How to get rid of the feeling of dread

[Whall10]

Hello,
Looking for some advise. The past couple of months have been bumpy. Sudden death in the family, multiple members of family with covid, me testing positive on Xmas day! Redundancy worries, work pressure. We have come through it all and things are good now.

I can't seem to let myself feel good about life now. It's almost as if things are too good and I have this feeling of dread that something else bad will happen.

I know I need to snap out of this but I can't seem to shake it and start looking forward.

Any suggestions appreciated!

Well that sounds like depression OP. You could see the doctor. What helped me was making myself walk daily....among trees or other nature. It's scientifically proven to help.

I would see the gp if necessary, but also I would try to think of what scenarios are giving you the dread and see if you can take any steps to mitigate the effects if they were to happen.

I'd say, work through it. Its valid. I'd get my laptop out and hash through everything you've been through these last few months. In this way, the very real and reasonable feeling of being on tenderhooks for what's next may dissipate.

Thank you, I do suffer with anxiety and I suppose I need to deal with that. I definitely need to start exercising again.

I’ve had this feeling many times too! I can’t let myself relax without thinking ‘don’t relax- something bad is coming’

It’s so weird! I think it’s probably anxiety related.

I’m afraid I don’t have advice other than what others have suggested, but wanted to let you know you’re not alone.

It's a depressing time of year OP. I'm very anxious, I take Duloxetine but it can't work as god knows what I would be like if it did!! I'm better when working and in a routine. I hope things get better.

Sounds like worry ?
You are worrying that things are going to go
Wrong and that’s causing u to feel anxious / depressed ??

Basic self care is a good place to start. Sleep and fresh air is what I would recommend.

I have found,especially at this time of year, walking doggo through the nearby park takes forty minutes and is bareable in most weathers at LUNCHTIME and after a few days you can tell
It’s defiantly helping.

Also after a few days doggo knew the routine and insists we go so that helps too. She does not let me take a shorter route either as she knows just where to cross the road to the park.

Sleep
Lots
Of Sleep was the first step though- 10 hours a night and really prioritising that for about three weeks then started to see the benefit. Getting up without that hungover feeling (non-drinker!).

Exercise is REALLY helpful for that for me.

I don’t know if you sound clinically depressed to me as much as someone that has gone through a really hard run and is still processing and recovering. I think that’s natural. I’d say make exercise a priority as you’ve identified that already, do one note thing for yourself each day and maybe also log something good each- could be a programme you enjoyed, a good chat with someone or even a slice of cake- I find that helps my mind see the world as not all bad again.

Exercise is essential. And I find mindfulness apps/mediation work well. I almost had an anxiety attack on holiday recently and made myself lie down and listen to one of the grateful acceptance guided meditations on the calm app and it genuinely saved my holiday. The antidote to doom/anxiety is gratefulness. I also find reading a good fiction book often helps as it gets you into a different “life” or experience for a few hours and expands your brain beyond your own worries.

What really helped me was first to get out of the house, get out your routine. Go for a nice walk. And, very important, notice thing around you. Notice the beauty in things around you: a little flower, the sun going through the leaves....

Sounds like anxiety, I suffer too.
I wake up with dread and think of things that could go wrong or convince myself I've forgotten to be somewhere and am going to get in trouble. I find keeping myself active and seeing people helps, also talking though my worries with people. I've always had anxiety but lockdown gave me too much time for what's in my head and I became overwhelmed.

That anxiety dread is awful. Beta blockers are really helpful for me on this, and citalopram. The dread has now gone.

I keep thinking about death, since my Mum died 18 months ago. I watched her die, and I've not really been the same since. BUT...I don't think it's helpful to armchair diagnose depression or any other health "problem", it is completely normal to get knocked off kilter when curve balls are thrown at you - we are not robots. There is no way I would take medication - what I am feeling is a normal response to losing a parent.

You say yourself : The past couple of months have been bumpy. Sudden death in the family, multiple members of family with covid, me testing positive on Xmas day! Redundancy worries, work pressure

That is alot to have thrown at you in a few months. It is normal that you would feel out of sorts about this. Because you are normal and have feelings. Something else bad could happen, but rather than taking pills, just give yourself the natural time to heal. Like PP said, make sure you look after yourself, take walks, make plans to look forward to, whether that's going out for a meal, or taking a trip.