When there is no reason for it.

[Gruffudd]

Anxiety so often is about something, like talking to people or leaving the house. I can deal well enough with that. But today I have that tight chest, feeling of fear, like the world is watching, just some kind of impending doom really. To make it more complicated, I'm not anxious about anything in particular, it is just the feeling. I haven't had this for quite a while. I'd rather like to shift it, any ideas?

[Doolhof]

Hi Gruffudd,

Sorry to read you are having a tough time today with your anxiety and feeling of impending doom. Like you wrote it is a feeling, but those darn feelings are very convincing at times aren't they!

So what has helped you in the past? You mentioned you'd like those feelings to shift. Have you tried some sort of visualising, mindfulness or meditation to get them out of your head or to reduce their strength?

It really does suck doesn't it when you have an issue like that but you have no idea why. Like when I wake up so depressed I don't want to get out of bed. Where does that come from? I try to tell myself it is just my thoughts and once I get up and get moving I will feel better.

Don't know if my rambling is helping or not! Some days I don't know how to help myself! Hopefully a bit of encouragement and understanding might be of benefit to you. Hope you can turn this around.

Cheers for now from Mrs. Dools

[Dwwmills]

Hi Gruffudd

Generalised anxiety disorder is a little bit like that you just feel like something is going to happen but you don’t know why. You seem to be anxious and alert for no reason. In these situations I have found that it is something that I’m telling myself but these thoughts are so automatic I do not even realise that I’m having them. I just feel the emotions attached to them. It can be something as vague as just thinking that your life is not turning out how you expected it. Things happened during the day that support this idea and you just have the feelings attached to them but not connecting it back to the underlying negative thoughts e.g. my life is not going where I thought it was.

The small events during the day really seem like nothing to be worried about but they have a cumulative effect. So finding what the underlying belief is, can be important, as once it’s tackled you will not be triggered by things during the day. I’ve found that using a diary and CBT techniques have been a big help in discovering the underlying irrational beliefs. Using a journal allows you to look back over time and see patterns which can give you a clue to what is happening.

I don’t know whether you’re on medications or not but I found that particular medication I was on helpful as it reduced my overall anxiety and made it easier to think.

Just because you can’t think of any think you’re worrying about doesn’t mean that there isn’t an underlying irrational belief there that is tripping you up.

I hope you work it out.

Dean

[Gruffudd]

Thank you Dean and Mrs Dools,

I tend to be fairly good at picking those negative thoughts, but you are right, I don't always catch them.

Mrs Dools, I think the best trick for me is the faith one of doing the motions of the change until my mind catches up. So I get out of bed and go to work, keep eating, keep moving...

The feelings are fading a little, I think there is a bit of a cycle to them and hopefully that was the worst of it for a while.

Rob.

[Doolhof]

Hi Rob, Dean and All,

Hopefully this cycle does swing back to "normal" for you Rob.

When I am starting to feel better again after a time of overwhelming stress or depression, I try to think what may have helped to trigger my emotions and feelings negatively.

I've realise lately I have been rather annoyed and frustrated with my unemployed husband who has declined to assist with any out door activity that needs attending to.

This made me feel frustrated, which in turn increased my depression and stress levels. My psychologist explained to me that we all have choices. If my husband chooses to sit in front of the t.v. and computer all day that is his choice.

It is my choice as to how I react regarding this situation.

I'm not sure this is related in any way, but once we have some idea of what is steering our ship so to speak, we might be able to better control it!

To save me becoming ill over something I can not control, I am learning to change my thought patterns. Not always easy I know, but the more I practise it, the easier it will become hopefully!

Cheers for now from Mrs. Dools

[CMF]

HiDwwmills

im glad I read your post. My daughters father has had gad for over 2 years and doesn't know why. I've explained over and over what you have said about thinking things or having deep rooted thoughts that you don't realise and then there are triggers that cause the anxiety, he just won't accept it. He tied a few things eg kinesiology etc but had a panic attack and didn't go through with it but keeps saying she wrecked him, he must have picked up some negativity etc. he's a bit of an "I know better, I inow everything" person and just won't listen, keeps saying "no, I'm not thinking about anything".. I personally think his anxiety is because of how his life turned out. Unecpected child, responsibility, it's just not for him, it's nit how he saw his life being but he just will not listen. Anyway I'll read him what you've written, he will still deny it but at least I'm now sure that I've got it right.

thank you

cmf

[CMF]

Hi Gruffudd,

you would benefit from vitamin B8. Please research it, it's a natural sugar and helps with these feelings, it calms the mind and body. This natural sugar is found in broad beans, cantaloupe, oranges but we don't get enough from food so you can pick some up from a health food store and take it daily or when you need it.

Hope this helps.

cmf