Feeling Anxious

bragan

Ok, here is my story..... As a child I was quite anxious, and as I got older it seemed to lessen a bit. I would get very anxious before big events. Like I went on the J1 for a summer a few years ago, and for about a week and a half before we went, I was so anxious I couldn’t sleep, eat, etc, and I felt so wound up, sick, and anxious beforehand. The night before we left, I so desperately wanted to back out. I was so anxious I cried all night. The only thing that stopped me, was that I didn’t want to let my friends down, myself down, and I had spent a lot of money on it. Needless to say, I went, I had a fantastic time. I used to get very anxious about nights out when I was a teenager. I would get myself so wound up I would feel sick, and end up not going out because I felt so bad.
Anyway, As I left my teenage years, This seemed to fade a lot. I no longer got overly anxious about small things like nights out, exams etc. Only big things like the J1, or going on holidays with my boyfriend for the first time. Even when we moved in with my boyfriend, I didn’t really get that anxious about it.
But lately, I have been really quite anxious, and I’m not sure why. It’s affect my appetite, I can barely eat, and now it seems to be affecting my sleep a bit. I just don’t seem to sleep very well. The thing is, I don’t know what I’m anxious about. Everything is good in my life. I have graduated from college, and started a new job which I really like, and I said I have moved in with my boyfriend, whom I love to bits, and we have a fantastic relationship.
Any advise would be appreciated. Should I talk to someone? If so, Who should I talk to? I sometimes think maybe I should, but then I don’t have major anxiety issues, and a lot of the time I’m fine. But when I have one of my “anxious episodes” it can last for days/weeks. Anyone have any idea’s why it might have started. Anyone in similar position???

py2006

Hiya, I too get very anxious and nervous at times. It makes me irritable and frustrated and puts me in bad moods. Alot of the time there is no apparent reason for it.

I am not sure whether it is connected with depression or not but it may very well do.

Sorry I am not a great help!

r3nu4l

From the Aware.ie website:

Depression - How to Recognise It

The symptoms of DEPRESSION are as follows:

• F eeling - depressed, sad, anxious or bored

• E nergy -tired, fatigued, everything an effort, slowed movements

• S leep - waking during the night or too early in the morning, oversleeping or trouble getting to sleep

• T hinking - slow thinking, poor concentration, forgetful or indecisive

• I nterest - loss of interest in food, work, sex and life seems dull

• V alue - reduced sense of self-worth, low self esteem or guilt

• A ches - headaches, chest or other pains without a physical basis

• L ive - not wanting to live, suicidal thoughts or thinking of death

If 5 or more of the above FESTIVAL (acronym) symptoms are present for more than 2 weeks, it probably is a depressive episode.

You talk about anxious feelings, sleep disruption, appetite suppression which are at least three of the symptoms listed above, have a look and see if any of the others fit. Could be depression or something else. So if you have 5 or more of the above for greater than two weeks then it might be depression.

That said, it could be something else entirely, talking with a qualified counsellor or psychologist might help. Try AWARE first, see what they say. They may be able to advise you on the next steps.

EDIT: Your life may be going really well right now but remember that some of the most successful and wealthiest people in the world suffer from depression!

I have never suffered from depression or anxiety but am very close to someone who does suffer and it is horrible for that person. Talk to Aware and make 2007 a year for you to beat this Good luck!

CharLit

If it's affecting your appetite and sleeping over a prolonged period time that's a fairly major issue, and it can never hurt to talk to a professional about it.

Go to your GP, and between you you can decide whether you need a referral for counselling or not.

There is such a thing as 'general anxiety disorder' (rather than a specific phobia such as fear of heights or claustrophobia), which might be what you're experiencing. It is usually treated with cognitive behavioural therapy, which focuses on helping you recognize and change unhelpful/destructive thought patterns.

Hope you feel better soon!

LegacyUser

'It's not depression. Some people are just very anxious people like me. It usually comes with imagining the worst possible scenarios. Like I worry about something I said or done and think I'm going to be disowned or arrested or that a friend is going to kill themselves or my house will set on fire etc. etc. It's just the way some people are wired.

But I've found ways to lessen my anxieties, however odd and silly they sound trust me, they work just try them out:

- Exercise. Yes excercise. Anxiety bouts usually start off small then escalate!When you excercise you think less! So there's less time to escalate. And it's easier to sleep when you're more tired. I know it sounds strange but I always go cycling whenever I had a bad night's sleep from bad bouts of anxiety or am feeling sick etc.

- Murphy's Law. Whenever I get really anxious I just say to myself "what can go wrong, will go wrong and what will go wrong is..." then think of something positive eg. right before making a presentation etc. I think "what can go wrong is that I'll be the best and everyone will cheer!" Therefore that is what will go wrong!

- Make plans. Make budgets/trip plans etc. BUT ONLY FOR A SHORT WHILE. This puts things into a nice structure that causes no worry/anxiety (it does for me anyway).

- Sleep. When I get overly anxious and not get to sleep I get up and make my bed. I usually forget what I just was worried about and I

This sounds weird/not scientific whatever but trust me. If you even look at some of my posts here you'll see how anxious I've been before (thought I was going to be hunted down by the police for urinating in front of a CCTV camera). It's just who I am and who you are.

And don't resort to alcohol (I always end up in a state when i drink with anxiety), painkillers or anti depressants or whatever!'

Playboy

Sounds like GAD .. Genarlized Anxiety disorder. Go see a Clinical Psychologist or Psychiatrist .. your doctor can refer you to one or you can find a Clinical Psychologist in your area on this site. There is plenty of material on the internet about anxiety disorders if you want to do some research yourself.

bragan

Thanks for the advice everyone. I don't think I am depressed. I did suffer from depression ot one stage in the past, so I know what its like. I'm not sad, just anxious. My latest bout seems to be getting better now anyway.

AnxiousMclanx: God I do that too! When I was a child, I hated leaving my home, because I was always afraid that the house would go on fire while I was gone, and kill my family, or they would be hurt without me.(not that I would of been able to do anything!)

ando

The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook by Edmund J. Bourne.

^^^ If you find anxiety hard and want to understand and fight it, get this book. It saved my life as i was falling into depression a few years ago because i was so anxious. I had generalised anxiety, i still do but Ive learned how to cope with it for most of the time

tom-thebox

When it comes bad, have you tryed working out?

Jotter

if you become anxious as a result of thoughts in your head - ie going over and over what ifs to the point where you feel like youre going to explode than it could be ocd, your gp is the only one who can tell you if you have an anxiety disorder, depression, ocd or if you just need to grab a hold of your worrying and its nothing major. Its obviously affecting you so youre better off going sooner rather than later and anxiety is an extrememly common prob so your gp will be well used to dealing with it best of luck

ando

by the way, AnxiousMclanx's tips are fantastic!!! Arobic exercise and sleep are really important in the fight against anxiety

bragan

yeah, I do exercise, and it helps. I think I might go to a counsellor. At least they might be able to help me understand what I’m anxious about. And then I could deal with it a bit better.

ICICLE

For what its worth I recently went to a hypnotherapist to help with my anxiety. As a result of my anxiety I used to bite my nails and was on tablets
for a stomach problem. Did about 12 sessions with the hypnotherapist. As a result I no longer bite my nails and have stopped taking the tablets for the stomach. The link for the clinic I attended is http://www.dublinhypnotherapyclinic.com/ichp.html