Any tips for getting rid of feeling of dread?

[ImpendingDoom1]

This evening I feel absolutely sick with anxiety, like something terrible is going to happen. I do have a lot of stress going on, and have had for a long time, but usually I manage to get through the day ok. But tonight I can’t shake this feeling and wondered if anyone had any tips for getting rid of this horrible feeling? I just don’t know what to do with myself. The blood is rushing in my head, my stomach is in knots and I feel a strong sense of doom. I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep feeling like this.

Someone said it can be a medical symptom. Can anyone elaborate? Anyway when i felt like this for a good few weeks recently I listened to a lot of sleep stories on YouTube and used my noise cancelling headphones.

Singing. Put on a musical and belt it out as loudly as you can.

I agree ref antihistamines. Some make you more drowsy than others which may be a good thing. Propanol helps physical symptoms
Top level - I have a stash of diazepam and take half. Very habit forming so have to be careful.
Easiest option will be the antihistamine for now 🙂

I have POTS and Mast cell activation syndrome. Both of these give you real physical symptoms of anxiety and feelings of dread. It's truly hideous. Antihistamines are used / tested by many of us asMast cell activation is basically excessive release of histamine.

@Pantaloons99 you’re a genius - you’ve reminded me that I also have a stash of Valium tucked away, that will definitely be a quick fix for tonight. I save them for emergencies as I feel like I’ve been whacked over the head with a shovel the next day.

Yay! Just love the stuff personally but remember not to rely on it everyday or it will become a nightmare ☺️

Stare at the ‘doom’.
like literally stare it out for 5 minutes. I promise you it will fade away. Embrace it, let it do its worst etc.
I’ve done this when presenting at hospital thinking I was having a heart attack. It was indigestion 🤦‍♀️
A nurse told me to do this and it helped so much.
Hope it works for you x

Deep breaths..
Don't think about what ifs or worry about things that have not yet happened.
Focus on this moment. One moment at a time. Sit on your sofa/bed/ wherever. Put your feet on the ground and remind yourself that in this moment, you are fine, nothing is going on in this moment that you can't cope with. And repeat. And repeat.
Remind yourself that you have had this feeling previously and gotten through it, maybe many times. You have achieved so much already.
Hope this helps.

I have POTS and wonder if I have histamine issues as I have other symptoms too, including anxiety and adrenaline rushes. I tried the histamine intolerance diet for 2 weeks but it didn't seem to help and it was so awful and boring it made me depressed! But then I had an avocado this evening and my tongue burning (that I've had for 6 months) is now really bad. Just don't think I can do the diet again!

Sorry for derail!

Hey @ImpendingDoom1 maybe a chat with the GP about HRT could help?

But for tonight - Jason Stephenson mediations on YouTube or long compilations of the Ricky Gervais/Steve Merchant/Karl Pilkington radio shows and podcasts. Funny and takes your mind off things but somehow lovely to drift off to.

Give fexofenadine ( can buy over counter) and if you can get hold of it Famotidine a try. Sounds like histamine issue. Avocado burns the top layer of my bloody tongue off.

I'm already on 180mg fexofenadine for hayfever, in addition to azelastine amd fluticasone nasal spray and azelastine eye drops! All for hayfever. I've had awful hayfever for 3 years the same time as the POTS started. Also massive anxiety.

The diet was just so restrictive there's no way I could do it.

Hot shower, warm camomile tea, light tv and hot water bottle in bed.
I sometimes sit and scratch myself all over, not violently but more like waking up massage and then put body cream on. I think it’s about doing something repetitive to get distracted, for some reason I can’t do breathing at all as my mind starts to wander and jump onto problems straight away but scratching helps.

Thank you all so much for the hand hold…I’m now in the bath, full of molten brown bubbles, and I’ve necked half a Valium so hopefully give it half an hour or so and I’ll be feeling a lot better and ready to sleep. Will message the GP tomorrow.

I asked the GP about HRT a few months ago and I think they said they wanted to get my blood pressure under control first, although my memory is shite so maybe that’s not what they said. I take meds for my blood pressure but it’s still way too high.

It can be a symptom of serious stuff like sepsis or a heart attack.

Severe high blood pressure can cause a sense of impending doom, @IwishIdidntlikesugar. It can sometimes precede a heart attack.

@ImpendingDoom1 it’s probably just your anxiety but maybe give 111 a call for advice if you suffer from high blood pressure, just to be safe?

Oh god I’ve been worried about having a heart attack, my blood pressure just doesn’t want to come down, and like I said I keep having these moments in the night where I feel like I’m about to have a heart attack.

I’d phone 111 but the Valium will have definitely kicked in soon and by the time they phone me back I’ll be out of it.

The cat has come to join me now, bless her.

I'm awake at 3am fully clothed in bed as I couldn't make myself get undressed to sleep. I feel awful - so anxious and unhappy. I know why - because I have a painful health condition that's limiting what I can do - but I totally understand that terrible sense of doom.

I've deleted all social media because it wasn't helping seeing others enjoying life. I scroll Mumsnet because it's easy as I don't have the brain to read right now. And I watch something quick and familiar like the Big Bang theory. Good luck xxxx

@garlictwist sorry to hear you had a rubbish night too. It is crap living with a chronic health condition isn’t it 😞. Hope you managed some sleep in the end x

Watching with interest as I too have this 'impending feeling of doom' as I call it.
Not every night but often enough to concern me. It's usually a Sunday or Monday night....possible stems from 'Sunday nightitis' from when I was a child? - I'm 58 now but still get it.

I'm on HRT and take the progesterone tablet at night...which is meant to be the best time (when I remember to take it that is...even though pill box is on bedside table...)

I sometimes take CBD oil....then again I don't really know if this helps or not.
I also sleep with ear plugs as I'm very sensitive to noise.

I'm not into meditating or listening to anything like mindfulness whales singing music in bed.
I do put it down to being post menopausal. I do find having something to look forward to does help....and I think about that to try and quash the feeling.
As I've got older, my tolerance for things going wrong has got much, much worse....like appliances breaking down, or adult kids away etc.

I don't know what the answer is really...…maybe I need to retire and become a recluse and get a dog and do beach walks every day....that's all I really want to do!

I had the Dooms for about 4 months, then realised I was becoming anxious about very small things. Completely out of character for me. GP said hormonal and prescribed sertraline and within a month I felt my normal self. Hope you find some relief OP.