AIBU to feel permanently worried about things most of the time?

[BrownWoodenChair]

Is anyone else permanent worried? I told my friend this and she looked at me like I was on drugs

No I don’t really worry about much. And I thank my lucky stars daily that I am not a worrier / highly strung / anxious. My brain just isn’t wired like that, and I am really lucky. Both my SIL and my sister have long standing anxiety disorders and it has a big impact on their lives, it’s the main reason my sister didn’t have children and why my SIL stopped after one.

I’ve got two boys and I don’t really worry about them, even when they are out and about a lot. I have a couple of friends who can’t believe how casual I am about it - but they are big worriers.

Some worry is ok, it helps you learn from mistakes be alert to risks/ threats etc. Eg I worried recently I'd done something to upset my boss as she didn'tknow about something. Upshot, if the thing happens again that led to this I've learnt now to tell my boss asap.

It's excessive worry past the point of taking anything useful from the situation that's unhealthy. My goal is not to not worry, but know when to/ be able to stop.

Easier said than done though...

I'm permanently worried too. Mostly it's low level, kind of hyper vigilant checking alls well type thing, but it doesn't take much to make me spiral.
It comes from a serise of unexpected and awful life events that hit me when I was not expecting them. I lost trust in life and developed the bizarre idea that worry is an insurance policy. And if it isn't, at least I'll have seen it coming.
This self awareness hasn't cured me. But at least I understand it and can control it by distracting myself, reducing reassurance seeking behaviour and so on.

I was like this last summer and it ruined me. In the end I went back to basics. Stopped listening to news, actively focused on positive thoughts, hypnosis, supplements, sleep. CBD turns the chatter down in my head, exercise, make time for myself every day. It’s made a huge difference. I still feel anxious but usually it’s because when I’m feeling totally overwhelmed (like the last week of term when it was coming at us 100mph with school things and work) I find I feel more anxious about the things I can’t control, (AI, wars, reform…. 🤷‍♀️) The key for me is to dedicate some time to ticking off things I can control, which seems to help with the churn of worry about the things I can’t.

Yeah my mum didnt try to hide it. Everyone suffered.

There's no point worrying about things you can't control.

I worry constantly but in my case it’s productive and manages the stress associated with my job and personal life
I’m constantly thinking what if x happens (negative) then develop a possible plan A, then move onto if Y happens - plan B etc x

Just don't watch it constantly. I try to avoid it as much as possible. Nothing on there ehances my life. And TBH a lot of news is speculation. Still to cold ghard facts without a load of waffle

But I rarely spend time worrying about stuff. Wouldn't do any good and is a waste of energy

So you mask?

Yes im diagnosed ADHD and probably have OCD aswell

I've anxiety OP (mostly health) so I can be happy and going about my day when on and off I can't help but stop and think, what is it in worried about again, oh yes, that lump on my back or my husband has told me he has a sore jaw (any pain I go to cancer) or something to do with one of my children etc. Even when I'm feeling content I'll stop myself and tell myself I shouldn't get too comfortable, I'll jinx myself, I need to prepare myself mentally incase something bad happens. I have times when my health anxiety is very bad and I am in panic mode and I've times when it's ok and I'm mostly calm and happy in the moment (but it's always lingering). I did try CBT. It helps a little. I was going to try medication but I have hearing loss and tinnitus and they can cause tinnitus/ringing in the ears to worsen so didn't want to risk it. Definitely try talk therapy and take it from there.

Ive had therapy it was ok. Ive been on anti depressants for some time. I think i may need an increase

i try and have the mind set of “don’t worry until you need to.” and “deal with it as and when it happens.”

Otherwise you could spend your whole life worrying about something that never actually happened in the end.

I also find it helps to only concentrate on the next 24 hour block or the next week. It stops you spiralling into thinking about what will happen next year with XYZ. Just focus on your small chunk of this day or week and have your plans set and you can feel more in control and positive.

Life is a worry . It's very hard. I don't think it stems from childhood it's just the way it is.

This is me. But we’ve had a fucking season of it (DH has lost his job through redundancy twice in 4 years and his current company is about to go under, plus we have had health worries for the DC and catastrophes for our elderly parents) so I’m chalking it up as a normal reaction to a terrible time.

I would like to think I wouldn’t feel worried all the time if everything just calmed down.

Yeah i’m like this since i had kids. Hate it.

So very true

Stop watching the news. It’s proven to make you 14 per cent more anxious. No idea where they got the 14 from, but it’s been confirmed time and again.

Esp these days cos of the bait & doom writing style designed to wind you up.

I'm quite often surprised that everyone is not permanently worried!

The world is in a shocking state, and people are just becoming nastier and nastier, it's harder to find gentle retreats.

I've always been a worrier but my anxiety is definitely worse since having DC. I have developed OCD where if anyone says anything bad I have to touch wood 3 times. It used to be once but not now! My DC was diagnosed with epilepsy recently which has made my anxiety go through the roof. I'm not on meds as I try to use CBT on myself.
It's not easy though.