AIBU to feel permanently worried about things most of the time?

Nothing to do with this. Don’t put yourself down.

Constantly worrying. I can manage it to some extent but it won’t go…

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/jul/25/four-types-of-thinker-which-one-are-you

as a worrier, you are not alone, it appears.

I am permanently worried. It's exhausting. I am constantly thinking about impending catastrophe and how to mitigate or avoid. I think DH must find it difficult to live alongside this anxiety, but he says not. I don't believe him, so worry about that too.

I do have children, and it's been worse since then, but I definitely had these abnormal thought patterns as a teen too.

I think I have OCD, but I don't want to go to the GP as I think I just need to get better at controlling my thoughts and ruminations. I do sometimes recognise that my thoughts are not those of a normal person and tell myself that and carry on outwardly. I think that's progress, but I sometimes have a crash of overwhelming anxiety and distress from doing that, so maybe not.

Honestly, all parents live with this anxiety 24/7. You are not unusual to worry about your children. We all do, it's always there, it's just part of the condition of parenthood.

It's about how you cope with that, put it in its box, and still get on with and enjoy your life - that's what you are struggling with by the sound of it, it's dominating your life.

It sounds like you don't have very good coping mechanisms if it is constantly at the front of your mind and stopping you from living your life well.

I know you have had therapy but maybe you didn't have the right therapist if it was just 'OK' - can you look for some more? You do have some stuff to work through by the sound of it xx

I don’t have children. I think I would have been a permanent anxious mess had I had them. I am definitely a worrier, so you are not alone there. I also get overwhelmed and have to restrict the amount of news I read/listen to. I’d love to know what it’s like not to worry. I remember being a teenager and buying worry dolls (you would tell them your worries and put them in a little bag under your pillow - sound quite sinister from my description haha)

Short version is you are not alone.

Yes. I am permanently worried.

Objectively, I have a brilliant and relatively easy life. Amazing husband, good jobs, three beautiful children, financial security, good health, lovely friends. I appreciate it all.

And yet. I’m always tied in knots by worry about something. Often work. Since the children were born, usually something to do with them as well. Always worried about finances (I think this comes from a childhood where things were quite tight, and the mentality never leaves me).

It’s exhausting. Takes up so much of my headspace. Ruminating endlessly on all the potential bad outcomes and how to mitigate them. Worrying about every tiny decision and being paralysed by it.

Increasingly, I realise that my mum is the same. I can see that she’s never fully able to enjoy anything because her initial reaction is to jump to the negatives. She’s too uptight to ever just “be”. I recognise myself in this.

After years of putting it down to my personality, I’m coming to accept that there are features of anxiety disorder. I’ve arranged to start therapy. I’m interested to read what others have said about SSRIs being transformative - I think I ought to try these but I just can’t bring myself to go to the GP and shooting down the outward projection that I have it all. Which is stupid, I know.

You fit more into my second sentence.
I don't need your pity.

No. I don’t worry enough, if anything. I leave most things to chance… And they’ve always worked out. So far! I wish I could care more.

I've always been a worrier but my anxiety is definitely worse since having DC. I have developed OCD where if anyone says anything bad I have to touch wood 3 times. It used to be once but not now! My DC was diagnosed with epilepsy recently which has made my anxiety go through the roof. I'm not on meds as I try to use CBT on myself.
It's not easy though.

I'm quite often surprised that everyone is not permanently worried!

The world is in a shocking state, and people are just becoming nastier and nastier, it's harder to find gentle retreats.

Stop watching the news. It’s proven to make you 14 per cent more anxious. No idea where they got the 14 from, but it’s been confirmed time and again.

Esp these days cos of the bait & doom writing style designed to wind you up.

So very true

Yeah i’m like this since i had kids. Hate it.

This is me. But we’ve had a fucking season of it (DH has lost his job through redundancy twice in 4 years and his current company is about to go under, plus we have had health worries for the DC and catastrophes for our elderly parents) so I’m chalking it up as a normal reaction to a terrible time.

I would like to think I wouldn’t feel worried all the time if everything just calmed down.

Life is a worry . It's very hard. I don't think it stems from childhood it's just the way it is.

i try and have the mind set of “don’t worry until you need to.” and “deal with it as and when it happens.”

Otherwise you could spend your whole life worrying about something that never actually happened in the end.

I also find it helps to only concentrate on the next 24 hour block or the next week. It stops you spiralling into thinking about what will happen next year with XYZ. Just focus on your small chunk of this day or week and have your plans set and you can feel more in control and positive.

I've anxiety OP (mostly health) so I can be happy and going about my day when on and off I can't help but stop and think, what is it in worried about again, oh yes, that lump on my back or my husband has told me he has a sore jaw (any pain I go to cancer) or something to do with one of my children etc. Even when I'm feeling content I'll stop myself and tell myself I shouldn't get too comfortable, I'll jinx myself, I need to prepare myself mentally incase something bad happens. I have times when my health anxiety is very bad and I am in panic mode and I've times when it's ok and I'm mostly calm and happy in the moment (but it's always lingering). I did try CBT. It helps a little. I was going to try medication but I have hearing loss and tinnitus and they can cause tinnitus/ringing in the ears to worsen so didn't want to risk it. Definitely try talk therapy and take it from there.