Anxiety about birthday soon

[Historyfan01]

I turn 25 in April and am feeling scared

I feel like time is slipping away and my youth is gone

Another big factor of why I feel anxiety growing up is I fear medical conditions could arise for me, meaning I can't do my favourite hobbies anymore.

Like what if I get a condition that prevents me from holding the controller to play a video game or my eyes start to fail and I can't read my books anymore or I get a condition that makes it hard for me to paint. I can probably learn to not worry about being laughed at if I'm in my 40s, 50s, 60s heck even 70s playing video games and other "nerdy" actitives but the thought of physically not being able to really stresses me out and kinda upsets me. That's why I worry about growing older is that time may be closing on me.
And I know some may say 25 is a young age but the nightmare of being without the things I love and adore. I love video games cause they inspire me to paint and I love painting cause I feel energised doing it

Sorry to sound silly, I just find the thoughts hard

[Petal22]

Hi Historyfan01,

Wellcome to our forums!

Im sorry you are feeling this way I understand.

I understand all of the “what if “questions ….these thoughts can really impact us especially if they have anxiety attached to them.

Have you thought about speaking to your gp about these thoughts and how they are affecting your life?

You don’t sound silly at all, I understand.

[Ggrand]

Hello Dear Historyfan...

A very warm welcome to our forums...

I’m so sorry these thoughts are a constant concern for you..

I am nearly 66 and still play video games when I feel like it...age is just a number and it doesn’t matter if your 80+ and still love playing...I say just do it and enjoy it..

I agree with our lively Petal, and if you could it might benefit you to chat to your Dr about your thoughts...

Anxiety can cloud our mind and stop us from enjoying our life in the now/present time...causing us to have anxious thoughts that might never even happen....

Enjoy what you enjoy doing now, and continue to do so...Live for today and each day doing what makes you happy....that’s the most important thing you can do each day....

Kind thoughts dear Historyfan...

Grandy..

[smallwolf]

hello and welcome.

I hope you don't mind me sharing a little of myself here... the what ifs you mention is something we are all good at and concentrating on negative thoughts. When I bring this up with my psychologist, she will also ask me

• to describe things as they are. Has that happened yet?
• Or look at things from the opposite perspective. What if X does not happen?
• follow it through to the end. What would that look like?

And I am reminded that I cannot look into the future. Might happen. Or might not. This is easier to say than to believe or practice. So the thoughts / concerns you are having are valid and are be upsetting. As Grandy said, all that I can do is live for today and let tomorrow take care of itself.

Listening to you

[Baljit]

Hi Historyfan01,

Thank you, for sharing your thoughts with the group.

Firstly, you are not being silly, it’s how your currently feeling.

Anxiety, happens in many forms and its identification and recovery is a unique and individual journey.

If you have not already thought about it, arranging a session with a psychologist might be helpful.

All the best…

[jeremiahqu]

I congratulate you on the holiday