Hi JamesN, Welcome
GP's have a simple test to assess depression and stress and of course that is your first point of call and a regular one at that.
I was nick named the "worrier" at 12yo by a teacher so I know a little about that. It might have been that I had a domineering mother or that her anxiety was way over the top. But it was very present.
It remained and at 31yo it climaxed in a workplace incident. I was put off work and from then on I had to be educated at to how to deal with it. Medication helped for the first 12 years. Muscle tensioning exercises and deep breathing also helped more than what people think. Change of abode to the country and ridding my life of toxic people all play a part as did getting my finances in check.
You are right however that being sued would freak most of us out. However some issues that we face should be put into correct perspective. Worry is non productive. It achieves nothing.
And other things that you are worried about like your parents divorce....you have no or very little control over. So again, worrying about it isn't the way to go. To get this into perspective is to concern yourself with their welfare and support them emotionally but not to worry.
Worry for me now (28 years since that WP incident) is non existent. My employment history started out in the RAAF then prison officer, security, private investigator and so on. I know what its like to take on threats or the fear of legal action. But is it realistic to spend time on the possibility of it? No. So, these possibilities are part of the "game" as I see it.
Learn to play the game by watching how others play it. Learn their techniques, how they handle situations and draw from them their wisdom. I used to observe older prison officers how they endured day after day the prison routines as a stable worker. Of course with my mental illness issues I had no idea I had at the time I wasn't able to copy them very much but I did hang around a few years and learned a lot.
Relaxation classes aren't a waste of time, medication if prescribed helps you along your way therapy can assist and self help ideas I've listed shouldn't be ignored.
Finally....our minds need rest periods. Make sure you have those times. Find your own way to rest. Mine is to take a youtube recording of Prem Rawat Maharaji sunset and the perfect instrument (google them) and climb a hill. Watch the sunset. Get back to basic life. Periods away from the rat race.
Tony WK
