overwhemlmed

First time posting.
I'm so overwhelmed. It may not sound like much but it is to me. I need to sell my house because it is too expensive to live there. I live alone and can't mentally take on a room mate. I am also a temporary worker and don't know how long my job will last or if I will be picked up by another job when it does end. Today is a slow day at work and I have nothing to do. It is driving me crazy! I have been doing breathing exercises all day just to stay calm enough to be in public. I am having trouble countering the "what if" thoughts. I'm not on medication because they make me anger and unable to keep my mouth shut (impulse control). I really really hope life does get better. I am trying to simplify by getting rid of my aquariums on craigslist so at least one less thing to take care of. I have three cats that I will have to sneak into an apartment (once the house sells) because I can't find them new homes. They live in the laundry room and I have very little contact with them except to feed and clean up after. I feel guilty I can't take better care of them. I have two small dogs that I am going to keep with me because they need me and they have medical issue I will feel too sick if I give them up. I'm so scared that the house won't sell and I'll be stuck unemployed again and unable to pay anything. I'm just so scared that nothing will change and nothing will ever get better and i'm going to end up stuck and hurting worse than I am now.

Its so horribly difficult to hold it together here when I have nothing constructive to do. I'm so scared

Hi. Something that you could do is try going out for a while, even just for a walk or find some activity to do after work to take your mind off everything. Maybe you can see if there is anything else that you can do at work today? It sounds like you are under a lot of stress right now. I find that focusing on the stress only makes it worse. You could try to focus on the things you have to do today, and then when your done
work find something else to do so you will have something contructive to do. I know how difficult it is to see the good in life sometimes, but things can always get better. For everything you mentioned you can come up with a solution. You said you can't take medication, but have you tried counseling? Anxiety can be very difficult to deal with on your own without any help for it, so that is an option for getting help to cope with your anxiety, and also being able to express your concerns more often. I hope that this helps and that your day goes better.

Thanks, I am looking at the resources. I just need myself back together again. This job has completely broken me and I can't find something else and now I don't know what is going to happen to me.

I called the place i used to get counseling and left a message asking them to call me back for behavior therapy. I really hope they call back at some point I need help and don't know what to do. I feel so sick in the mornings and when I get home. I wish the stupid house would just sell already.

Please help with morning anxiety
I wake up all the time feeling terribly anxious, what do you do when you wake up feeling this way? Is there something that works better than others for anyone? I am so tired and scared at the same time. My heart is pounding and I can barely calm down. Can you please tell me what you do to counter this in the morning when you just wake up? Or in the early mornings if you wake up at 3 or 4 am?

Hi. You are handling things well. You have a plan for some of your most pressing issues. Is there a no-kill shelter that could take your cats? And I agree with anxious0813. Try to go outside for a walk. Sometimes a change of scenery can put things in perspective. If you're able to exercise do that. Sometimes I take a shower and have a long cry. Then I tell myself that's enough worrying for the day and I try to move on. I've also been trying to counter every negative thought with a positive one. It doesn't always work but for the times it does its worth a try.

Stay strong. You will come out of this ok.

Pamcc,

We are here for you. Breath practice is good. Although I know for me when I am panicking I just cam not focus on it. You are ok. Try counting backwards by three's. sounds odd but does help. If you have a phone with apps try down loading a brain game. I use Brain Challenge. It gets your brain working and makes it hard to focus on the panic.

I am around today so just post and I will respond.

Dawn

Vent away! Getting your feelings out is very healing!

I hope that you are feeling better and in a calm place soon.

Those muscle tics and twitches are annoying aren't they? But at least they are harmless, and pass eventually.

Try not to worry about the future job situation any more than simple planning requires. Just from the little I know about you, I see that you are conscientious and capable, and will undoubtalbly be re-employed quickly after you temp job is finished.:)

Keep up the breathing...it takes practice.  It took me a very long time to be able to relax and concentrate enough for it to be beneficial!

S.C.

Pam I hope this will help, it almost seems too simple but many of us are using benadryl instead of Benzos, most of us take them just at bedtime, they work in about 30 minutes of less, they also help
with breathing, also in the morning I am pretty calm actually until near noon, not dopy just calm.peace

Larry ***

When ever I am cleaning the house for selling it I am having trouble staying calm. I guess keeping with the breathing technique should help. My dogs barking at me sets me off too. I don't know what to do about that. I'm so tired from staying calm at work when I get home I keep breaking down.

I have a showing today and can't remove the dogs from the house because I can't afford doggie daycare and I work too far away to come home and get them. They are crated upstairs and I hope they are not noisy. The house is as clean as I can get it and de personalized. I'm still scared it will never sell.
I'm having trouble calming down because I can't find any work again today on top of having this house showing. I don't know how I'm not going to freak out. I'm so tired of all of this.

Pam,

When we were looking to buy...there were a lot of things that made impressions on us.

A clean house was one thing of utmost importance...and you have done that, so good job. You can feel good about that thing, and check it off the 'worry list.'

Dogs in crates would not have put me off in the least...as long as the house did not smell of dog, or have hair everywhere. Since you cleaned, I am sure this is a non-issue.:)

The one thing that I remember with just a couple of showings. There were people, whole families, that would stay in the house while we were being shown through! This was not okay. I felt like an intruder as we tromped around in their space.

So unless you are your own realtor, and showing your property yourself...I would recommend going out for that time.

Just my opinions and input. It is going to sell, don't worry, and have hope!

S.C.