Constant feelings of guilt and dread

[Youngatheart00]

The last few days I’ve been really struggling with constant feelings of guilt and pit of the stomach dread.

I never feel like I’m doing enough at work, I’ve been so busy my brain is full but when I take a break I feel so guilty. I have times of complete brain fog and constant imposter syndrome.

I’ve been helping out an old lady with shopping for the past 3 months who is now in hospital (I raised the alarm last Friday and have heard little since) so I’m worried about her and struggling to get an update.

I constantly feel a sense of unease and doom even when I’m sitting in the sun trying to wind down for a few minutes. I don’t seem to be able to rest easy, and although I’m sleeping ok I wake up and the dread returns.

Any coping strategies to try and retrain my brain?

Oh I hate that dread feeling- it's like a constant background general anxiety. I get it every day. The only thing that works is distracting myself and medication. Something like sorting/cleaning out your cupboards, doing a jigsaw, watching youtube videos. Anythign that refocuses your attention outwardly rather than on how you are feeling.

Thanks @username108 you’re right that keeping busy helps. But it’s in the downtime in finding it impossible to relax and recharge

I feel like this too, it’s horrible. I feel like something bad is going to happen and I feel nervous all the time. It’s worst in the morning when I wake up, and then it stays with me all day until I go to sleep at night. The only time I get a break from it is when I’m asleep.
I could be doing something really nice like playing in the garden in the sunshine with my children and the feelings of dread are still there. There’s no escape from my feelings at all.

Alcohol helps take away the dread feeling and fill me with a warmth but I know that’s not a good every day coping strategy. I rarely drink enough to get drunk and even more rarely get a hangover but would love to go alcohol free to see if it helps with the anxiety. But then I need another coping strategy.

I’ve actually started doing some basic yoga (I’m v unfit) most mornings which help as while I’m doing it I have to concentrate on the poses and breathing so it does temporarily quiet the dread.