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Original poster

Sudden feeling of impending doom

90 replies

Rubydoobydoobydoo · 09/09/2024 20:00

For no apparent reason. I have nothing major going on that merits that sinking feeling. A couple of bills to pay — but I have the money to pay them. No back to school or college or work blues. No health concerns, apart from getting older and stiffer. I had a nice weekend away with friends topped off by a particularly good Sunday lunch in a beautiful old town yesterday. My DP and I went for a walk after saying goodbye to the friends and had one of those lovely, close hours, just happy to be with each other.

Today I've been fine, got things done. And now, just now, out of nowhere, that horrible sinking feeling of impending doom.

Anyone else ever get this? Any ideas why?

OP posts:
OhLookAStrawberry · 09/09/2024 20:01

Isn't that a sign of a heart attack or stroke?

35965a · 09/09/2024 20:02

How is your health? It can be a symptom of some health conditions like heart attacks so please keep an eye on yourself. It’s most likely nothing, of course! But it’s good to be aware.

Pixiewombat · 09/09/2024 20:03

Yep, I did First Responder training and it is indeed a heart attack symptom.

Towerofsong · 09/09/2024 20:06

It can also be part of an allergy reaction. I used to get that with coconut

StarDolphins · 09/09/2024 20:06

I didn’t know it was a sign of heart attack. I’m perimenopausal & get this feeling quite often!

JennyfromtheBlok · 09/09/2024 20:06

Have you forgotten to do something really important. Subconsciously you are thinking of this?

bumbledeedum · 09/09/2024 20:08

I get this feeling all the time for no apparent reason. Yet to have a heart attack.

Original poster
Rubydoobydoobydoo · 09/09/2024 20:14

Crikey. All I wanted was a little philosophical musing on feelings — perhaps the kind of feelings one gets at this time of year with the evenings drawing in and everything in the garden rotting and sodden after all the rain. And now I get the ruddy first responders telling me I'm having a heart attack...

I'm not having a heart attack.

OP posts:
TheYearOfSmallThings · 09/09/2024 20:18

Would it be the darker evenings and cooler weather? A reminder that time is fleeting and as we get older the lovely moments come with the thought "how many more?"

Obviously this does not apply if you're 36 with unusually stiff joints.

Original poster
Rubydoobydoobydoo · 09/09/2024 20:18

JennyfromtheBlok · 09/09/2024 20:06

Have you forgotten to do something really important. Subconsciously you are thinking of this?

I can't remember. Now I'm beginning to panic!

OP posts:
Original poster
Rubydoobydoobydoo · 09/09/2024 20:20

TheYearOfSmallThings · 09/09/2024 20:18

Would it be the darker evenings and cooler weather? A reminder that time is fleeting and as we get older the lovely moments come with the thought "how many more?"

Obviously this does not apply if you're 36 with unusually stiff joints.

Yes, I think it may be this. And we've reached the time in our lives where autumn is a bit of a reminder that we're getting into the September stage. And it was such a nice weekend, and we felt so close to each other and to our friends, that I think perhaps I'm having al little come down from it.

OP posts:
Pixiewombat · 09/09/2024 20:20

You did ask...

hopsalong · 09/09/2024 20:21

How old are you, OP?

I associate an anxious/ doom-from-nowhere feeling with rising estrogen levels.

frecklejuice · 09/09/2024 20:22

I get this on and off but I do have anxiety, it's a horrible feeling. I had it last week for a whole day and night and I definitely think it's related to the nights drawing in.

coldcallerbaiter · 09/09/2024 20:23

OhLookAStrawberry · 09/09/2024 20:01

Isn't that a sign of a heart attack or stroke?

Yes, in hospital when they stop your heart to reset it, you get this feeling

lazzapazza · 09/09/2024 20:23

I did have this once about ten years ago. It was one evening I was alone at home and fell asleep waking up after it got dark. I cannot explain it other than it really did feel like something terribly awful was about to happen but I did not know what. I went to bed very scared and woke up in the morning feeling better.

Nothing whatsoever happened but it was very unsettling at the time.

GoogleWhacking · 09/09/2024 20:23

To be fair to past posters, a feeling of impending doom is a very under recognised symptom of a heart attack. Heart attacks in women are often "silent" in that they have little to no other symptoms.

That said, I've had this feeling for no reason at all before, or because I've forgotten some tiny thing that is nagging on my subconscious!

Agree that I always feel a bit like that in winter too

DeCaray · 09/09/2024 20:24

Embrace it and walk up and down your high street ringing a hand bell and wear a big sign that says THE END OF THE WORLD IS NIGH.

coldcallerbaiter · 09/09/2024 20:25

Low iron/ferritin?
Menopause too causes weird anxiety.

PontiacFirebird · 09/09/2024 20:26

God I feel like this about 30% of the time! No heart attack yet… but now I have something else to worry about! 😮😶

Loopytiles · 09/09/2024 20:28

I have experienced this frequently from being a child and in my case it’s related to anxiety, then PMS and now perimenopause. I try to ignore it!

Getonwitit · 09/09/2024 20:31

Rubydoobydoobydoo · 09/09/2024 20:14

Crikey. All I wanted was a little philosophical musing on feelings — perhaps the kind of feelings one gets at this time of year with the evenings drawing in and everything in the garden rotting and sodden after all the rain. And now I get the ruddy first responders telling me I'm having a heart attack...

I'm not having a heart attack.

Yeah, i thought that until the doctor in A&E told my husband to prepare for the worst.

mononymous · 09/09/2024 20:32

I was 46 and in the January my periods stopped. Then I had a constant feeling of impending doom. Felt like I was in a horror film and had the sensation of something sinister approaching me or something bad about to happen. It hung over me all day. It wasn't upsetting just weird sat in a room expecting something to come creeping down the corridor. Two months later I was on HRT and it never happened again.

Chipsahoy · 09/09/2024 20:33

hopsalong · 09/09/2024 20:21

How old are you, OP?

I associate an anxious/ doom-from-nowhere feeling with rising estrogen levels.

Agree. Week following period I always have impending doom feelings. Hormones play a huge role in how we feel.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 09/09/2024 20:45

Rubydoobydoobydoo · 09/09/2024 20:20

Yes, I think it may be this. And we've reached the time in our lives where autumn is a bit of a reminder that we're getting into the September stage. And it was such a nice weekend, and we felt so close to each other and to our friends, that I think perhaps I'm having al little come down from it.

Show quote history

Maybe you can think of it as a spur to all get together more often and seize the day?

That said, I've had this feeling for no reason at all before, or because I've forgotten some tiny thing that is nagging on my subconscious!

This is true too - I got that sickening sinking feeling today when I realised I had forgotten to pay my credit card. I usually get it for work related omissions.