Scared of pretty much everything

[Amiayoungmumtho]

Just wondering if anyone has had similar experience or any advice.
I seem to have a fear of everything and it's really starting to get to me.
I used to enjoy things in life and now I feel like everything just fills me with fear if I'm not just at home or at work.
I've always suffered with anxiety but this is a new realization that things I used to enjoy I now avoid through fear. For example driving, I haven't driven properly in years now, horse riding, I never realized I was now scared of this until today.
I feel like I just avoid doing anything at all now and I'm only comfortable in my own home...
I've tried getting back into driving a few times, I even took refresher lessons and the instructor even said he can't help me because there's nothing wrong with my driving it's a psychological thing..

I'm sorry. Sounds like you were trying to do the right thing in having refresher lessons for driving for ins, I'm sorry that the instructor didn't understand and probably made the situation feel worse! Have you had any therapy? Your anxiety is standing in the way of your full enjoyment of life, it does sound serious and like you need help. I hope you get some more advice here and take care x

Sounds like you're scared about being scared, rather than scared of particular activities; it's very, very common to be anxious about anxiety.

What happens is there's a trigger - maybe a near miss in your car or your horse spooked at something - and your mind reminds you of this next time you get in the car or mount up (conveniently forgetting about the hundreds of times you've done both before with absolutely no mishaps). Because your senses are alerted from that memory, your body starts to react; a faster heartbeat, shallower breathing and trembling. Your mind takes that as proof positive that something bad is about to happen and you're into the anxiety cycle, despite nothing actually happening.

CBT, hypnotherapy or other types of therapy can help you understand the links between thoughts, emotions (fear and anxiety) actions and consequences.