Hi,
I've suffered with minor to moderate anxiety over the years. I found that after the birth of my son it ramped up significantly, the year after he was born I was plagued by it. It eased off somewhat after that but tonight it's reared its head. Racing thoughts, panic, worrying about non-events and over thinking/ruminating and allowing my brain and imagination to run riot and create scenarios to fuel my anxiety. It's like torture. Sat here taking deep breaths and waiting for it to pass.
Keep thinking things like...
What if my parents died soon, how would I cope? I'd be devastated What if one of them died suddenly in their sleep? what if something happened to my son or husband? I'd be beyond destroyed. It's like my worst fears are coming to the forefront to make me anxious.
What if my dog got off her lead during her walk and got run over? What if the wheel falls off the car while I'm driving on the motorway? What if the house sets on fire and my pets die ? What if, what if, what if......
I know all these are irrational thoughts and my silly brain is going into overdrive!
I'm also re thinking events and past embarrassments and failures and cringing about old conversations I've had where I've said the wrong thing, wishing I could turn back the clock and really over thinking everything. I've had medication in the past but seemed to make my panic worse and side effects of the meds affected me. Also had contact with IAPT but didn't find it very helpful at the time. Day time I find it easier to dismiss these silly thoughts and they don't bother me but at night i find it harder. It's helped just typing this out.
Does anyone have a similar experience or any tips at all please?
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Extreme anxiety tonight, need to tell someone!
Sotiredallthetime99 · 13/01/2021 23:33
Oh OP I'm so sorry to hear you're feeling this way 
I get the exact same thing. I had therapy last year which helped me get through one particular bad period of it but it recently came back and I've been struggling a bit to get it under control by myself.
What helps me in the moment when I feel my worst is having a bath, watching something comforting on Netflix (a rerun of a TV programme I've watched a lot or rewatching a favourite, easy going film) and having a mint tea as my stomach is usually really bad.
Physical touch helps me calm down too, so a hug off my husband or if we're in bed I might hold his hand or lie in a position so that my arm is pressed against his etc.
When the worst of it has passed I try and make a note (either in my phone or written down) of all the things running through my head (no matter how ridiculous those hypothetical thoughts are).
One thing I was told in therapy which helped at the time but I'm struggling to stick to at the moment is to set aside 10 minutes a day in a quiet spot for "worry time". This is where you spend an uninterrupted 10 minutes where you don't try to stop the thoughts or rationalise them, and you write them down. Then after 10 minutes you draw a line and promise yourself that you will do the same again tomorrow. Every time your mind starts to race, do breathing techniques and try and tell yourself that you dont need to worry now, because you have worry time tomorrow scheduled in with yourself and you can worry about it then. This admittedly doesn't help straight away but can be good to practice every day to help in the medium term.
I hope something here can help you even a tiny bit OP because anxiety is the worst!
Sorry to hear this OP, it’s such a horrible feeling. I’m on fluoxetine now and not had a bad attack in years, but can still remember how bad it is.
Sounds very silly, but I used to reread books that took me back to a comfortable place and time - in my case it was pony books from my childhood 
Nothing new, as I didn’t know how it would affect me, just old favourites.
Comforting tv or films would possibly help? I like well-listened to audiobooks too.
And hug a pet if you have one! Hope it passes soon w
Oh OP, I feel for you so much... I've been there and it's horrible .
I used to suffer very badly with anxiety. One of the things that helped me turn a corner with it was to actively, intentionally remove the power from the thought, hard as that may sound. This is going to sound ridiculous but the best way I found to do this was to sing 'que sera sera, whatever will be, will be' to myself 
... I found it extremely liberating to tell myself (in the form of song!) that I had no control over what might happen, that whatever does happen, will and that I'd just have to cross whatever bridges I face when I face them. That song was a magic talisman for me.
Also, I started to visualise the anxiety as a little twat of a monster /demon thing that lived inside me and fed off my fear/anxiety (I am aware how bizarre this sounds). I then used to enjoy starving the little bastard by refusing to feed him with the thoughts (usually by distracting myself with the aforementioned song). Again, I found this very empowering and liberating because it made me accept that I was the one who was creating the thoughts and feelings, and I had the power to change them.
If I can do it, you can too... You honestly do have the power within you to rid yourself of anxiety .
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