Cannot cope if have something planned

[ShakyBake]

Or to be more precise, cannot relax/sleep if I have any kind of event upcoming. As I've got older (although I've never been great at it throughout life) I have increasingly found it harder to zone out and not become anxious. I'm lucky in that I've retired now but if I have anything planned outside of the norm of a usual stress free day, I deal with it appalling (by not sleeping the night before because I'm thinking on things). Can anyone relate?

If I know I need to get up earlier than normal, I often wake several times before the alarm and find it hard to get back to sleep. I think its peri related in my case.

I don't fret and worry about something different though. Do you have any deficiencies or health concerns?

Thank you.
I don't think so, I'm active physically and have a good diet and healthy weight, no medication but then I've not been to doctors for years so I don't know. People say Don't worry and Don't think on things but it's not that easy, at least I can't seem to be normal/relaxed until the event is over. What's concerning is the event might not be anything major at all, even quite enjoyable when I'm doing it. - it's just the lead up and the actual thinking of it I find hard

Oh me too. Even things I have arranged and want to do. I wake up and my heart sinks at the thought of doing something other than my usual routine.

Thank you.
As in, I'm not pleased you have it too just that I'm not alone in this

I had exactly this. I couldn't sleep if I had anything out of the ordinary happening the next day. It was so much worse if whatever it was involved a long drive too. Basically I wouldnt be able to sleep and then would be freaking out that I wasnt sleeping and would be driving tired. It got to the point where I was worrying about events months in advance. I also began to enjoy social events that we hosted much less than I used to. The anxiety created by the approaching event cancelled out any enjoyment overall.

I did think the increased anxiety could be linked to menopause (although I have suffered with periods of anxiety in the past) so I thought I had to wait for other symptoms to be able to go on HRT. Then one day it dawned on me I could just get the anxiety dealt with. I started Sertraline just over a year ago and it was literally life changing. My sleep improved loads and day to day anxiety is so much less.

Thank you very much for that reply, it has helped me and I will make an appointment (no doubt I will not be sleeping the night before :(

Let us know how you get on op

Yes I feel the same. It's exhausting 😞

Yes if I have a holiday coming up , I sleep dreadfully for weeks fretting over what to pack, it’s ridiculous.

I'm really glad you're going to do that. I was excited to have an appointment, hopefully you'll feel the same, I knew it was going to help.

This is me too. Even things I’m looking forward to

@GargoylesofBeelzebub Its so annoying isn't it? 😣 Like life isn't enough to deal with!

Me too, even something simple like driving to the train station, parking, buying the train ticket, picking where to sit on the train has me over thinking every stage.

So many parts of a simple journey never used to enter my head. Now I'm trying to figure out which carriage is nearest where the ticket inspector hides out incase someone starts kicking off. Making sure I sit in the aisle seat so no weirdo man can block me in the window seat (I'm super rural so trains usually have loads of spare seats, obvs I wouldn't stop someone from having a seat if it was rush hour).

No reason for any of this except losing the confidence of youth and turning middle aged.