Anxiety out of control

[hn49583]

I've always had anxiety and was on antidepressants about 10 years ago before I had children. They did work well for me but I even have anxiety about going back on them. One of my big anxieties is health and I am worried about side effects as I stupidly read an article about them increasing the risk of tumours.

I am constantly anxious about something. This week it's work I have raised an issue with regarding another department. They were effecting my department from correctly doing our job and I was worried about it getting picked up and my department getting the blame. Now all I have felt is guilt in case someone gets into trouble and worry that it could escalate. It's also hard to prove so I am worried they will come back me due to lack of evidence.

Last week it was an ongoing issue with my family. That's still ongoing but it's like my brain focuses on one thing.

I can't relax I feel like I'm wasting some days not focusing on what I'm actually doing.

Does anyone have any tips/ advice? GPs just prescribe antidepressants I feel like really that is my only answer.

I've always had anxiety

When did you first realise this? Was there a specific incident or a growing awareness? How was your childhood? Sorry for all the questions but finding the root cause is the best way of changing the way you think and behave.

@Eyesopenwideawake there are good question and has me think. It probably started late teens I lost all of my grandparents and a couple of friends died unexpectedly within a few years. I think this started my health anxiety as I became very aware of death.

I would say my childhood was fine. No big issues although my parents very much put each other above us and I often didn't go to them for help with issues.

Now my anxiety seems to have spiralled into other areas of my life. Anything that happens I go to worst case scenario and convince myself it will happen.

I think this started my health anxiety as I became very aware of death.

I think you are spot on in your analysis. As a result of your experiences a part of your subconscious mind became hyper-focused on health, in the mistaken belief that this vigilance is necessary in order to protect you. All it's actually doing is keeping you in constant state of fear, which in itself is not great for your health.

It IS possible to turn off this and bring the anxiety down to a normal level - it is a necessary emotion but should bumble along at a 1 or 2 on a scale of 10, not a constant 9 or 10. My AMA on remedial hypnosis has lots of info.

Thank you @Eyesopenwideawake I will have a read now!

Sorry to hear this OP. I have been looking for 'solutions' too as I don't really want medication. Like you, I feel like I always have something that I'm worrying about. Recently I realised - there's no real point solving one worry as I'll just find something else to worry about!