scared the anxiety is coming back. Please reassure me

[Keepingittogether27]

5 years ago I developed anxiety. I didn't even realise what it was until 2 and a half years in. I just thought everybody struggled like I did. After ages of on and off pills, I had my son and thought I really needed to sort it out for good and enrolled at CBT. It was so good and if I wasn't writing this I would recommend it to anyone. Anyway, because of this I've made some positive changes. Passed my driving test, got a car, got a wonderful rewarding job that I start very soon. But I am terrified. It's keeping me up at night.

I'm getting anxious over the daftest things. For example- I'm scared of parking the car, in case I crash into any others. Scared of reversing out of the space. I'm scared no one will like me at work and I will be crap at my job. For gods sakes im scared that i don't know if I will eat my lunch alone! Im also scared my baby will resent me for sending him to nursery.

I know it's very pathetic asking strangers for reassurance, but even writing it has made me feel a little better
On regards to driving any tips on how to park and how not to die would be greatly appreciated too!

I have zero experience of anxiety disorders Keeping (that's my disclaimer) and there will be other, much more experienced posters along soon...so feel free to ignore my thoughts.

Can you cast your mind back to the CBT? What was it that helped you to the extent that you managed to achieve so much? Is there any way you could grab a couple more sessions (almost a 'booster' type fix).

You've achieved so much and about to experience some significant changes to your life with your new job; everybody has those thoughts about starting somewhere new, I mean, absolutely everybody, seriously.

The driving thing; you've been assessed by an independent examiner on your driving skill. You're obviously completely capable of being a safe, competent driver. It takes confidence in your ability to drive well. You have had this confidence or you would not have passed your test.

You're still building your confidence and getting used to your new car. Be confident and beore you know it, you're car will feel so familiar. It definitely gets easier.

You're going to love your new job, but only if you can relax enough to remember. you were interviewed and came across well enough to be selected...somebody else, who does not know you (like the driving examiner), met you, assessed you and found you to be competent and able...just believe it.

I hope you manage to get some more knowledgable support soon Keeping. Congratulations and good luck in your new job

You need to go back to the CBT. I've a lot of experience with anxiety, and did a ton of therapy.
You know, reassurance is the one thing an anxious person wants but it's never enough, they'll keep seeking it over and over and from different sources.
You cannot ever get past anxiety without going through it. Drive the car, park it, reverse it, feel anxious doing it and when it's done you've taught your brain that there is nothing to fear. You did it. The longer to avoid it the harder it is to do it.
Go back to the CBT.

Sympathies. I had pretty bad anxiety for about a year after ds was born. I never sought help for it (maybe I should have done) but sort of found my way through it by myself. Driving was my worst thing too. And I had health anxiety which started when I had dangerously high blood pressure after giving birth.

One thing I eventually realised was that the biggest thing I was frightened of was the feeling of anxiety itself. And I realised that trying to block or mentally fight off my anxious thoughts made it much much worse. If I just accepted that I felt anxious and said to myself that it was ok to feel anxious, the feelings subsided.

I found the book 'The Compassionate Mind' by Paul Gilbert very helpful in dealing with my anxiety. Also, mindfulness meditation and running helped a lot.

www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/resources/consumers.cfm

Above is a good resource for anxiety as well as other issues.
I second Compassionate Mind below - excellent book. Self compassion is the key - ask yourself if this was happening to a friend now what advice would you give them? I bet you would be more compassionate with them, and self critical to self . Anxiety sometimes comes back, reassure yourself that this is a normal human experience and that you have the skills and ability to work through it again. Have realistic expectations of yourself and remember to notice what you have achieved. Remember thoughts are not facts - how valid are they?

I too find a combination of exercise and mindfulness very helpful. The book I used was Mark Williams and Danny Penman- Mindfulness -finding peace in a frantic world. Be aware that it does take a while to start feeling all the benefits - it's about accepting your emotions rather than getting rid of them. The good thing is it's completely compatible with CBT so you can use all the things you found helpful last time as well