How Do You Deal With Anxiety Related To Your Cat’s Health?

MissClouseau

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Because it’s torturing me. I have anxiety disorder that is worst about loved ones’ health. Like this morning Hima vomited yellow foamy bile and after dinner burped several times. Right after in the a.m. I got literally sick to my stomach as it happens with anxiety attack for me, then cried, felt weak... oh my.

I try to remind myself it doesn’t have to be a big, incurable problem and all but if it calms me down that’s still AFTER a full blown anxiety attack that leaves me exhausted physically and emotionally.

How do you deal with anxiety? Especially fellow anxiety disorder sufferers.
 

smosmosmo

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I get really anxious about any changes in Smo's behavior, then transfer it over to my boyfriend, and it turns into a whole big thing. What has really helped me personally is just posting about any weirdness on these forums - I'm sure I can get annoying but fellow posters are always really nice and helpful and talk you through what could be going on with your kitty.

I've worried about vomiting, coughing, overgrooming, paw injuries, dealing with construction work, what have you. Smo's my first cat so I'm constantly working things out, but many regular posters on here have had cats for much longer and can help you figure out if something is a legitimate problem or not. Also, everyone has great suggestions to offer in case something is up with your cat.

One other thing that has really helped is eliminating things around the house that could harm a cat - there are no plants, no human food or drink left out, no strings or hair ties or anything like that. Knowing that your home is well cat-proofed does help to some degree and narrows down what could be causing any issues.

Your kitty is very lucky to have someone who looks after him so carefully :lovecat:
 

les26

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Holy Basil is also called Tulsi. It can be found as loose leaf wherever you would buy herbs and spices or in tea bags.
Right! Also in capsule form at a health food store, I have that and sometimes open one up and just pour a little bit into some drink if I don't feel the need for a whole pill.
 
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MissClouseau

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Smo's my first cat so I'm constantly working things out, but many regular posters on here have had cats for much longer and can help you figure out if something is a legitimate problem or not
Same! Hima is my first full time cat. I have always had street cats around me and it gives lots of knowledge but zero about some basics like what should a stool look like. :confused:I’m very grateful for everyone on TCS.

Knowing that your home is well cat-proofed does help to some degree and narrows down what could be causing any issues
I kid not during zoomies or when she sees a fly in the house every now and then Hima hits the wall FULL SPEED. I accepted there’s no 100% catproofing a house for Hima when she’s capable of jumping on walls. I watch her like:gaah:

Your kitty is very lucky to have someone who looks after him so carefully
Right back at you! We will both learn and find our ways in between anxiety attacks. :hearthrob:
 
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MissClouseau

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Make sure it is Holy Basil and not just Basil, there is a difference
Holy Basil is also called Tulsi. It can be found as loose leaf wherever you would buy herbs and spices or in tea bags
Thanks for the heads up! I will check if/where we have it in Istanbul. :-)
 

Sararainmaker

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I can relate. I have been dealing with general anxiety for some time now. It's not as bad as it was a couple of years ago, but when It comes to Kaylee's health, I am a wreck!

Part of my dealing with it, though, is understanding why her health is a trigger for my anxiety. In February of this year we lost our beloved cat of 10 years, River. Without going into details, it was beyond traumatic and we never found out what it was that caused her initial sickness. A few months later we brought home Kaylee. Looking back, I think it was a little too soon, but the house was so lonely without River.

From the moment we brought her home, I was a helicopter mom... granted she did have some issues, (purring caused her to cough terribly, but she has grown out of that). I am pretty sure I drove our vet just a little bit bonkers with the calls and visits. Every time she snored or coughed I felt that familiar twinge of Anxiety starting... Even just yesterday I started to become a wreck inside because she threw up for the first time... and I have had my eye on her like a hawk since that time...

...but the main thing that helps me is just acknowledging it and understanding the underlying cause. The moment I feel it coming on I accept it, explain to myself, sometimes out loud, WHY I feel this way, and tell myself that everything is going to be okay... Sometimes it works, not always, but sometimes. ♥
 

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As I have said before the homeopathic remedy Ignatia Amara is for intense grief, shock and also anxiety and stress, you just put the little pills under your tongue without eating or drinking for about 45 minutes before or after and let them dissolve and they work well. Pour them into the lid, don't touch them, and just pop them in your mouth and get them under your tongue.
 
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MissClouseau

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I can relate. I have been dealing with general anxiety for some time now. It's not as bad as it was a couple of years ago, but when It comes to Kaylee's health, I am a wreck!

Part of my dealing with it, though, is understanding why her health is a trigger for my anxiety. In February of this year we lost our beloved cat of 10 years, River. Without going into details, it was beyond traumatic and we never found out what it was that caused her initial sickness. A few months later we brought home Kaylee. Looking back, I think it was a little too soon, but the house was so lonely without River.

From the moment we brought her home, I was a helicopter mom... granted she did have some issues, (purring caused her to cough terribly, but she has grown out of that). I am pretty sure I drove our vet just a little bit bonkers with the calls and visits. Every time she snored or coughed I felt that familiar twinge of Anxiety starting... Even just yesterday I started to become a wreck inside because she threw up for the first time... and I have had my eye on her like a hawk since that time...

...but the main thing that helps me is just acknowledging it and understanding the underlying cause. The moment I feel it coming on I accept it, explain to myself, sometimes out loud, WHY I feel this way, and tell myself that everything is going to be okay... Sometimes it works, not always, but sometimes. ♥
Thanks for sharing. My own trigger point was this January (when I also signed up for TCS) when Hima fell ill and the vet suspected of fatal FIP the most. Thankfully that was false alarm but I've been a mess since. Your method sounds wise and I hope it always works for you :hearthrob:
 

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Worrying about things to come does not change one thing that will really happen unless it leads to action. Usually not even a hundreth of the things you worry about really come true. It is your anxiety talking and dictating your life. I learned a long time ago not to research illnesses or injury on the internet, they are too full of dire predictions and lead to escalating the anxiety that is already present. I rely on experience, and the exeperience of others to lead me through what i should do, and what steps should be taken. Like on this site. Vets and Drs are trained to learn through experience and learning from training and facts. Our anxieties are not facts, they are conjectures. Try to not worry until you have all the facts. I know it's not easy to do, but distract yourself from your worries. Sometimes, I have found, we worry so much about things that never come true it keeps us from truly liviing. Life is wonderful, whatever will be will be, and worrying will not change it. Count your blessings every day, concentrate on the good things, you can't change the past or predict the future, so just take one day at a time.....
 

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Although this book is not a "self help" specifically, I found this book to be very insightful and gave perspective on everyday stresses in life.

As someone who has anxiety, and has even suffered from attacks for a period of time. I'm not trying to down play anxiety by suggesting (by the title of this book) that "it's ALL small stuff", but as I said, this was such a good read that gave perspective, and allowed me to learn to talk myself down.
 
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MissClouseau

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As someone who has anxiety, and has even suffered from attacks for a period of time. I'm not trying to down play anxiety by suggesting (by the title of this book) that "it's ALL small stuff", but as I said, this was such a good read that gave perspective, and allowed me to learn to talk myself down.
I just purchased the book, thank you! Maybe we should have a book thread about anxiety exclusively sometime. :read:

And I think you would be right to call it "small stuff" in a way. One of the biggest things about anxiety disorder us sufferers take things too seriously, isn't it? At an unhealthy level. :disappointed:
 

Jem

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And I think you would be right to call it "small stuff" in a way. One of the biggest things about anxiety disorder us sufferers take things too seriously, isn't it? At an unhealthy level. :disappointed:
Yes, I totally agree, but sometimes it can seem like if you try to encourage someone to realize that they are worrying about "nothing", that it means that you are trying to dismiss the seriousness of their symptoms. I just wanted to make sure that no offence was taken.
What I find sucks about anxiety for me personally, is that I will be experiencing attack symptoms, but I have the intelligence and knowledge to know that I should not be feeling that way. It's a real disconnect between my brain and body.
Sometimes I would just be sitting on the couch and all of a sudden, for no reason, it would start. I would just tell myself...Seriously?, just stop! You're sitting watching a movie, for Ch!@&t sake! Nothing to freak out about!" :rolleyes3: :lol:

As for anxiety towards our cats health. I can totally relate. We lost all 3 of our cats last year during a short 2 month period, all from different health issues. You're trying to care for those who are left, all the while trying to grieve for the ones who passed. The medical care, vet visits, every day was something different. And I still had to go to work everyday, treat my patients, which I'm embarrassed to say, was very trying, dealing with some of them, as many of them will tell me about how "stressful" THEIR lives are, and I'm like...seriously?, that is what is stressing you out? Get a grip! (Of course I never said anything...) I was barely holding myself together. I was exhausted, in pain...everywhere, my memory was shot...etc...I'm still trying to piece things back together and organize things to where I can be "OK, things are good and in place."
We have 3 new kitties, and it's wonderful, but I'm having a hard time feeling totally at ease about their health and safety. But every time I accomplish a task that was left on the back burner last year, I feel a bit more at ease about everything else. Kinda mess up that something like organizing a closet will translate into feeling more secure about other things. Good ol' OCD! :doh2:
Anyway, enough about that...
I'm glad you got the book, it really is a good little read, I have been meaning to re read it again, and I think now is a good time to do it. So thank you for reminding me about it.
 
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MissClouseau

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I just wanted to make sure that no offence was taken.
That's very thoughtful of you :rock:

Sometimes I would just be sitting on the couch and all of a sudden, for no reason, it would start. I would just tell myself...Seriously?, just stop! You're sitting watching a movie, for Ch!@&t sake! Nothing to freak out about!" :rolleyes3: :lol:
Panic attacks are the worst. At least with anxiety attack there is some sort of explanation and warning beforehand. Not really with panic attacks. Back when I had them antidepressant was the only thing that helped. I was on one for 8 months.

As for anxiety towards our cats health. I can totally relate. We lost all 3 of our cats last year during a short 2 month period, all from different health issues.
Ugh I can't even imagine, I'm sorry. Honestly you opening your house to three cats after something like this tells me you found the strength to do so and that makes you a very strong person in my book and that you really love cats. Both are very admirable. :clap2:

I'm glad you got the book, it really is a good little read, I have been meaning to re read it again, and I think now is a good time to do it.
Have you read The Anxiety Toolkit? I could recomment that one too. It has quick tests and helped me understand the source of some of my anxieties. I also liked unlike some books it acknowledges there's no "one size fits all" about what helps to deal with anxiety.
 
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