catlover1
04-01-15, 22:51
Hi everyone,
I’m sorry if this is a bit long! I’ve been a member of the forum for a while but this is the first time I’ve decided to post. I just need a bit of advice about what I should do because I’m not sure if I have an anxiety disorder or if I’m just overreacting, and I just wondered what other people thought about my situation.
I’m 18 years old and am currently studying for A levels. I’ve always worried more than my friends but things have got worse. Last March a lot of things happened at once and I got really stressed out over them all and since then I just can’t get back in the swing of things. At first I thought I would feel better after I had the summer holidays but in July I started having horrible intrusive thoughts. They used to be in my mind pretty much all the time and at first I couldn’t eat or sleep because they scared me so much, but after researching thought suppression I came across information on OCD, and found out my thoughts were similar to this, even though I’ve never really had compulsions. I also came across information on other mental health illnesses, especially bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, and everyday since then I’ve been constantly asking myself “do I have symptoms of this?”
I have some symptoms that I know could be related to anxiety as I have bloating, muscle tension and shortness of breath most days now, and I also often get nausea, dizziness, depersonalisation, lightheadedness, tightness in my chest, heart palpitations and shaking hands, but these symptoms tend to come and go. I also find that some symptoms change depending on my stress levels: when I’m stressed I overeat and sleep more, but when I’m really worried I lose my appetite completely and get insomnia.
Since all of this started happening I’ve become increasingly disinterested in life and unmotivated to do things. Worrying about things pulls me in different directions and I’m always doubting myself, for example when I procrastinate (which I end up doing a lot now because I find it easier than facing the worry) I think I must be in the prodromal stage of schizophrenia but if I start doing things then I immediately think I’m hypomanic. I know it probably sounds ridiculous but these thoughts just scare me so much.
I used to worry all the time about until I didn’t even know why I was worried sometimes but now I’m either really worried or just don’t care. I used to get good grades at school but I’ve dropped about 4 grades this year because even when I try and work I can’t concentrate, and I can’t keep up with a lot of my other responsibilities. It’s like my mind shoves the worry out a lot of the time (about everyday stuff, intrusive thoughts are nearly always there) but when I’m ready to try and sort my life out I just can’t handle it and I just procrastinate again rather than solving problems.
If you’ve read all of this, thank you so much! I’m sorry it’s long. If you have any thoughts please let me know, I really don’t know what to do at all and I’m worried that I’m just overreacting, feeling sorry for myself and being lazy, and if this is the case obviously I need to get it sorted out asap before it gets any worse.
I’m sorry if this is a bit long! I’ve been a member of the forum for a while but this is the first time I’ve decided to post. I just need a bit of advice about what I should do because I’m not sure if I have an anxiety disorder or if I’m just overreacting, and I just wondered what other people thought about my situation.
I’m 18 years old and am currently studying for A levels. I’ve always worried more than my friends but things have got worse. Last March a lot of things happened at once and I got really stressed out over them all and since then I just can’t get back in the swing of things. At first I thought I would feel better after I had the summer holidays but in July I started having horrible intrusive thoughts. They used to be in my mind pretty much all the time and at first I couldn’t eat or sleep because they scared me so much, but after researching thought suppression I came across information on OCD, and found out my thoughts were similar to this, even though I’ve never really had compulsions. I also came across information on other mental health illnesses, especially bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, and everyday since then I’ve been constantly asking myself “do I have symptoms of this?”
I have some symptoms that I know could be related to anxiety as I have bloating, muscle tension and shortness of breath most days now, and I also often get nausea, dizziness, depersonalisation, lightheadedness, tightness in my chest, heart palpitations and shaking hands, but these symptoms tend to come and go. I also find that some symptoms change depending on my stress levels: when I’m stressed I overeat and sleep more, but when I’m really worried I lose my appetite completely and get insomnia.
Since all of this started happening I’ve become increasingly disinterested in life and unmotivated to do things. Worrying about things pulls me in different directions and I’m always doubting myself, for example when I procrastinate (which I end up doing a lot now because I find it easier than facing the worry) I think I must be in the prodromal stage of schizophrenia but if I start doing things then I immediately think I’m hypomanic. I know it probably sounds ridiculous but these thoughts just scare me so much.
I used to worry all the time about until I didn’t even know why I was worried sometimes but now I’m either really worried or just don’t care. I used to get good grades at school but I’ve dropped about 4 grades this year because even when I try and work I can’t concentrate, and I can’t keep up with a lot of my other responsibilities. It’s like my mind shoves the worry out a lot of the time (about everyday stuff, intrusive thoughts are nearly always there) but when I’m ready to try and sort my life out I just can’t handle it and I just procrastinate again rather than solving problems.
If you’ve read all of this, thank you so much! I’m sorry it’s long. If you have any thoughts please let me know, I really don’t know what to do at all and I’m worried that I’m just overreacting, feeling sorry for myself and being lazy, and if this is the case obviously I need to get it sorted out asap before it gets any worse.