Anxiety attack - negative thoughts/self talk

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Hi
I think I have anxiety. I also have negative self talk in my head eg if something has gone badly or I’ve done something stupid during the day, I mull it over and over in my head beating myself up for it. It’s an awful habit that I’m trying my best to stop.

On my particularly anxious days, when I’m alone, I say some of these things outloud. I don’t mean to actually speak, just think, but if I’m alone sometimes the words come out. Usually not a whole sentence, as after a word or two I realise I’ve spoken it outloud and stop myself. It never happens when I’m with others.

I feel that this is a symptom of my anxiety, but when I google I can’t find anything on it. All I find are mentions of disassociative disorders (which I don’t have - I’m fully present in the moment, just some of my not so nice thoughts spill out into actual words).

Wondering if anyone has experienced similar and if you’ve ever found a name for this?

This seems to be how an “attack of anxiety” manifests in me. I don’t seem to fit with the classical description of anxiety attacks.

Thanks.

I would say what you're describing in your first paragraph is rumination, which can definitely be a symptom of anxiety and various related disorders, although obviously I'm not going to diagnose you with anything! I would recommend seeing your GP if it's taking up a lot of your time and causing distress. They might refer you to a service or direct you to online resources that can help you deal with such thinking.

I have OCD and I get stuck doing this as well; I also speak out loud in little outbursts that just happen without me meaning to do it, or do sort of jerking movements with my hands, or do a sudden intake of breath, bite my lip, screw up my eyes. They are kind of like tics, but I don't know if they technically are. I've rationalised them as being me subconsciously trying to sort of shock myself out of the thinking with an out-loud noise or sudden motion, because although I often blurt out the words in my head at that moment, I also sometimes tell myself to shut up, or say no! or oi! Unfortunately not only when I'm alone. Like you say, it just spills out. I agree with you that doesn't sound like dissociation (which I also experience); it's also not part of a panic attack unless there's a hell of a lot else going on at the same time. Anxiety attack is not a medical term, so you could call it that to yourself if that's what best describes it for you. People seem to use the term anxiety attack to mean whatever they want, including as a synonym for panic attack, or as a less-serious panic attack but, as I say, it's not really a thing.

Hi OP,
Yes a critical inner voice is very common particularly amongst social anxiety sufferers.
The best approach I have found is not to try and silence or ignore the voice but when you're in a quiet, relaxed place to let the inner voice have free reign to vent, become the critical voice because it is part of you and until you listen to what it has to say you don't know what beliefs you have and what you need to work on changing.
The theory is outlined in this book [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Conquer-Your-Critical-Inner-Voice/dp/1572242876]