Why, when I overcame a huge hurdle for me today, do I feel so crappy?

[wibblyjelly]

I suffer from anxiety, which I have managed to get under control with CBT. I still have certain things that increase my anxiety though, driving with ds in the car being one of them.
Today, I took ds out for the day, while dh stayed at home to do some jobs. This involved over 2 hours of driving, and I arrived home on a high at what I'd achieved.
Since getting home though, I've been in a rotten mood, not helped by the fact that ds refused to eat or go to bed when we got home. I've only just managed go get him to bed (He is 2 years old, and normally asleep by 7pm!).
Is this the anxiety trying to come out in a different way maybe, or am I just in a mood? I'm just disappointed going from feeling really proud to tired, moody and upset

[UrsulaBuffay]

You're probably tired, doing something that doesn't come naturally and keeping the smiley face on all day is knackering! Be kind to yourself well done!

[wibblyjelly]

Thanks Ursula, dh has sent me to bed while he does some jobs, including cooking me dinner, so hopefully I'll relax a bit soon...

[violator]

Well done! You're knackered, ploughing through anxiety will drain your head and body.
But it's the only cure for it, as you know.

Next time won't be so bad, and it'll get easier every time you do it.

[Loveneverfails]

anti climax.

I get like this.

[AppleCrumples]

Well done wibbly

Its such a lot of work mentally to get through days like this that its normal to feel drained after. Like you suddenly relax and all the tension goes and you start to ache in all your muscles etc.

It gets easier everytime

[PloddingDaily]

Sounds familiar to me, too...but well done on what you achieved, that's a great step forward!
I have found cbt great, but some days / things are still harder / more tiring than others - I have had to learn to cut myself some slack & not drive myself too hard sometimes (I find part of the anxiety fires off in a feeling of "why can't I do this thing & do it now & easily!" but in reality it's more like marathon training. Go gently on yourself.

[wibblyjelly]

Thank you all, just eaten dinner and feeling a bit calmer. Hopefully a good nights sleep will sort me out

[wibblyjelly]

Feeling much better today. We are going out tomorrow, and I've just said to dh that I'm going to drive