Confused

[Rob1234]

Hi all,

I am just looking for a bit of clarity in regards to what I might be suffering from mentally. I think if I went to a GP I would be diagnosed with anxiety but I am confused as I seem to have strange symptoms. Firstly I need to make it clear that I am not suffering from anything too severe. But it is having an affect on me and I think I need to finally do something about it.

I don't feel very depressed but I do have a bit of low self esteem. But Im not a majorly confident person anyway so thats nothing new. The main symptom I have is I literally just cannot stop thinking. I think of a topic and I analyse it till I think Im going mad. For e.g. A fair while back (months) I was thinking I need to grow up a bit in a few different ways like saving money etc. So then my brain has literally been disecting what growing up actually means and what maturity means etc. once I feel I know the complete answer I feel at ease only to find another topic to obsess about. I giggle A LOT. The thoughts are never scary or threatening but they just dont stop. The latest one I have which I have been thinking about today is if I have depression or anxiety! So now I cant stop thinking about which symptoms are similar to mine and my brain wants to have a black and white answer at all times.
I know this obsessive thinking would be a standard anxiety symptom but the tricky part is I do not suffer from any other anxious symptoms except for the thinking. I do not ever have panic attacks and do not worry much unless it is a proper problem which is normal to worry about. Can you have anxiety and not have any physical symptoms whatsoever?
The thing that makes me think it is depression is that I do feel a bit low but not massively. I still get enjoyment out of things in life but I do feel a bit lost and low on confidence. Mild depression perhaps?
I have had the obsessive thinking problem now for a fair while and just getting sick of it. I have tried exercising more and eating healthier, cutting back on alcohol etc but it still doesnt stop my brain from constantly thinking and analysing.
Any help or advice would be very appreciated.

Thanks,

Rob

[Starwolf]

Hi Rob, welcome to the forums.

Isn't the mind an annoying tyrant ? We refer to it as ours but it often is anything but. Unless we are adept at techniques to regain control (meditation, relaxation etc.), it's like trying to bring order to chaos in a cage full of restless monkeys ! Over-analyzing can drain our energy. It is also a common symptom of both anxiety and depression.

First of all, if you scroll down to the bottom of this page, click on the anxiety & depression checklist (in the Facts section). It will give you a better idea of what you're up against. It would be a good place to start. Only then will you be able to decide what needs be done about it.

Please bear in mind that -with the right help and support- anxiety and depression can be managed.

If it turns out that neither are the issue, then you may have to consider ways of reclaiming some measure of control over this mental hyperactivity. Hard, persistent work but doable.

I hope you'll choose to post again to let us know how you go.

Kind thoughts.