To feel fed up of being permenantly stressed out by normal life?

[stressedaboutnothing]

I'm in my early 30s, no children, a pretty low stress work from home job, no major stressors in my life. Yet I'm so stressed and anxious all the time, constant nerves and feelings of panic. An example is on Saturday I had a hair appointment; I spent all week worrying about it, Friday evening worrying about it and on Saturday woke up with an intense feeling of dread, as if I had something like an exam. All over a haircut. After my haircut I had to come home and lie on my bed as I just felt mentally exhausted from it. Then on Sunday I drove to the supermarket; I hate driving and anytime a car goes past me in the opposite lane I imagine we're going to collide, or I'm going to misjudge my steering and mount the curb and hit a tree. I get there all in one piece because despite my thoughts I'm a competent driver. Then all around the supermarket I'm anxious and on edge - worrying I'm in people's way, feeling overwhelmed and overstimulated by the amount of people and items and aisles. I come home mentally drained and foggy-headed.

Then after that pretty quiet non-eventful weekend I still feel stressed out like I've been through some stressful ordeal. I wake up on Monday morning with stress hives and a nervous stomach all for my normal Monday morning meetings, when I have to speak for approx 30 seconds.

It's really not sustainable. I've made my world simple and small but it's like I can't cope with life?

You sound very anxious and that takes a lot of energy.

Have you considered seeking help for that, or the possibility that you may be neurodivergent?

It sounds like you have generalised anxiety disorder I used to take medication for this

I have started to feel extremely anxious in the supermarket. To me that's a signal that something is not quite right because realistically there's not much threat in the freezer aisle. I have had anxiety and panic attacks in the past and suddenly being frightened in a shop indicates to me I need some help. Have you thought of going to your GP?

Have you tried online CBT? Like exploring what could go wrong with your hair appointment, how much of a disaster that would be and whether it’s likely to happen. Then move onto the next fear. I found the book the subtle art of not giving a fuck helpful.

Agree, I’d start here if it’s not always been this way for you.

I’ve had friends experience it out of seemingly nowhere. Modern life making us ill, probably.

I’ve had similar. I actually wonder if it’s the ‘low stress’ aspects of our lives (and particularly the low human interaction aspect of wfh/no kids) that build anxiety? Obviously there’s such a thing as too much stress, but I think dealing with small to medium stresses on a daily basis builds confidence and resilience as you’re proving to yourself regularly that you can do it. If you cocoon too much, although it might feel easier and more comfortable in the short-term, I think it’s easy to lose confidence quite fast in your ability to just get out and do stuff.