Anxiety Experiences

[KianDonoghue]

Hello everyone,

I am doing a course at College in Mental Health and I am trying to collect some information from people about their experiences anxiety and how they differ.

Would any body be happy to answer the questions below?

1. Describe a situation where you have felt anxious

2. Describe what it felt like when you experience anxiety

Any help would be gratefully appreciated.

[Meg]

Nailit....that's shocking I'm glad you found help, what a horrible scenario.

[nailit]

Thanks Meg. Not isolated though and thats what concerned me. I carried my best mates coffin at his funeral because no one would listen. He had OBVIOUS mental health problems but because he drank to cope with them no one would would listen. Mental health services sucked then and they still suck now.
The excuces given in the local press (coronors report) were reprehensible. Mental health teams came out with 'we did all that we could' cobblers. They did no such thing, I begged them to section him and help him and got nothing.
I carried his coffin at his funeral while the mental health team went about their bussiness like nothing had happened.
After his funeral?? Nothing, his life meant jack... The mental health services went pecularly silent.
Strange that.
Get a life Kian, think for yourself.

[jim360]

One of the more serious ones I've had was before an exam in January 2013. It was for early entrance to the PhD programme in Cambridge, and shouldn't have been too much of a worry as I was well aware that the competition was probably too tough for me. But as the day of the exam came I basically became as anxious as I've ever felt. Could barely eat a bite of food, and was on the verge of feeling physically sick.

The usual rule is that when I'm actually doing the thing I'm nervous about I settle into it, and it was the case here. In the end did about as well as expected (which was not well enough), but felt OK during the exam at least. For whatever reason, I seemed to get more nervous with exams as it went on rather than less despite all the experience I've had with them (and the ones I did in Summer 2013 were pressure-free as I'd already got into Edinburgh unconditionally, still felt rather nervous about them though).

I spend a lot of the time feeling anxious anyway but that's "just" general stress. The day of that exam was pretty much a full-on anxiety attack.

[BilSuth]

There are 2 rules I had for dealing with panic attacks. The first was to find a crossword or whatever to get myself distracted; the second was to ask myself, have you felt like this before and did it pass sooner or later? In time, the attacks lasted for shorter periods and then just stopped.
On other posts here which relate to mental health and dissatisfaction with the NHS, my experience is that workloads have become an easy excuse. My friend seems to fall into the gaps between the health and welfare services. If they took the time to listen to her and equip her with coping strategies, it would save time in the long run, as she would need them less often.
As it is, her problems are being dealt with by myself plus a semi-qualified volunteer friend. The formal services just do not get the job done.

[nailit]

Well up till now Kian hasnt replied. Good start mate on your career in the Mental Health Services. Ignore people.
Forgive me for been cynical but I wouldnt pee on mental health services if they were on fire. Have a look at BilSuth's post below and tell me why people fall into the gaps?
If you have to ask about peoples issues regarding anxiety or depression then you really have no idea. Keep reading your books and live in ignorence.

[nailit]

BilSuth's post was below now its above, lol

[jim360]

That may be so nailit (I certainly don't think much of the NHS Mental Health service), but at least some of the reason for that is because Mental Health receives so little attention. Lack of funding and staff will lead to a bad service. What's needed is more investment, more attention and more training, rather than less.

[nailit]

I disagree jim. Theres no doubt regards lack of funding and investment plays a part but wheres the compassion and understanding? As ive already stated I lost my best mate because the Mental Health services wouldnt listen. I nearly lost my own life because they wouldnt listen. Ive actually lost several friends to mental illness when no one would listen to them. It seems to me that people who make a career out of the psychiatric services do so because they themselves have issues. Ive had some dealings with shrinks that have left me in no doubt that they have some serious problems of their own.
But perhaps im just a headcase....

[jim360]

I think that there are examples of compassion and understanding but not as common as is necessary to be sure. And, perhaps tellingly, it was most notable in what might be called volunteer services rather than the main NHS. I still think that much of the problem is that mental health gets far too little attention and funding.

[pastafreak]

Be patient,nailit. Kian,as a student,may be busy with classes,lectures,coursework. I'm sure he'll be back if he's serious.

[kvalidir]

I've only ever truly felt deeply anxious once and it was after I'd disturbed an intruder, and went into the building alone for the first time after that. Tight feeling in my chest, rising panic, lots of adrenaline and desire to flee. I physically stopped, stood still and deliberately controlled my breathing, slapped myself (physically) several times and forced myself to do it. Horrible, horrible feeling I didn't expect. I hate feeling out of control. Never had it since though and hope I never get it again :(

[pastafreak]

The trouble is that for those of us who are vulnerable to anxiety attacks...that one experience may open the doors to more. Though I know that my first experience was not triggered by any thing substantial or real...it just happened. That's why they become so scary and threatening...there seems to be no basis for what is happening.

[anneasquith]

nailit, I don't think it's fair you taking out your frustration out on the poster.

[shoota]

'nailit, I don't think it's fair you taking out your frustration out on the poster'

you may make him anxious.....

[anneasquith]

really ?

[nailit]

You're right Ann, my bad. Its just that ive become cynical over the years with mental health services and the people employed by them. Of course, I shouldnt take it out on the original poster, I apologise.

[anneasquith]

nailit, that was nice of you to post :)

[nailit]

Still waiting for the OP to acknowledge his replies though Anne ;-)

[anneasquith]

maybe you scared him nailet LOL .

[nailit]

LOL Anne, seems that way at the moment tho.