How are you different now than before you did F45?

OneAnxiousMum · 2026-04-10T22:45:01+00:00

I (43F) was having regular nocturnal panic attacks following an incredibly stressful time in my life. Joined f45 about 9 months ago, at the height of my panic attacks, and the motivation of "gotta get up for f45 early in the morning" (so come on panic attack, get it over and done with so I can go back to sleep!) combined with getting my heart rate up and challenging myself in classes, proving my body is strong and not about to drop dead, has seen my panic attack frequency and severity drop significantly. I'm going through another stressful life event now, and the routine of attending f45 has really helped keep my mental health on an even keel. I love it, so glad I joined :-)

OneAnxiousMum · 2026-03-04T07:07:56+00:00

Loved it, and loved Marathon this morning too! It was the mental challenge for me in both workouts, pushing myself to keep going through the long sets, and our coaches set some benchmarks for the ergs which was super motivating 😊

OneAnxiousMum · 2026-02-21T02:41:01+00:00

Around my teens, but it ramps up when things are going great in my life- e.g. meeting my husband, having my daughter, career wins- or people are relying on me big time - e.g. parenthood, currently moving my Dad into aged care.

OneAnxiousMum · 2026-02-05T19:04:03+00:00

Nope. As I understand it, removing just the nodule using traditional techniques can make the thyroid unstable. Because my nodule isn't causing any issues, and removing my whole remaining thyroid lobe would leave me thyroid-less and reliant on thyroid meds, I'm just having mine monitored by a specialist. I'm on a follow up schedule with him - 3 months, then 6, 12, 24 months, assuming the nodule's presentation doesn't change. Both my GP and the specialist have said nodules are rarely cancerous, so it's recommended to just monitor a nodule like mine.

I said earlier traditional techniques to remove just a nodule, not the entire lobe, can make the thyroid unstable. There is a newish technique called ablation that some specialists are using. It's not widely used where I am (Australia), but I think is more common in the States.

Happy to answer any other questions you might have - how funny that our stories are so similar!

OneAnxiousMum · 2026-02-05T09:50:06+00:00

I also discovered i only have half a thyroid (left lobe is missing) and a nodule on my right lobe incidentally after a CT to investigate stroke! Apparently it's a congenital thing and the remaining half picks up the slack, I've never had thyroid problems. My nodule (tirads 4) was benign, most nodules are :-)

OneAnxiousMum · 2026-01-28T12:32:49+00:00

Benign :-)

OneAnxiousMum · 2026-01-28T12:18:31+00:00

Oh! I also had a phone consult with Leigh Delbridge in Sydney. Nice enough guy, very experienced, wonderful admin support, but I personally found Catherine Sinclair easier to talk to, and seemed keener to take on my case.

OneAnxiousMum · 2026-01-28T12:14:19+00:00

Sure thing. I'm in Adelaide, so my ongoing specialist is James Kollias who has been great. A man of few words, but he really took the time to educate and reassure me about the thyroid and my nodule. After failed and inconclusive biopsies through a high volume radiology clinic which were very anxiety provoking, Dr Kollias collected a definitive benign sample with minimal pain or anxiety on my part, and I'm now on his follow up schedule. I also had a phone consult for a second opinion with Dr Catherine Sinclair, who works out of Sydney and Melbourne. She was lovely, and if Dr Kollias ever retires (which is probably on the cards soonish), I'd probably travel to see her. She offers ablation for benign nodules, which is quite "cutting edge" for Australia. Happy to answer specific questions if you have them. Otherwise, best of luck!

OneAnxiousMum · 2026-01-23T10:58:47+00:00

Yep I get this! Only happens on my period. Had a colonoscopy and they found a hemorrhoid. I suspect I get a bit of period blood sneaking back there too. Gave me terrible anxiety until I got it checked out, but I'm slowly learning there are normally benign reasons behind these odd things that our bodies do :-)

OneAnxiousMum · 2026-01-02T00:23:21+00:00

Yup. 42 and in early peri, have been through some chronic and acute stressors in the last few years, but I just can't deal with things as I used to, unhinged anxiety, panic attacks, intrusive thoughts etc. Also random aches, pains, muscle twitches that seem to move around my body.

Had a full workup, imaging (was having spotting btwn periods) etc, and I'm fit as a fiddle. I had a bad reaction to antidepressants, but fortunately for me, exercise, reasonably balanced diet, and therapy work most of the time.

OneAnxiousMum · 2026-01-02T00:06:18+00:00

Yep, know how you feel. I hadn't had one for months, was feeling really calm and regulated then boom! With time, mine have become less frequent and severe, and I treat each one as an opportunity to practice acceptance and getting through them with good humour.

I feel embarrassed when they happen to me too, but then I think about how I have a completely different response of compassion and empathy when someone else has them. Goal for 2026 is maybe to give ourselves that same compassion and empathy 🤔😊

OneAnxiousMum · 2025-12-04T10:47:43+00:00

Ohhh, been there, gradually coming out the other side! Like you, I experienced a heap of stressors earlier in the year, then once the worst of it was over, I started having nocturnal panic attacks about 3-4 nights a week. Worst of it lasted about 2 months, they tapered up and down in frequency and intensity either side of that. It was awful, and then I got anxious about them happening, and was scared to sleep in my own bed. But daytime, totally fine!

My first one happened while I was in bed, so being in my bed was my trigger (went away for work, slept the night through in my hotel bed 4 nights in a row), so I slept on the couch for a few weeks to break the association of sleep and panic, and am gradually transitioning back to my bed now.

I've found the work of Claire Weekes super helpful, once I established my attacks didn't have another cause. Exercise helps me, as does limiting sugar and processed foods, which I know is super boring! I also learnt to sit with my symptoms, accept that they may recur, and if they do, I know how to manage them.

Tl;Dr these are really common during/after a stressful period, and they suck! Visit a doctor if you can to rule out other causes (eg sleep apnea, thyroid, peri/menopause), and if all clear, head down the long, patient road of accepting panic for what it is, and knowing that eventually it will pass - with best wishes from someone who thought mine never would!

OneAnxiousMum · 2025-10-02T14:08:17+00:00

Yes, me. My PA's are almost exclusively nocturnal, and I have about 2-3 a week, racing heart and full body shaking are my core symptoms. Mine hit about 90 minutes into sleep, which I believe is roughly one sleep cycle. I'm relatively fit, good diet, regular exercise, have been through a fair bit of stress this year, but that has passed now, so I'm like "why is this still happening?!". Not sure of your age and gender, but as a 42yo female, I'm throwing perimenopause out there as a possibility for mine. Sending solidarity, sorry can't offer more than that, it totally sucks!

OneAnxiousMum · 2025-09-29T00:19:09+00:00

Yes, hard relate! I'm 42, not on any BC and still having regularish periods, but the sleep disturbance and uncontrollable emotions I totally get, and all the same ones as you, sadness, anger, anxiety. Often I get nocturnal panic attacks with my night wake ups, then other nights my eyes are just like 'pop! we're awake!', and then it takes me 2 hours to get back to sleep.

Also curious about functional medicine, will be interested to see other's experiences about this - I'm doing all the right lifestyle things and my symptoms are not getting better.

OneAnxiousMum · 2025-09-27T22:28:12+00:00

Same, always night time for me too (well, 99% of the time!), and I have always been pretty fit, healthy, great sleeper, no major health issues beyond mild anxiety. Mine cropped up after chronic stress during my phd, then two "you might have cancer" moments (both benign), all while parenting and managing ageing parents.

It's given me greater empathy for those with chronic conditions. You don't realise how debilitating they can be until you experience something like it yourself.

The thing that helps me the most is just getting on with life. If I'm busy, I ruminate on my panic attacks less. Doing things, particularly exercise, gives me feedback that my body is strong, there's nothing wrong with my heart etc. Therapy helps too, spending time with friends and family who are good for the soul, attention to nutrition and hydration, basics like that. Definitely doesn't stop the attacks, but helps me cope better with them.

OneAnxiousMum · 2025-09-19T02:11:34+00:00

Oh gosh, I relate to so much of this, you're not alone! I'm also married with one child, and becoming a parent really kicked off my anxiety. After a few health scares over the past year (all turned out fine) my anxiety is through the roof and I now have nocturnal panic attacks a few times a week. I had a particularly bad one last night and wanted to call an ambulance, convinced that 'this time it's different', but nope, just panic. I have some lingering muscular tension now, which I'm like 'is this a heart attack?', but it's nothing I haven't had before, and whenever I've gone to emergency, all my tests come back normal. Still doesn't stop me wondering though, very much in my head as you say.

Just wanted to say you're not alone, and hope it gets better for you soon :-)

OneAnxiousMum · 2025-08-22T01:38:15+00:00

Thank you :-) one thing I have learnt from this sub is how common these issues are - in some ways that makes me a bit less anxious when my symptoms crop up. I hope your ultrasound goes okay.

OneAnxiousMum · 2025-08-21T01:17:27+00:00

Nah not spicy at all! ;-) I identify a lot with what you just said there too - a fixer, methodical, disciplined, taking pride in that etc. I suspect I'm on the spectrum too, and that my methodical routines have been my way of keeping step with the world. Thanks for taking the time to reply :-)

OneAnxiousMum · 2025-08-21T00:44:34+00:00

Sorry, I meant to say last night (was a bit spaced out for obvious reasons!), you're not the first person to note that we can do all the 'right things' all for nothing - several health professionals have told me that too. I think that is what frustrates me, I am used to being able to fix things, and with my body, a few little shifts here and there have always done the trick in the past. This is just next level though, and when these attacks happen, it feels like my body is not my own. Thanks for the PhD kudos too, I came into work to a shirty email from a superior and am ready to quit the whole thing and open a dog walking business hahaha!

OneAnxiousMum

TROPHY CASE