I'm in a slump recently..

[KellBell87]

Hey all.  I don't post here too often, but I always keep up with these boards. My name is Kelly and I am 21... I feel like I need to communicate with people who may know what I'm going through right now...The anxiety is just getting to me again! I don't know what to do

Well, yeah, I am in a major slump right now and have been for about 2 weeks. I feel like there is no way to pull myself out. I feel sick all the time (more like a "blah" feeling,) dizzy, headaches for the past week, on edge MOST of the time, chest pains, its just horrible. I'm a full time college student with 18 credits and it just seems like the work is just endless. I get 6 hrs of sleep then am at class from 11-4 every day, followed by school work and reading all night in the library. Weekends aren't even much of a relief for me, cause I always have more work to do.

Are there any other students out there who struggle with this as much as I do? I feel like the first few weeks of the semester are fine, but then a month or so into it this ALWAYS happens. I just get run down and stressed!! It happened last semester...I was fine for the first month and a half, then I ended up in the ER and anxiety spiraled out of control. The act of walking the 15 min to class each morning is pretty much equivalent of running a marathon when I feel anxious...It just seems like everything is so hard for me. When I feel normal, stuff like this isn't an issue. Is it a matter of learning how to handle stress better? I'm an extremely sensitive person so its so hard for me to do. Now I have all the tests, essays, etc. hitting me all at once these past two weeks.

I do get to go home for spring break for a week this friday. I'm not looking forward to it as much as I should be. My parents are going through a bad divorce (yet they still live together at home) and its extremely awkward and a really bad situation that I HATE to be involved in. I feel bad but I have been ignoring calls from my dad, grandma, mom, everyone because I hate dealing with it and thinking about it...Ughhhh so stressed!!

My biggest problem when I get in one of these slumps is that I just can't get out of it. I know that sounds obvious. But with all these phyiscal symptoms i feel like I'm dying. I'm a hypochondriac as well, so you can see how my thought process works. I'm convinced I'm dying on top of it all, because its hard for me to believe my mind can create all these crazy symptoms!! As you can see I'm a mess right now.

I guess I'm not really asking for advice, but if you have any i would absolutely love it. If there is anyone out there who can sympathize with how I feel, please let me know. I feel very alone right now.

[hopelessromantic]

I'm not a student ( I was ) but I go through "slumps" myself.......especially during that time of the month when it just kicks my anxiety through the roof. And of course that would be the time that my co-worker will say or do something to aggravate me....for a while it was cold, the weather was bad, TV was bad (the strike and no more NFL) so I was in a slump too. Once you pass the slump, at least you can coast downhill for a little while before you have to climb up again.....

[mommy_2_4_babies]

Things will begin 2 look up 4 u Kelly just give it time

[lablake79]

I think that most of us can relate to you -- I am not a student either, but I go through the same feelings you do where i feel like I never feel well - i feel out of it, dizzy and on edge a good amount of the time...always just waiting for panic to set in. I am on meds now so it's a bit better, but I still have my bad days.

I can completely relate to your lifestyle though -- I live in manhattan and work from 8am until 7pm in a very stressful job and when I get home at 7:30/8pm, I have to cook dinner and I don't actually sit down until 9pm...at which point I am so wound up that i never fall asleep until late. I have started taking from 9-10 to either read or do relaxation exercises to release the tension from the day and it really helps.

The thing is -- it will get better and you will get out of the slump. You do, however, need to find some time during your day to relax whether you learn to meditate or do relaxation exercises or read something that you really enjoy (not school related) or yoga, exercise etc...down time & tension release for those of us with anxiety is so important otherwise we run ourselves into the ground to easily. Remember that even during a busy college schedule and everything, nothing is more important then your health so you need to find some time to focus on making that better as well.

[chinacat]

Kelly -

I am not a student.  I'm a teacher.  Though I don't have the course work, I definitely experience the same deadlines.  I'm the same way.  In the beginning I'm good.  Then as the semester progresses I get stressed.  A new term always feels so refreshing.  I used to get migraines in college.  They came at about this time of year and would just be constant and horrible.  I'm also a hypochondriac.  I worry all the time that I'm dying.  My husband helps talk me down but it doesn't always work.  

You have an additional problem.  Though I don't know your feelings on the divorce, there is no doubt it is weighing on you.  This can't be helping.  I have never dealt with such an experience and I am thinking and praying for you.  I have a sister who is going through a divorce of her own and she has GAD though not as severe as I do.  I know that she is a wreck and I'm sure your parents are too.  They are angry and living together is not a good plan but again, I don't know the situation.  All you can do is live YOUR life and love all those people around you.  Maybe you could use your break to strengthen your bonds.  Spend an evening with each parent alone and remind them that you love them dearly.  This will no doubt make them feel that this divorce does not mean losing you.  You would be amazed at how much a gesture like that can boost your own soul and make anxiety seem more insignificant.  Just listening to you talk about this and wanting to avoid family showed me that they could very easily be part of your slump.  If you can face it head on you might be able to return to school feeling like home is not such a mess.  It's just one idea.  

You are not alone.  I feel a lot of your pain and am thinking of you.

[Michshell]

Hi Kelly 

I am also 21 and have just finished university. I developed GAD in my second year of uni so I know exactly what its like to have all those feelings you have described. I would sometimes have a coffee in the morning at uni because I was feeling exhausted from lack of sleep, then I would feel awful in lectures. Like my heart was popping out of my chest!! The only thing I found that comforted me was that I could leave whenever I wanted. Its not like high school or work where you get in trouble for leaving, if you dont feel good, just leave. You defenately need a bit of time out. I know you are going through a really busy time at the moment but why not plan to give yourself the night off? Go for a drive, clear your head, see a friend if it helps you to vent all of these feelings. Trust me, just that little time out can do wonders. I too, had that awkwardness at home when my parents divorced. Its hard because you really just want sympathy and a loving environment to go home to, not another stressful environment. Home should feel like home right? But not everything is perfect, yes its sad that home is like that but the situation isn't your fault. Always remember to never blame yourself for these things.
At the moment, I am in one of those slumps because my dog just died. But I convince myself that I have been in a slump before and got out of it so I can now. We are strong Kelly!! We will get out of this so never lose hope! I had GAD at uni like you and I successfully graduated. It may be a little harder for us because of this disorder, but its easily done. If I got through it, you can too!
Feel free to message me if you need someone to talk. I check my inbox regularly. Let us know how you are going!