It’s been the worst week of my life. Can I vent?

[Anonymous]

I have no one I can talk to right now. I’m not feeling like I’m going to harm myself or anything, but I’m incredibly stressed, angry, sad, devastated, and trying to hold it together emotionally.

Exactly a week ago I received life-altering news. The first couple days I was in shock, then I spent the next couple days having anxiety attacks. I was finally feeling a little better yesterday, but then something happened, unrelated but still difficult, and now I’m back at square one.

I’m so, so exhausted. I have an event to attend today that I can’t miss. I have kids for whom I have to put on a happy face. My husband is being supportive but that only helps so much.

My stomach is constantly in a knot. I have a perpetual headache. Walks have been helping, but they also leave me nothing to do but to think too much. I have no interest in escaping into a podcast or music. It’s just background noise to my inner thoughts.

I just want to run away, but I can’t, because everyone needs something from me. And anyway, my problems and thoughts would just follow me. Does anyone have any advice? How do I just take it day by day? I do start with a therapist but not until late next week.

[Anonymous]

OP I am sorry.

It might help to understand the type of life altering news you are dealing with? Divorce? Terminal Illness? Financial? You or someone else?

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry you're in such a tough place without the space you need to process and grieve. Praying might help. Journaling has also been shown to help. Holding the hand or getting a hug of a loved one has been shown to help reduce stress levels along with affection from a pet. Hugs and good wishes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP I am sorry.

It might help to understand the type of life altering news you are dealing with? Divorce? Terminal Illness? Financial? You or someone else?

Not divorce, but it indirectly relates to my marriage. I doubt we will even separate over this, but it’s definitely something shocking and unexpected and which we will have to work through.

[Anonymous]

One day at a time or even one hour at a time. Best wishes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry you're in such a tough place without the space you need to process and grieve. Praying might help. Journaling has also been shown to help. Holding the hand or getting a hug of a loved one has been shown to help reduce stress levels along with affection from a pet. Hugs and good wishes.

Hugs and our pet’s cuteness, along with my children, have definitely been the things that have gotten me through this week!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have no one I can talk to right now. I’m not feeling like I’m going to harm myself or anything, but I’m incredibly stressed, angry, sad, devastated, and trying to hold it together emotionally.

Exactly a week ago I received life-altering news. The first couple days I was in shock, then I spent the next couple days having anxiety attacks. I was finally feeling a little better yesterday, but then something happened, unrelated but still difficult, and now I’m back at square one.

I’m so, so exhausted. I have an event to attend today that I can’t miss. I have kids for whom I have to put on a happy face. My husband is being supportive but that only helps so much.

My stomach is constantly in a knot. I have a perpetual headache. Walks have been helping, but they also leave me nothing to do but to think too much. I have no interest in escaping into a podcast or music. It’s just background noise to my inner thoughts.

I just want to run away, but I can’t, because everyone needs something from me. And anyway, my problems and thoughts would just follow me. Does anyone have any advice? How do I just take it day by day? I do start with a therapist but not until late next week.

You can actually run away. You can. Walk away from everyone else's needs even if only for a couple of days. Book a stay in a cabin, at the Ritz, at your bff's house. Whatever you need to do to literally leave it all behind for a couple of days of breathing room. Whatever that needs to look like for you.

[Anonymous]

Honestly having family doctor prescribe lorazepam gets me through the too much hitting at once moments in life. Only had to do it twice. Combine with getting therapy set up and other non medication routes to getting more regulated again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no one I can talk to right now. I’m not feeling like I’m going to harm myself or anything, but I’m incredibly stressed, angry, sad, devastated, and trying to hold it together emotionally.

Exactly a week ago I received life-altering news. The first couple days I was in shock, then I spent the next couple days having anxiety attacks. I was finally feeling a little better yesterday, but then something happened, unrelated but still difficult, and now I’m back at square one.

I’m so, so exhausted. I have an event to attend today that I can’t miss. I have kids for whom I have to put on a happy face. My husband is being supportive but that only helps so much.

My stomach is constantly in a knot. I have a perpetual headache. Walks have been helping, but they also leave me nothing to do but to think too much. I have no interest in escaping into a podcast or music. It’s just background noise to my inner thoughts.

I just want to run away, but I can’t, because everyone needs something from me. And anyway, my problems and thoughts would just follow me. Does anyone have any advice? How do I just take it day by day? I do start with a therapist but not until late next week.

You can actually run away. You can. Walk away from everyone else's needs even if only for a couple of days. Book a stay in a cabin, at the Ritz, at your bff's house. Whatever you need to do to literally leave it all behind for a couple of days of breathing room. Whatever that needs to look like for you.

It just feels like I can’t! Venting… maybe someone will have advise…

This event today, I want to skip it so bad. It’s a gathering at a friend’s house. I had to skip out on the last event she hosted. We have a mutual friend who is hosting again NEXT weekend, I feel like if I can’t attend tonight, she will be offended and wonder why I always cancel on her but never our other friends. She texted just last night telling me how excited she is to see me. I am not ready to tell anyone about this yet, if at all, so I can’t say I’m going through some things and just need a break. Making up something yet again feels so disingenuous and hurtful. I know I can drop in for an hour or two, but I hate it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP I am sorry.

It might help to understand the type of life altering news you are dealing with? Divorce? Terminal Illness? Financial? You or someone else?

Not necessary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no one I can talk to right now. I’m not feeling like I’m going to harm myself or anything, but I’m incredibly stressed, angry, sad, devastated, and trying to hold it together emotionally.

Exactly a week ago I received life-altering news. The first couple days I was in shock, then I spent the next couple days having anxiety attacks. I was finally feeling a little better yesterday, but then something happened, unrelated but still difficult, and now I’m back at square one.

I’m so, so exhausted. I have an event to attend today that I can’t miss. I have kids for whom I have to put on a happy face. My husband is being supportive but that only helps so much.

My stomach is constantly in a knot. I have a perpetual headache. Walks have been helping, but they also leave me nothing to do but to think too much. I have no interest in escaping into a podcast or music. It’s just background noise to my inner thoughts.

I just want to run away, but I can’t, because everyone needs something from me. And anyway, my problems and thoughts would just follow me. Does anyone have any advice? How do I just take it day by day? I do start with a therapist but not until late next week.

You can actually run away. You can. Walk away from everyone else's needs even if only for a couple of days. Book a stay in a cabin, at the Ritz, at your bff's house. Whatever you need to do to literally leave it all behind for a couple of days of breathing room. Whatever that needs to look like for you.

+100

This is the best advice so far.
Hugs, OP.

[Anonymous]

I’m going through a hard time right now OP (health, job, divorce), and I am also barely holding it together. Here’s what helps:

- a low dose “rescue” anti-anxiety drug like Xanax or Ativan. I have a very limited supply and only use it when it gets overwhelming or I absolutely need to perform (for example, when I had to go to a deposition, or for my monthly 1:1s with my abusive boss). Your PCP can prescribe. Use in conjunction with therapy.

- a lot of grounding exercises

- a cbt journal (mine is called “worry for nothing” and I bought it on Amazon)

- hard exercise (I still do Peloton, so I pick one of the more intense workouts)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

- a low dose “rescue” anti-anxiety drug like Xanax or Ativan. I have a very limited supply and only use it when it gets overwhelming or I absolutely need to perform (for example, when I had to go to a deposition, or for my monthly 1:1s with my abusive boss). Your PCP can prescribe. Use in conjunction with therapy.

This, absolutely this. Send a message through the portal or make a call to your PCP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP I am sorry.

It might help to understand the type of life altering news you are dealing with? Divorce? Terminal Illness? Financial? You or someone else?

Not divorce, but it indirectly relates to my marriage. I doubt we will even separate over this, but it’s definitely something shocking and unexpected and which we will have to work through.

......so he cheated?

[Anonymous]

Hmmm. I’m sorry you’re going through it, OP. But I don’t really understand vague cries for help like this. I have two friends who do this. They will text that something is awful and they need support but say that they don’t want to give details. So all I can say is, “I’m sorry something is hard right now.” I don’t get asking for support but not telling anyone what’s going on.