Escaping under the duvet for a few hours- the anxiety monster strikes again!

Hey, Tim .... Do I ever know how that can feel... I've been popping a lot of valium (well, a lot for ME) since the funeral. And when I feel anxiety, sleep is so much better than sitting about awake with a tumbling tummy, the jitterbug brain.

When I was living with my parents, I would go outside and pull weeds -- the constant visual search for weed after weed, pulling them, carrying a handful periodically to the weed bucket... It would distract my mind, calm my anxiety. Living in an unstairs apartment, no mall, no department stores, no parks, no sidewalks thru neighborhoods (300+ live in this town), I no longer have that sort of thing.... And when I get anxious, not even activities online sooth me and I am reduced to mindless Solitaire or simple free puzzles online. Mindless, like pulling sticker burrs.

My mother told me that she has dealt with anxiety all her life by "getting busy outside the house" -- since the triggers for her anxieties are centered in circumstances and the surroundings found in the house (sometimes the trigger is my dad!! )

Can you think of anything you could substitute besides the escape of naps when you feel this way? .... I would like for you to have at least one activity you can sometimes try.

{{{{Tim}}}}

Teri

Tim,

I'm so sorry you are having such a rough time. I have been there myself. There have been many times where I have pulled the blinds, locked the doors, turned off the phone and slept. And, I mean days at a time.
I hope things will turn around for you soon.
I'm sorry you are suffering,
Linda