Does anyone else with anxiety feel like this? I feel so alone

Mental health
1

I'm 18 and I was diagnosed with anxiety when I was about 10 years old. Ive always been a somewhat anxious person but up until about a year ago, most of my anxiety was gone.

This past year has been pretty bad. I don't even know if this is anxiety anymore. I don't really get anxious over things like going out in public or anything, it's more I'm just always internally anxious in my mind. I obsess over the fact that I obsess over being anxious. It's like my thoughts are so abstract and I obsess over them constantly. I don't get any intrusive thoughts about hurting others or anything, it's more I get obsessive thoughts over my anxiety and I overanylize my thoughts and then I obsess over my the thought that I'm overanylizing my thoughts. I know this makes no sense but I don't know how to explain it.

I also randomly get this terrible scary feeling. It's like this weird sinking, hopeless feeling of doom but it's over nothing in particular. I remember even getting this feeling when I was 14 but I didn't think too much of it then. It scares me so much. I'm always scared of having that feeling forever and losing control or something and just feeling like I'm in hell.

Can ANYONE relate? I keep researching my symptoms and almost everyone is anxious about getting cancer or what people think of them but for me it's like I'm anxious over my anxious thoughts. I'm so scared, I'm terrified of just snapping one day even thought i'm normally a rational person.

please help sad any advice is appreciated

2

Hi anxiety starts with negative thinking obsessing and ruminating are very common in anxiety.You feel isolated and afraid as you are living in your head constantly.You need a therapist that can help you with ways of dealing with the way you think.Also try using meditation and mindfulness which you will find on YouTube.Exercise is also good and finding something that absorbs your mind is also good for example reading.Anxiety makes you feel hopeless and helpless however you are not.Go to the doctor and get treatment

3

Hi there, I can totally relate to what your saying, I get obsessive over my anxiety and like you get anxious about being anxious, I get anxious and depressed over things that wouldn't normally bother me too much, I also get intrusive thoughts such as certain things will make me anxious, for me the anti depressants have always worked for me but I'm about to do a CBT course and whilst I've done them in the past I've never really engaged so I'm going to do my best this time.

Just started a week ago on Venlafaxine which I've had in the past so I'm hoping to feel a bit better in a few weeks, hope you do too.

Neil 

4

Hello, You are having "ruminating thoughts". It is having the same thing going over and over in your head. I am like you in that I have have ruminating thoughts, but they are not a fear of health in any way. It gets so tiring sometimes. You have to learn how to shut the thoughts down. Have you tried therapy yet? Also, if you get the right medication, that can help a great deal. 

5

Hi , you described the feelings you have very well. Everyone out here who has suffered this will totally relate andwe know exactly how it feels. I startedwithvsnxietybasca teenager, am over 40 now. This won't kill you but is so frustrating as the thoughts just go round and round, I call it washing machine head. I get what you mean when you say t you get anxious about being anxious. I also worry if I'm not worrying, I convince myself I've forgotten something I should be worrying about and this goes round and round , it drives me mad. Your defo not alone, there is help. I've had short term meds, cbt, hypnotherapy, and great tips on this forum about relaxation and getting rid of negative thoughts( rumination). Lady here, Jan swears by a book called mindfulness. Worth a try. Talk to your doc , explain as you did here, ask advice on anxiety, it is manageable, it can make you feel rotten , also the sense of doom is common, but it is all in our minds then we start noticing physical symptoms as we're always super sensitive, hope you are reasured this is quite common, your not mad and can get help❤️

6

Hi there,

I'm really sorry to hear about your anxiety. I am 25 and I've been dealing with it off and on for about 4 years now.  I got into some situations when I was younger and made some not-so-smart choices, which I think started it all.  I don't remember ever really experiencing anxiety before that (maybe just briefly, but nothing too hard to manage).  I wish I could go back to those days, which is why I'm looking into talking with someone in the field to get some help for myself, and not have to feel this way most days.  I know what it's like to feel hopeless, but I can tell you that you don't need to feel that way.  I work two jobs throughout my weeks, and it's very tough.  I am dating an awesome guy who doesn't experience anxiety, but is there for me.  It's hard at times to talk to people without this because they don't really understand it until it happens to them.  For me, being told to "calm down" or "relax" just p*****s me off (if we are being honest).  I wish it were that easy, but it's not hopeless, either.  I see that you mentioned getting anxious when you go out in public.  I experience that too, more around big crowds.  My advice is don't be scared of it.  Maybe try having a friend or family member go with you, when possible?  For me personally, having someone around who cares for me and loves me helps me.  I also can relate to the thoughts and obsessing over them.  I tend to assume the worst (one of my flaws), even when I know I don't really have to.  It sucks but I'm looking to change that because I am tired of living like this, and it just affects other parts of my life.  For me, the biggest thing I have anxiety about is probably the fear of being abandoned and feeling like nobody is there for me.  You mentioned that your anxiety feels like you're sinking.  I can relate to that at times, even though mine feels more like I am physically sick.  But keep in mind that you can do anything you set your mind to.  If you want to eliminate feeling this way, there are ways that can be of great help.  Keep your head up!  

7

Hey there hope you're doing ok. I know u probably ain't.

Everything that you said is

completely normal as I know first hand just how scary

and terrifying it all is. I'm 40 and been fighting it too for a long time. I went to the doc as I also though I was going to eventually snap or lose

control. I got prescription of sertraline 100mg and they worked very quickly for me so much so it almost went

away at a click of the fingers. Don't get me wrong I still

get the odd day now and

again that ain't great but it's all down to you as a person

to control it. The more you

think about it or trying to

stop it happening is the

worst thing to do as

subconsciously your setting yourself up for the big fall.

Try to keep yourself calm if

you start feeling it start as it will pass and you will start

to feel better. Being able to

stay calm is the key and

relaxing too. Even a hobby

or being occupied is a big

help but u need to focus

away from it. As I said your

feelings, thoughts etc are all

completely normal and

there are loads of us out

here got the same. Just

dealing with it and keeping

calm helps but I suggest the

Doc will help u on the right

path. Hope this puts you at

ease buddy !!

8

Hi, thank you for the reply. I really can relate to making not so smart choices. About a year ago I did some recreational drugs (about 3 or 4 times throughout the span of 6 months, so not too often) and I'm always scared that they might have contributed to my anxiety. I did however have it when I was a child and I was always a pretty anxious person but I still can't help but think those choices may have caused it  

I also really understand what you mean about having a fear of being abandoned. I'm always scared of not having anyone who could help me and I get scared that no one understands me. 

I really appreciate your reply and will definitely look into everything you mentioned. Thanks so much! I hope it gets better for you as well  

 

9

Hi, thanks for the reply. What sort of things do you get anxious and depressed about? For me I find that I overthink my thoughts and my anxiety so much that it's just an awful, endless loop. 

I really hope you feel better soon! 

10

Hi there,

I'm sorry for the late response.  

We all make bad choices sometimes. What matters is that you can get past the hard times. I tend to feel like people don't understand me or my anxiety. That's one of the reasons I joined this blog group, because there are people going through the same thing that can help support you, even if it's just over the computer. I am most scared of abandonment. It's happened before (partially my fault) but that doesn't mean it's any easier to deal with at the end of the day. I worry that my worries and current condition push people away, when it's the last thing I'm trying to do. In terms of the guy I'm with, I want him to understand why I react the way I do to certain situations. I wish I could live a laid back life and not have too much that makes me feel this way. Unfortunately, that wasn't the hand I was dealt. I'm very different than him in ways but I hope that doesn't mean he & I can't get past issues.  I worry a lot that I'll lose him and that doesn't help. I'm meeting with someone to talk with later this week so fingers crossed that it helps in some form. I hope you're making improvements day by day.  Keep your head up! 

- Carly