Is this anxiety? What can I do?

[Lilpickle08]

Hi
I've always been an anxious person and a worrier but I'm sure I'm getting worse with age and I'm not sure if I should seek professional help now, or if it is just 'one of those things'.

I constantly worry about stuff - things that are happening months ahead even. On a weekend I will have a little worry about the days ahead and decide what stuff I need to feel anxious about! These tend to be social events - ie going to baby groups, seeing local friends, having nights out with friends - and really these kind of things I should be looking forward to, but I don't.

I have a toddler and a 4 month old but I don't think it's anything to do with hormones etc. Like I said, I've always been an anxious / stressy type of person.

It's just every day is a constant worry, I have a constant knot in my stomach and butterflies. Surely that's not right is it? I have to get out the house though or I'd go insane so there isn't an option not to do these things - though I do quite enjoy them when I'm there. But then there's the aftermath of these events - the playing scenes back in my head, deciding if such and such 'likes me' or if I made an idiot of myself doing something.. Arrgghhh, I'm driving myself mad just writing this post!

I do have friends although I am quite shy, I just feel like I have to work really hard to 'look normal'.

Not sure what kind of answers I'm after really. But does anyone else feel like this? Is there anything I can do to stop this constant anxious feeling?

Thank you

[lovechoc]

Are you me or what?? I am like this in general, quite uptight (finally admitting it now!) and anxious. I do worry but usually after an event has happened. Did so and so like me, did I say the wrong thing back there etc? yep, very similar to yourself.

I think people like you are me are called 'worried well'. We worry but not enough to need professional help.

You seem to manage to go to groups and not alienating yourself from the community so I'd say (IMHO) that you seem to be doing a great job.

Some of us are easy going in life, others aren't (I'm the latter!).

[sagan]

If you have come to realise that you don't feel like yourself then definately go to the GP. It was nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be, and he was nothing short of lovely. I had let my anxiety get seriously bad by the time I sought help. I had thought my problem was anxiety full stop but it turns out it was more likely to be postnatal depression manifestign itself in illogical thoughts and worries.

[lovechoc]

some of us are just naturally born worriers, and the OP has already expressed that in her OP. It doesn't have to mean that there's something more morbid going on.

However I would say if it's getting to the stage where it's interfering with everyday life then seeing the GP won't do any harm.

[sagan]

I think you misread the tone of my post lovechoc. Nothing 'morbid' about it

[loopylou6]

why is that morbid lovechoc? sagan was giving her own experiance geez sue her

[mumof2000]

i feel this way to lilpic....mine is mainly health anxiety though ....
keeping busy is a good distraction ...no time for mind talk ...
CBT ? may help to .

hope you feel bit calmer soon .

[lovechoc]

sorry, worded my response wrong it seems...what I meant was perhaps it is just anxiety where there is no underlying disorder.

[domesticslattern]

There are lots of folk around like you Lilpickle. The question is, is it getting you down/ stopping you from doing things you want to do/ causing health or relationship problems/ getting worse? etc. Or is it someting you can live with? - just "the kind of person you are".

I guess I am seconding what lovechoc said about it interfering with your everyday life.

If you decide to attack this, then before going to the doc, I'd look on Amazon at books about anxiety and try a self-help one or two. I also find that exercise (esp swimming, gardening, dancing, yoga/ pilates) and volunteering/ doing things for other people (not just your kids!) are excellent ways to take the focus off yourself. A good relaxation CD can help too, how about this one. I appreciate you probably won't have much time for these but they really can help. And when did you last go on holiday?

[lovechoc]

domesticslattern you seem to understand what I was getting at...

It is true that there are thousands of people who live like this but see it as part of their personality trait(for me, this is how I view it, because I cope with everyday life - occasionally having the odd blip here and there, but who doesn't). I see it and accept it as who I am and find coping strategies to deal with being anxious (depends what triggers cause the anxiety but I find exercise works well to take my mind off it). Reading is also good, it's a form of escapism.

I echo what domesticslattern is saying, CDs or volunteering may help you.

[Lilpickle08]

Thanks for replying, it really is appreciated. Yes, I guess it is something I could 'live with' - I appreciate that people live with far worse.

Perhaps it is time for me to count my blessings rather than dwell on the fact that other people seem to have it 'easier'.

I suppose I need to accept that this is me, and find ways of distracting myself from feeling anxious all the time.

Thanks again for your replies, it means a lot.