Anxiety - don’t think this is normal

[Despairsometimes123]

I think my anxiety might be getting a little out of control.
I check things a lot eg, fridge, power points, etc numerous time before bed. When sending emails at work I check and check, sometimes not believing what right in front of me, before I press send. The thought of ever staring a new job cripples me with terror.
I like lockdown as I don’t have to make decisions about what to do. I imagine all sorts of “what if” situations for things a long way in the future.
I’ve restarted Citalopram- just taking 5mg a day as I seem quite sensitive to it. Have nobody in RL to talk to about this. Just hoping for someone to “talk” to.

You're right, you are a bit out of control - the good news is that you've recognised it and realise you need to change the way you think.

There's a quote from Mark Twain - “I’ve suffered a great many catastrophes in my life. Most of them never happened.”

Our thoughts are amazing, they can conjure up every possible outcome to every single action. But thoughts aren't facts; they are just thoughts - nothing more than ideas, based on our experiences, judgements and opinions.

Have a read of this guide;

www.getselfhelp.co.ukdocs/SelfHelpCourse.pdf

Thank you Sarahlou

@Despairsometimes123
The joys of ocd 😣. I go through periods of the same. Have done for years but it doesn’t have to be this way.
If someone else was telling you this before this started happening to you what would you say?... More than lightly there is no need to feel that way, you know your own mind, you have checked the email already, other people don’t check and recheck over and over and that’s because there really isn’t any need to! You know that deep down.
When you feel positive own day make a promise to yourself you will check an email twice and press send, no ifs or buts. Do it for a couple of days. Then check once but don’t be tempted to recheck! It will always be this way unless you put your foot down on your ocd...
That’s my advice anyway!!
Good look with it x

Same goes for checking electrics, that’s my main thing. Say out loud off and know when you say it 100% it’s off. I know what you mean about looking and seeing it’s off but it almost like your mind isn’t accepting it!
If anyone else lives with you get them to do it with you and actually listen to them, go round each appliance and together look and accept it’s off - no rechecking - because you don’t need to and you know it!

I suffer the same with emails and I have a deep rooted terror of making mistakes at work. At my worst I can check emails and attachments 20 times before hitting send. I’ve been on 10mg of Citalopram for the last year, but coming out of my lockdown routine has triggered somewhat of a relapse.

@Anactoria

I suffer the same with emails and I have a deep rooted terror of making mistakes at work. At my worst I can check emails and attachments 20 times before hitting send. I’ve been on 10mg of Citalopram for the last year, but coming out of my lockdown routine has triggered somewhat of a relapse.

It’s awful isn’t it. Simple things can take so much longer than they should. Has Citalopram helped?

I hear you OP, I am/was exactly the same - I have generalised anxiety disorder.

I have tried lots of different therapies (talking therapies, CBT, EMDR and IEMT). The IEMT particular was hugely helpful in resolving a lot of the root causes of my chronic anxiety (but different types of therapy will work for different people ofc)

GAD is now under control for the first time in my life, and it’s so weird still to know this is how people usually feel!

It’s great you’ve recognised it and started taking medication as that will help - but also speak to your GP to be referred for therapy to learn some coping techniques

This is one of my favourite techniques, if you follow the video it’s something you can learn yourself -

I recently had to write an essay on OCD and used these references;

1. www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/obssessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd.htm
2. adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/treatments-for-ocd
3. iocdf.org/about-ocd/what-causes-ocd/
4. www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/treatments-for-ocd/#:~:text=Exposure%20and%20response%20prevention%20(ERP)%20is%20specifically%20designed%20for%20OCD,usually%20make%20you%20feel%20anxious.
5. www.nhs.uk/conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/treatment/
6. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6343408/
7. www.choosingtherapy.com/exposure-and-response-prevention-therapy/

Lots there to help you understand what OCD is and how to treat it (although I would recommend some type of therapy to help you).

I've had minor OCD-type stuff, still goes on from time to time (compulsive checking, esp. when going to bed, when waking up in the night), we also have significant OCD in the wider family. And masses of anxiety issues through my family of origin.

You are not 'abnormal' in any way, lots of people experience the same things you mentioned, please don't beat yourself up about it. But realise that there is help - some of the therapies that other posters have mentioned on here, for starters - and to get and feel better involves reaching out for help.

Thanks for all the comments. Had a chat with my gp today - all quite hurried. He told me it kept taking Citalopram and review in a months.

I've never been diagnosed with it but I've always had some form of GAD. I've been a worrier all my life.
Well done with the citalopram. I'm on 30mg now. It took alot of time and courage to go onto it but it has made a massive difference.
My problem is health mostly. I struggle with emetophobia and any little thing my mind races and I diagnose myself with cancer. It's brutal. I've also tried CBT and various others but I just find it takes alot of willpower to stick with the techniques.

I’m a bit worried I might be allergic to the Citalopram though as the first few days I was itchy, then was ok and today noticed my face is a bit bumpy....