What does anxiety feel like to you? Confused.

[mylittlepuds]

I've suffered badly with anxiety since the birth of my DS 22 months ago.

First it was panic attacks, intrusive thoughts, just awfulness.

I'm hesitant to say it's gotten a lot better but I'm coping. But now I've been left with this weird feeling I get - I don't know if it's anxiety or something else.

It happens a couple of times a day. I just start to feel weird. Lightheaded but not. Worried about it. A feeling I can't put my finger on. Not like myself and my thinking feels not like 'me'. I have to tell myself mentally to get a grip. It comes out of absolutely nowhere. I worry I'm going to have a seizure and die etc. I realise it sounds very much like anxiety - it's just the fact there's no trigger at all that worries me. 'It' can strike at any time.

I seem to gradually lift out of it on an evening when my husband gets home and I can just get on with my own thing.

Can anyone relate?

Anxiety is the medical name for fear - do you think the panic attacks, intrusive thughts were anything to do with giving birth, as you say they onl started when your baby was born. Could it be PND although you don't mention depression.

Mmm I know what you mean about no trigger. I have intermittent depression and there is no trigger and as you say "it" can strike at any time. Therapists insist that it is something inside us that is causing the fear or depression and I have had to accept that it is, but I know why you feel it is something from outside, because it feels so alien and we can't imagine those emotions being part of us IFTMS........you aren't going to have seizure and die, well you might one day when you are very old. Have you had health anxieties before.

My depression usually gets better in the evening, but with you it seems like it is when your husband is home. Have you spoken to anyone about this, like a HV or GP - if not it might be worthwhile. Did you have a traumatic birth - is your baby a poor sleeper, or do you have anxieties about your care of him. Sorry to fling questions at you.

I can absolutely relate to this "thing" appearing to come out of "thin air" with no trigger or any predictability. Incidentally I am a grandmother not new mum, but know the torment of depression and anxiety. Have you been able to talk to your husband about this, and is he sympathetic.

You are lovely nananina. You've helped me before

I'm going to post later as toddler climbing on my head! Look forward to answering properly.

Oh my god! I'm almost really pleased to read your post....the very same thing happens to me. I know it is anxiety related, but I worry that there is something really physically wrong with me when it happens...I feel all sort of out of body...I'm there, but I'm not iykwim?

I always feel much better in the evening when I Am sitting down relaxed, but during the daytime, when there is even the tiniest bit of fear that starts to creep into my head...I get it.

How do you deal with it?

It's good to know that I'm not alone with this.

I hope you've had a happy day today.

Hello, I've been struggling with anxiety since last autumn, and I recognise the feeling that you're getting. I wondered whether it's to do with not breathing properly if you're feeling fearful?

I was also finding that every little thing I heard about was setting me off into a cycle of worry, and that I was existing in a miserable state of what I assume was the flight response to a threatening situation. Only I couldn't run as it was all in my head.

I'm writing in the past tense because I started taking Sertaline in January and am feeling a bit better.

Have you seen a GP at all?

Sorry I've not replied ladies. Really interested to read your replies! Just got in so going to bed and will post tomorrow.

Hi, ive not posted in a looong while but Yes I can relate. Sometimes it felt like I was pretending to be me. I don't get that now (!Touch Wood!) But it was a really wierd and disconcerting sensation.

I am really struggling with anxiety, so much so that I've ended up in hospital twice thinkin there was somethin wrong with my heart, it's been checked out twice and nothin wrong with it and yet I am awake now trying not to have a panic attack, this happens every night and I am so utterly depressed with it, I constantly think I am going to die! I'm only 22 and a good weight, never been fat, and am 25 weeks pregnant. Please help

I get this. I believe the name for it is dissociation or certainly the symptoms where you don't quite feel like you are called that. I can feel lightheaded and slightly spaced out from it. I know it is only anxiety and am better when I am out of the situation making me feel like that. So, for me, I know that is the cause. Daydreaming is also a mild form of dissociation!

Joanna I really feel for you. Reasure yourself with the fact that you have done the right thing and been checked out. Also because you are having a baby (Congratulations!) You are checked and monitered a lot more than at other times of your life, so if there was something wrong it would be found really quickly and dealt with. I know it can be hard not to think about 'stuff' (And I'm probably not the most experienced person to comment due to a recent 'episode'!) but I have found that sometimes trying to find as many words as you can out of another word distracts and calms (i've used names of the months and town/country names) or trying to make up poetry. This is good on a night cos you just need a paper and pencil and low light sat up or even laying down in bed. Even reading has helped in the past. Though sometimes it's hard to concentrate on the story! . I have felt like you thinking I was doomed to die, until I reached a certain age and thought 'hang on! I'm still here! If i've lasted this long I must be O.k!' Luckkily I don't get the doomed feeling now, just have spurts of irrational contamination issues Bleh!
I hope this helps a little and congratulations again on your pregnancy state!

Thankyou, it seems to get worse when my fiance goes away to work, I'll be fine for a couple of weeks and then I'll have day after day of misery and thinkin I'm dying! I know it's irrational but I concoct all these physical symptoms like pains in my chest and its probably because I keep jabbing myself to see if its an inside pain or outside , I really think ( for want of a better phrase) that I am fucked in the head! Excuse my French, I'm just waiting on some cognitive behavioral therapy

I like your phrase! Yeah, pokin's not good. I used to think is it hurting because I've poked it? is it hurting because there is something wrong? or is it really hurting, is that what its supposed to feel like? (Are thighs supposed to hurt if you press them there?) Once I even went to an emergency doctors on holiday because I thought that I felt a lump where I presumed my overies were and if I poked it hard it hurt (duh obviosly!)and pannicked. when I got examined it turned out it was my poo travelling around my intestines. Big Embarrasment!
Hope you get sorted with C.B.T. I know this may sound a bit corny and twee but do you have a photo of your fiance that you could talk to when he is away and pretend that he answers you or think what he may say in reply. (maybe this is a bit mad !) Maybe just talk and not answer!!

I know exactly what you mean. I have been struck with the same "thing" with out warning for months now. Walking around the supermarket for example - out of nowhere I suddenly feel like I'm observing everyone through a pane of glass, kind outside of my head and floaty. It normally then builds up, like a buzzing in my head until something happens that triggers tears. After a few horrible months I went to the doctors yesterday, he asked if I suffered from anxiety and al I could say was "I'm not sure", cry and describe what I've just said. I walked away with a prescription for Citalapram and Diazepam which I took for the fist time last night. I feel a bit bemused by the whole thing :(
I hope you start to feel better soon. One thing the Doctor said that did make sense is that at the moment it may feel like you will ever feel "normal" again - but you will, it may just take a while xxx

Although anxiety is controlled by your mind, thoughts etc, the feelings are incredibly physical. I have been getting anxiety/panic attacks for the last 7 years. A couple of years ago, I allowed them to get the better of me and I am now agoraphobic. I am currently at a stage where I am scared to go out (I can manage small journeys of 5-10 mins away, but even these can be a struggle), but I am also scared of being stuck in for the rest of my life.

The key to getting over anxiety (which I can say as a complete hypocrite because I have yet to manage it myself!!) is to ignore it and not give it any power over you. When you get those feelings ignore them and carry on with whatever you are doing. Don't expect them to disappear overnight, but keep ignoring and they will lessen.

There are some great books that may be of use to you. Amazon do a pretty large range. But don't expect a miracle cure, there isn't one-I know, I've been waiting a long time!!

My anxiety is currently worse than what is was because I am nearly 19 weeks pregnant. It can be connected to your hormones too. Do you ever find you are more anxious around the time your period is due? I had just started CBT a week before I found out I was pregnant, but had to stop as the therapist didn't think it was a good idea to do any exposure work that would stress me as this could affect the baby. I am hoping to go back after the birth, but in the meantime, I just try and get out every day even if it is to take DS to school and get the papers from the corner shop.

Sorry for the essay, I just always feel like I need to warn people not to make their world smaller by avoiding the places they are anxious. It is really easy to make your world tiny, but so very difficult to build it back up again. I wouldn't wish anxiety on anyone.

Good luck, you will be ok.