IABU... But what should I do about it?!

[Supermoo]

I think I'm experiencing anxiety - I spend all night lying awake worrying about things that ought not worry me, I have occasional palpitations and feelings of fleeting but intense panic. I have worry about dc being lost or having accidents, though I know this isn't going to happen. I have (unfounded) worries about work, money and my relationship with dh. My eating is disordered and I have a low self-image.

However, my life is good! I have a job I love, a great relationship, amazing children, enough money (just). So I KNOW Iabu, I have no justification for these feelings. I mentioned it all to dh this morning, and said maybe I'll see my GP. I was a bit surprised that dh suggested I try to 'cheer up' and wait a while as I shouldn't set myself up to be on antidepressants or labelled "a nut job" forevermore! He thinks it'll pass, is maybe hormonal (although dd2 is 12 months old now, I am still bf - does that mean tumultuous hormones?)

So iabu, but is dh right that I'm over thinking things and will get over it in time? If not, what do I do?

Oh, dh is a health professional btw. Not mental health though, thank god!

You are NBU.. Go and see your GP is my advice. I started getting panic attacks about 8 months ago, I have a good job I enjoy, a happy home life so it happens to the best of us :) your GP will help you understand whats available to you and what's best, doens't necessarily mean antiidepressants etc. I'm currently doing a CBT course once a week for 6 weeks and take tablets 'as and when' I need them rather than all thetime.

Anxiety isnt the same as depression. I have suffered anxiety, in much the same way as you describe for years, but I am not depressed.

It could still be worth seeing your GP, they can prescribe something for anxiety, (I have propanolol, which I only take very occasionally now when I have a really bad attack).

Breathing exercises are fantastic, and really really do work. I also found doing yoga helped as well. (I know its not practical to leap out of bed and start doing the warrior post at 3am though!!)... but just lying there, doing the deep belly breathe in, and then a slow long exhale, does calm your heartbeat, and while you concentrate on your breathing, the panic thoughts do start to go away.

When you lie awake at night, focus your mind on what your plans are for the next day, positive thoughts, or another trick of mine is to just completely distract myself by random thinking. ie, if I am reading a book, I will "cast" the characters with actors in the real world. This is the way I have "coped" for nearly 20 years of anxiety and panic, and it honestly works.