YOU ARE NOT ALONE - A companion online community discussion board for The Mental Illness Happy Hour podcast with Paul Gilmartin

I feel like my body is starting to shut down. Next Monday is my last day at work but it is fucking killing me. My anxiety is so intense right now, I can barely focus. My mood is changing rapidly from "I'm gonna be okay", to "This is hell and there's no escape." I feel like an incompetent idiot, this job is too much for me and I fucked up everything.

I know this is dramatic but I feel like I'm dying.

It sounds like you are out of your depth. Returning to familiar waters make not happen for a while. Focus on basic things that will keep you steady; food, rest, mini-quests... whatever will keep body and mind together during this deeply unsatisfying ordeal. You need to keep making decisions about the things you can control so that you are somewhat ready when opportunities do arise. This will also interrupt the dying feeling; make some first-response decisions and then keep going. Don't overdo it, you can only control so much. Minimize the suffering but don't block it out. Be realistic, keep your eyes, ears and heart open. You'll get through this, changed, stronger and more knowing.

You're having the fright of your life. Don't be afraid to get help with it.

Thank you for this. I try to "do better" everyday but it's hard, when I feel that depressive thought or anxiety, it really knocks me down. Plus I just switched meds and am going through a huge life change, so that doesn't help.

Beany Boo, that was amazing.

SoScaredToday, how are things going now?