Hi, today I was meant to be going shopping with my friends but I couldn't bring myself too and made an excuse at the last minute. I don't know why. I am usually a confident person who loves going out but recently I overthink everything and it ends in me sitting in my room. I don't know if I suffer with anxiety but I am scared of everything recently. I feel as if something bad is going to happen if I go out or leave my family so I never want too. Has anybody ever experienced anything like this and if so can you please help me to understand why I am feeling this way xx
Yes I have experience this as well as millions of other people. It's similar to mild panic . Sometimes people have an underlying anxiety that they're not even aware of. This can lead to negative thinking which leads to fear and people become frozen .., afraid to do anything for fear something bad might happen.
You don't have to let fear take you over. You are in control. You just have to learn how to do that.
I would highly recommend you speaking with a counselor who specializes in anxiety. Sometimes this is difficult to overcome on our own because we don't have the tools that we need to manage this. Counselor see this every day and know how to help. It feels good to vent to someone else .
keep in mind that fear is worry about the future. The future does not exist yet so that fear is irrational and not based on reality. We all have fleeting thoughts all day long but those are not actually a part of us . They are just thoughts in our mind and can be controlled and let go.
The worst thing we can do is sit around and think about everything you are afraid of because that actually makes our anxiety worse.
there is something called mindfulness that is very popular around the world. It teaches you how to manage anxiety and regain your peace of mind. There are classes in this but there's also a book called mindfulness that is white with a ball of string on the cover. It's definitely worth reading.
there are also great YouTube meditations on mindfulness. I listen a couple times a day. Just search for guided mindful meditation for anxiety. There are many to choose from. Many of these teach you how to separate negative thinking from yourself.
One is called "detachment from overthinking" and "clearing subconscious negativity". But just listen to others also and choose the ones you like.
please don't do what I did which was wasted 20 years of my life worrying about things that never happened. I learned that the "what if" thinking was a total waste of time! Nobody can predict the future and every day we waste with worry we will never get back again that day is gone forever!
mindfulness teaches us that when you get a negative or scary thought, don't try to fight it off because that will increase your anxiety. Simply acknowledge to yourself that you have that thought. Observe the thought for a few seconds, then imagine it floating off and dissolving.
Do this each and every time you have a negative thought. It can dissolve because remember it's not a part of you, it's just a fleeting thought.
Be kind to yourself, eat healthy, get exercise, do the meditations, get counseling , get the book,and don't forget to smile and laugh. Life is too short to be wasted on worry and fear.
Hey Amy
Yeah I experience this too. It's called Agoraphobia. Its different for everyone though. I have not gone out of my house for 7 years don't let it get that bad. Please get help. Talk to your family, therapist, friends. Stop avoiding public places it will only get worse try to push yourself to go.👍Good Luck
Hi Amysmith, you are suffering from anxiety, nothing bad is going to happen if you leave your family, it's called an irrational thought, it's just a thought that's all.
As Jan says maybe see a councillor to talk through your anxieties.
In the mean time do try and go out even if it's just for a short time.
Neil
Thankyou for this I will make sure to talk to somebody about it I'm just scared I'll sound stupid.
I still go out but it's just things involving leaving my family that send me into a panic. I start feeling sick and sweating and I overthink until the point I don't want to do anything other than curl up in bed and go to sleep.
Thankyou I will go out but I just feel sick and overthink it all. When I'm out I'm fine it's just leading up to it that I get anxious and start getting migraines.
Try to get help for your Anxiety and panic attacks.👍A therapist, counselor, talk to your family about it, or friends. Practice deep breathing, positive imagery and meditation or yoga. Dont stay indoors try to go out.
Thankyou , I am thinking about starting the gym to take my mind of it.
Yeah do it.👍The distraction will help you take your mind of your Anxiety.