Anxiety has ruled my life since the pandemic

DEAR DEIDRE: MY anxiety levels lift to an all-time high, as soon as I get myself ready to go out.

I’m a woman of 69. I live alone but I’m independent and happy and I’ve never known myself to feel this way before.

I sometimes feel that I could have a full-blown panic attack.  These feelings come out of nowhere and without any warning at all.

I often have to sit on a chair in the hall and breathe deeply before I feel well enough to walk out of the door.

Some days I’ve had to ask my daughter to bring me some shopping but I tell her I’m not feeling well.

I don’t work but I did until we went into lockdown. I was then let go because my company wasn’t doing so well. I can't take much more of this.

DEIDRE SAYS: I’m sorry that you’re going through this.

Your anxiety and panic attacks may have started during the pandemic when the whole of the population were left fearing the unknown, until we knew more about the Covid-19 virus.

You then lost your job so you had nothing to leave the house for. Now going out means that you are leaving your safe space which puts you in that ‘fight or flight’ mode.

Slowing your breathing is absolutely the right thing to do, breathing in for seven seconds and out for 11 seconds, until the feeling passes.

You can find more tips through Anxiety UK (www.anxietyuk.org.uk, 03444 775 774).