Anxiety about physical safety

[JaySee2135]

I've been having a bit of a hard time with anxiety.

The form it takes for me is that I perceive and/or overrate threats to my physical safety.

Just one example – I take a walk in the park, a slightly disheveled looking guy walks past, whistles loudly.

In the past I would have noticed this but not paid a lot of attention. Unless there was some clear sign of danger, it wouldn't have taken on much significance.

But yesterday it happened and my whole body tensed up and I felt a huge "fight or flight" rush. It was very hard to just keep still and calm. Some part of me though the was about to attack me. Or that he was signalling to a gang of his friends to come and attack me.

I don't know where all this anxiety comes from. I've never been physically attacked in my life (well... I was threatened maybe once or twice and I did get chased by bullies in primary school a couple of times).

I never felt this kind of fear 3 years ago. But somehow something changed within me and I now go into extreme "high alert" at the slightest sign of danger.

Has anyone else gone through something similar?

[Katyonthehamsterwheel]

Hi JaySee

Yep, absolutely! I think of anxiety as having tentacles that reach out and try to "grab hold" of things. As such, I try to be really mindful when I have a strong response to a situation, as I don't want it to become embedded. I have a specific phobia that I've had since I was a child, and it's awful, and I really don't want more of them!

So if it's helpful to you at all. I try to "think about my thinking". So if something seems irrational and unhealthy to keep thinking about, I try to let it go as quickly as possible, and not entertain it. Sorry if that sounds simplistic - I realise life is never that simple. But we can but try. Also, trying to generally create a sense of calm in life, not just in unpleasant situations. So healthy eating, exercising, meditation, journalling... all those things that keep us at a calmer level mean that we're not already on edge before something does come along and therefore tip us over. Hope that makes sense.

Happy to chat more...

Katy