Axious

[Hammy]

Content/trigger warning

Trigger warning: traumatic event

Hello. I’m new but not to mental health. Short story is, I’ve been off work started out as headaches, but turned into anxiety. Been a hard 12mths. My sister tried to take her life last year in a high speed car crash. She was critical but pulled through. We all spent 6mths in a capital city while she got rehab for her injuries. I never got any counselling. I got through it but I’ve had a few other life stresses going on, my 18yo daughter getting mistreated by her best friend and subsequently falling out, she also had appendectomy and tonsillectomy during the last 12mths. I have a clipped brain aneurysm and an untreated aneurysm so when my headaches came on, I went into a little panic and my blood pressure kept rising. 
I’ve been to gp getting it all sorted but she said I’m having a Mental Health Crisis. I do agree. I’ve been given medication to help. I am going to try to go back to work tomorrow on restricted hours. Work is supportive but I’m so anxious about going back. Only because I’m so tired and anxious.

[Nala2022]

Hi @Hammy, welcome to the forums, and thank you for sharing all of that here.

It sounds like you’ve had an incredibly intense and exhausting 12 months, with so many major stressors all happening at once, that’s a lot for anyone to carry

I’m really glad to hear you’ve been in touch with your GP and that you’re getting some support in place, including medication. It also sounds like your workplace is being supportive, which is a positive thing to have in your corner right now

It makes complete sense that the thought of going back tomorrow is bringing up a lot of anxiety, especially when you’re already feeling so tired and overwhelmed

Thank you again for sharing your story with us. I hope you find the forums to be a supportive space as you navigate everything you’re dealing with

[Hammy]

Thank you for replying. It means a lot. I’m going to use SANE to help myself get better along with my medication. 

[Nala2022]

No problem at all @Hammy

I hope you find the forums helpful and supportive. There are plenty of discussion threads you can jump into and say hi to other members.

If you ever want to tag or reply to someone, just add “@” before their name so they’ll be notified 😊

[Taali]

Hey @Hammy I'm so glad you've found this amazing sharing platform 

Your journey sounds like it has been a rough one 

I'm glad your GP has given you some medication and hope that you are feeling cared for here 

While we can't take the place of mental health professionals we can listen and share 

Go gently dear friend 

Taali 💙 

@Hammy @Nala2022 

[Me43yoF]

Hi there,

I am really sorry you have had such a frightening and exhausting year. What happened with your sister was traumatic, and then on top of that you have had your daughter hurting, surgeries, headaches, blood pressure worries and your own aneurysm history sitting in the background. That is not just everyday stress. That is your mind and body being on alert for a long time.

I think it makes sense that going back to work feels scary, even with restricted hours and a supportive workplace. Your brain is probably asking, “What if I cannot cope?” That does not mean you are weak. It means you have been through a lot and your system is tired.

Maybe tomorrow does not have to be about proving you are fine. Maybe it can just be about taking one small step and gathering information. Go in for the restricted hours, keep it simple, take breaks before you feel desperate, and have a plan for what you will do if the anxiety spikes. Even something like, “I will check in with my manager after two hours” or “I will step outside and breathe for five minutes if I feel overwhelmed” can help make it feel less out of control.

I would also keep working closely with your GP, especially because of the headaches, blood pressure and aneurysm history. It is good that you are getting it sorted, but you do not have to carry the physical fear and the mental health side separately. They are connected for you right now.

And please do not write off counselling just because the crisis happened last year. Sometimes we survive the emergency first, then fall apart later when life expects us to go back to normal. You spent six months helping your sister through rehab and holding things together. That is a lot to process.

Try not to look at the whole return to work as one giant mountain. Just do the next right step. Get through tomorrow morning. Then review with your GP and workplace what worked and what was too much. You are allowed to build back slowly.

You have been through a mental health crisis, but that does not mean you are broken. It means something in you is finally saying, “I need care too.” Please listen to that.

You deserve support before it gets to breaking point.

[Hammy]

thank you so much. I’ve just read your message and it had made a big difference. I really appreciate you taking the time and writing such spot on description and lots of good ideas for me. 
I will certainly take on board what I’ve read. Again thank you