Have a viral bug but mentally really suffering.

[GeekInThePink]

I'm run down and have some viral bug that going round.
Other than massive headache that I've struggled to shift, I just feel a bit rough. I'm a bit ill but fine really.
However, mentally I don't feel good either. Anxiety is high and I'm needy and very prone to crying and not feeling in control or coping.

This only happens when I get ill why is that? Is it normal?
I want to stay at home, in bed but it's so much harder to get back up and get myself going again...does that make sense?

Thanks

[darjeelingdarling]

I'm sorry you feel poorly and low. I get this. have it now. I think it's cos I loose contact with my usual social stuff (work mainly, a busy sen school), feel guilty for letting them down etc.

I'm recovering from a bad chest infection - initially the main symptom was major confusion and tiredness actually. I had the same with mastitis in the summer. could it be an infection? or it could be how your body responds to illness. a bad virus can trigger mild depression.

get well soon

[GeekInThePink]

Thank you for replying, I'm feeling particularly low and needed to read that someone understood!

I didn't go in to work but I'm back tomorrow, not sure this is the best move but I've committed myself to going so I will be.

My hormones may not be helping, seem to be quite low when AF starts. Don't understand why.

I think I'm always battling depression/ anxiety but I mostly stay on top of it. I quiver here and there and today is not a good day at all. Circumstances have not helped and as a working mum, who looks after me?
I don't know if anti depressants work, I can't afford to feel worse before better and I have some weight issues and the thought that I may put on weight would just make me feel a lot worse.

I just want to go on auto pilot, I think numb would be better?

I'm having stomach crunching, almost feels like I'm about to have upset stomach when I feel particularly anxious. I constantly feel sick but can fully function. No one would know anything was wrong.
I just want to hide under a duvet at home until it blows over.

Thank you for reading

[GeekInThePink]

Sorry My last bit fell off the end

So sorry you are feeling poorly, feel better soon

[GeekInThePink]

[darjeelingdarling]

hi Geek, hope today goes well. I understand the need to go back to work - you're using it to distract yourself and provide a structure to your day. This is great but at the same time hard on your body and your mind.

I've struggled for years with anxiety and depression, mainly linked to a fluctuating and sometimes poorly managed thyroid as well as work stress. So I completely understand where you are coming from. Anxiety is extremely debilitating and a terrible cycle as it's linked to your adrenaline and the whole flight or fight thing - more adrenaline suppresses seratonin which in turn leave you feeling more anxious and so it continues. This might be why you feel worse when ill or during a period.

Due to my underactive thyroid being misdiagnosed and having a terrible do with ads when I was 21 I've always resisted ads. I managed my anxiety well with slow release beta blockers and cbt. This might be a good route for you to try? I was given a book called 'over coming: anxiety' by my therapist - there's a full range of them on all sorts of things and they're recommended by the nhs. for the first time I fully understood how anxiety worked, which helped, though I needed the beta lockers as well.

however in pregnancy I couldn't take the betablockers. I had terrible AND due to several weird circumstances. And then some level of PND and finally agreed to sertraline - best thing I ever did! I started very low though - 25mg initially, then 50 then 100. 200 is the max.

if you went to your Dr and decided to try a low level anti d do you think they'd sign you off work for a week or so to help you get used to the side effects? sertraline made me very drowsy initially and the full effects kicked in after 6 weeks, though I felt lots better after 2.

regarding your weight - you could look at it like this; if you were able to curb the anxiety, you might feel generally more positive and so possibly able to exercise more etc? Sertraline ironically made me loose a little weight at first.

It can take a while to find the 'right' anti d and you do kind of need to give them a good go but maybe discuss a low dose initially?

what ever you decide it might be worth simply opening a discussion with a Dr - you could ask the practice which Dr specialises in mh (though I bet they all do) and find out if there are any talking therapies availiable.

I very much hope you feel better soon

[darjeelingdarling]

you could even ask for an iron and thyroid check too

[GeekInThePink]

Thank you so much that's such a helpful post.
Didn't want to read and run and will reply properly later.

Thank you again, very much appreciated

Hope you are better today