Any tips to help with anxiety/overthinking?

[RabbitsRock]

I have always been a worrier but lately my anxiety has been particularly bad & I seem to be overthinking everything. It’s exhausting! I even ended up fretting after a night out with friends I have known for over 40 years! I did wonder if it might be the dreaded menopause but I think I’m coming out the other side of that. Sometimes I feel like I’m on the outside looking in & then I maybe try too hard with people which can be off putting so again I’m worrying about what they think! Aaagh! I have to remember that it isn’t necessarily me that’s the problem but I often think I must have done something wrong. Work has been a bit tricky lately but if I look back, it always has been a little cliquey. I have a good life, quite a few friends, lovely family & am happily married so would really love to stop wasting so much time & energy being eaten up by anxiety!

Anyone?

I think you can get to the age where alcohol stops agreeing with you and feeds your anxiety.

What do you think triggers it?

I quit drinking quite a few months ago & do feel a lot better for it. Not sure what triggers my anxiety. Sometimes I feel like I did when I was younger, trying to fit in. I would say I’m well liked but I doubt myself & spend far too long replaying situations in my head.

Just go on tablets to be honest

How does your anxiety manifest?

Remind yourself that this kind of self-obsession is tiresome for both you and other people. If you’re continually worrying about what other people are thinking of you and how you’re coming across, it may in fact be from insecurity, but the effect is the same as arrogance/lack of interest in others, because you’re not really focused on the other person/people, you’re thinking about yourself. Which shows.

But I’d suggest therapy if this is an ongoing issue.

I’ve been on Mirtazapine since about November & did have free counselling but the funding ran out. I would like to continue though.

I discovered a few years ago that I had developed a gluten intolerance (not celiac) and subsequently gave up gluten. But every six months or so I eat something with gluten, and weirdly, my anxiety/overthinking/frantic mental pace flares up a couple of days later. I hadn't previously associated my anxiety with my gluten intolerance, but in hindsight it did get a lot worse at the same time I was developing the intestinal type symptoms.

This may not be relevant to you at all but just wanted to mention on the off chance you might have a dietary component.

I find journalling very useful

I find breathing exercises help and also therapy. Therapy is expensive but can also sometimes save you money. For me I no longer feel the need to drink alcohol and also spend less money on retail therapy 😝

Sympathy OP, anxiety is awful and can really affect your quality and enjoyment of life. I think 40s/50s women do seem to experience more anxiety, I'm not clear why. I'm on HRT - I don't think it particularly helps me with my anxiety but some people find that it does.