Lived Experience Forum

[tyme]

Hi @1978 ,

Thank you for sharing. I'm hearing you about the anxiety.

Are you able to work with strategies before the anxiety sets in? For example, make it a regular routine to practice deep breathing as soon as you wake up so as to reduce the likelihood of anxiety setting in?

I do it before going to bed. I use the Smiling Mind App. It's got a sleeping routine program which I find so helpful when going to sleep.

There are anxiety programs on the app too and they are free of cost.

[Hyperballad]

Hi @1978 - yes I have very similar feelings and it isn’t every morning. It’s sometimes a feeling of dread. I’ve been doing some meditating at night (really just extended breathing exercises) and find that can help for the morning. Otherwise I just use breathing and then hope work provides some distraction (so long as work isn’t the source of anxiety).

I also go to sleep listening to binaural beats and just leave it playing gently all night so it’s still playing in the morning. I don’t fully understand the science behind it but it seems to be helpful. 

also I try to reframe the day ahead with excitement, though this is not always easy.

[Daddymac]

Re waking up with anxiety
I get this I live with early onset dementia and I have vivid dreams example I was driving a long bus and I had passengers on board. The rear of the bus clips a car rolls over,and seperates from the rest of the bus there's passengers in this section . I jump out of the bus with all my might I flip the rear of the bus back on all tyres there is passengers with bumps bruising one of had heart attack so I perform cpr I go back to the bus ask any has a phone none had a phone no one had a phone. A neighbour saw the commotions and gave me her phone I rang police fire ambulance. I woke up for short time falling back to sleep same dream this time I'm driving a bus w passengers in a city w train stations rail bridge traffic lights in this whole time I'm thinking I'm losing my licence,
I woke up in a sweat thinking I lost my licence cause I hurt ppl I have lost my licence cause of early on set dementia but I have never in my life driven a bus and never been a driver to hurt any one just sharing my experience

[Daddymac]

@8appletree @Me73
Another technique is usefull I find at the end of each day write three positives happen your day if there is more put it down do this for a week see how you feel

[tyme]

Thank you for sharing @Daddymac . How are you today?

And @Hyperballad @1978 @8ppleTree - just wanted to check-in with you too to see how your week has been. If you don't get this today, I hope you have a good weekend.

[Hyperballad]

Thanks for asking @tyme.

its been another tough week and back from a therapy session feeling meh after unpacking some stuff about feeling like a failure haha. Therapy makes me feel like I don’t know who I am sometimes. So I am out for dinner tonight and another weekend of self care.

hope you are well and have a lovely weekend.

[tyme]

For me, the fact that therapy made me feel like that meant it was doing something. I don't know if it's the same for you. @Hyperballad 

Just keep at it. Yet also know your boundaries. Is therapy 1:1 or group?

[Hyperballad]

It’s ok when I feel a little more stable and secure in my life and work, but I feel a little insecure about work, like I’m not doing well or I’m not hitting the mark and that makes me feel a bit gutted. My self confidence takes a hit. 

im usually good with jumping into difficult stuff with therapy otherwise. 

I do 1:1 therapy. 

[Hyperballad]

@tyme i forgot to tag you.

[tyme]

I think I was most challenged in group therapy because I was forced out of my comfort completely. At the same time, it make the most difference to my recovery. 

@Hyperballad .

A lot of people don't know that medicare covers 10 group sessions a year too.