What is this???

[Anise7438]

I keep having what I now believe are intrusive thoughts. They are mainly about the world ending/end of humanity/end of civilisation. They are just thoughts. I understand that. But they are incredibly upsetting . I have very few physical symptoms. I'll occasionally shake but it's very mild. No one (I think) really knows I'm thinking these things.

I have two young children. And I'm scared about the world they're coming into. I just want to protect them from anything awful. I don't want them to know about it.

I don't understand (like many people) why we can't all just get along. But these thoughts I'm having are just awful. They are so upsetting. I went to see the GP and said I was having what I believed to be panic attacks but didn't say what specifically. I have been referred for CBT and was advised to take serteraline but I'm still breast feeding and it doesn't sit easy with me.

I dread reading the news. I dread walking round the streets for fear of reading something upsetting or these thoughts coming into my head and knowing that one day, it's all not going to be here.

I'm thinking of trying acupuncture as an interim measure but what is this? Why do I feel like this? I've got a good career, wonderful children and husband. I want to be a you only live once type of person but I literally feel like what's the point? There a big black cloud hanging over me and I just don't want to feel this way forever, with these horrible horrible thoughts.

[Mymothersdaughter]

It could be a form of OCD?

Sounds absolutely horrible to go through, I hope the CBT is helpful. I found it was when I had it for anxiety.

[TheoriginalLEM]

Well we do live in a world where terrible things do happen, sadly. You are clearly suffering from anxiety and that will make unwanted thoughts that we all have, more persistent and intrusive.

I am much the same although i am medicated. CBT worked for me when i finally found the right counsellor. I am still anxious and i still need meds but it allows me to live my life.

Exercise helps greatly.

I wouldn't want the meds if i were BFing either. I find bachs rescue remedy helps if im particularly anxious.

[Gingernaut]

www.intrusivethoughts.org/ocd-symptoms/

[mycavitiesareempty]

Intrusive thoughts for me were part of PHD and more generalised major depressive disorder. I tend toward hyper- anxiety rather than torpor and lying in bed.

If you are BF and recently had a baby have you been checked for nutritional deficiencies? Vit D/ haemoglobin/ ferritin?

[mycavitiesareempty]

PND not PHD; sorry.

[mycavitiesareempty]

I also thinknow though that these type of thoughts can be part of normal life. Absolutely not if they ard overwhelmingly Intrusive but now and again.... especially when you have young kids. Can be something primeval about protecting them. But I stress it'seems not healthy to have them regularly, intrusively and always there IYSWIM.

[Anise7438]

I don't think it's OCD there are literally no rituals in my life. Just these thoughts. The GP has run no tests. Just given meds which I don't want to take. I want these thoughts to stop. I don't even know why they started. Could it be PND?

[mycavitiesareempty]

So sorry for the typos. Daft phone.

[Anise7438]

I have the thoughts literally all day. If I'm busy they'll go away. But most of the day they are there. Just a constant feeling of dread.

[SpongeBobJudgeyPants]

It's possible. Could you go back to your GP and give them the whole picture as you have described here?

[Anise7438]

I'm also not getting enough sleep due to waking children but everyone goes through that don't they?

[Anise7438]

I don't know if the GP has time to listen to the back story or details of my thoughts? Plus I feel a bit daft for thinking these things. I think if I actually said them out loud I might never stop crying. It's taken me weeks to post on here for fear of being ridiculed.

[user1471441839]

Hi, I can't offer much advice except to say I can empathise. I have and still occasionally do get these types of thoughts, end of the world etc. . It's a type of OCD in the form of intrusive thoughts. I take citalopram for anxiety. The thoughts started since having my children . It's about been prepared and ready to protect them in disaster. It's probably more common than we think. It's worse with lack of sleep and stress. X