep I am today more energetic and motivated. Last weekend had been a very full weekend and lots of late nights....so the recuperation was long!!!
I think it's sooooooooo true that the anticipation of an event is greater than the event itself....I've been none to anticipate a lot and when I finally get there all goes well. If I review my week, overall it was good, I think I was just not happy with my physical symptoms of anxiety which was making me question myself a lot.

I have kept busy and eaten as well as I could and bottom line it's the only thing I could do. I took good care of my two beautiful children, thank god for them because I think sometimes that I would be really bored out of my mind without them!!!!

Hubby was back yesterday night and the first thought in my head was like "man, I was finally doing good, and would be spending a bit of special time with my daughter alone and he's back"....Don't get me wrong I was really glad for him to be back, it was a great surprise as usually he will work later and call me to inform me that he's coming back only in a couple of days so it was great for him to be back earlier than expected!!

ciao
Sonia

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Sat, 11-25-2006 - 8:02am

It sounds like things are going well!

Sheri Ann