Hi everyone, this morning I woke up with really bad anxiety, I’m not sure if it is anxiety but it sounds like it may be that. I woke up feeling extremely nervous, so bad that I had diarrhea and threw up a little bit. This has been occurring since I started this new job. Some days are a lot worse than the others. I don’t know what to do. I just don’t want to wake up like this anymore. It’s like an impending doom feeling and I absolutely hate it.

Have you sought professional help?

You may want to see a doctor and tell them about how you have been feeling

@aurielle no

@nrayne what do I do if I can’t afford to go see a doctor

@MoonAndSun_ oh no you must live in America! Do you have a medical number you could call?

@nrayne no I don’t, Ive looked it up before and you still have to pay

@MoonAndSun_ Oh that sucks I’m sorry! Maybe wait and see if the anxiety continues. I would try to see if a doctor if possible if it continues. Otherwise try to see if you have friends or family to talk to!

Maybe you could try journaling? It helped me during a time where I was dealing with mental health struggles and anxiety. It helped me understand how I was feeling and maybe think of things on how to handle certain stressful situations. I did a 15-minute journaling daily, and stuck to it. If I was done earlier, I had to wait out the timer. And if I wasn’t done yet after 15 minutes, I would be forced to stop until the next day. You just write down anything you’re feeling or whatever thoughts come up. I’m not sure if it’ll help you but it might be worth a try. I do recommend seeing a therapist though.

@Yi_eune okay, I will try it. Thank you!

Disclaimer: this post is focused on the US! I wanted to share some ways to access mental health resources and therapy. I know we often recommend therapy/counselling/professional mental health support on this app but access and cost can be a big barrier. Here are some ways you can access services: -If you live near a university or college (even if you don't attend it) they will likely have a graduate training clinic where students who are learning to be therapists will offer free or sliding scale services -Check with your Employee Assistance Program (EAP.) You may be eligible for a limited number of free sessions. -Community centers, hospitals, schools and places of worship sometimes offer free or low-cost counseling and peer support groups.  If you don't know how to find that in your area, call 211, a government hotline that should be able to connect you to community services. I know people also recommend online therapy as an accessible option. I just want to caution about some things I've read about betterhelp.com, such as relying on influencer sponsorships, making money for-profit, underpaying therapists and selling your private information to third parties. That said I understand how much easier it can be to access therapy online for some people. Just double-check the credentials of your therapist! Add any resources you know in the comments! Credit to @drcarolineleaf for all the information in this post.