orchid
08-09-09, 23:37
Hi all,
I could do with a little empathy and advice from some fellow anxiety-sufferers. I have had on and off periods of general anxiety for a number of years but mostly when I have stressful things (good and bad!) going on in my life. At these times the thing that 'tips me over' into full-on anxiety is when I get scared that there's something terribly and inherently wrong with me like OCD/depression/some other mental affliction. Of course, when I get scared these fears just stick and repeat and intrude and so on, which in my head just confirms them, a self-fulfilling prophecy!
One thing I'm really trying to understand is whether scary/upsetting/intrusive/repetitive thoughts are just part and parcel of general anxiety or whether they are always something more? In particular, are they always indicative of OCD? I don't think I have any compulsions other than ruminating, but is that just part of general anxiety too?
I have some good coping mechanisms for anxiety that have worked for me in the past, mainly a combination of mindfullness, de-stressing my life where possible and living life to the full. This has worked wonders - the anxiety dissipates and the scary thoughts fade and vanish or are desensitised. I have had long periods of freedom so I know it works, at least as long as I can keep it up!
But when stress mounts up again the thoughts and anxiety can come back. So what I'm trying to understand is, does this mean I have an underlying problem that needs some kind of intensive, expensive and time-consuming therapy? Or am I doing just fine but am human so can slip sometimes, and should have faith in my current techniques, just keep practicing them?
To be honest, this question is the main thing that gets in the way of my 'recovery' each time I have an anxious spell, so I'd love to be able to start to put it to bed! When I get a new anxious thought/spell it lasts about as long as I worry about it and whether I'm treating it right, and then when I stop this and get on with implementing my techniques I get better. I guess it's just the fact that it can come back again that makes me think 'I haven't cured it, this doesn't work, there must be something seriously wrong with me!'
Maybe I'm looking for an elusive cure when management is the correct option, and if I can do that already I should trust in that and carry on. Maybe I know the answers to my questions already but just need a bit of moral support?!! I guess a lot of this is tied up with worry, perfectionism and anxious thinking, but I just so want to do the right thing!
So what do you all think? Can you relate to this at all? And what advice would you give me?
Many thanks and much love to all fellow-sufferers! x
I could do with a little empathy and advice from some fellow anxiety-sufferers. I have had on and off periods of general anxiety for a number of years but mostly when I have stressful things (good and bad!) going on in my life. At these times the thing that 'tips me over' into full-on anxiety is when I get scared that there's something terribly and inherently wrong with me like OCD/depression/some other mental affliction. Of course, when I get scared these fears just stick and repeat and intrude and so on, which in my head just confirms them, a self-fulfilling prophecy!
One thing I'm really trying to understand is whether scary/upsetting/intrusive/repetitive thoughts are just part and parcel of general anxiety or whether they are always something more? In particular, are they always indicative of OCD? I don't think I have any compulsions other than ruminating, but is that just part of general anxiety too?
I have some good coping mechanisms for anxiety that have worked for me in the past, mainly a combination of mindfullness, de-stressing my life where possible and living life to the full. This has worked wonders - the anxiety dissipates and the scary thoughts fade and vanish or are desensitised. I have had long periods of freedom so I know it works, at least as long as I can keep it up!
But when stress mounts up again the thoughts and anxiety can come back. So what I'm trying to understand is, does this mean I have an underlying problem that needs some kind of intensive, expensive and time-consuming therapy? Or am I doing just fine but am human so can slip sometimes, and should have faith in my current techniques, just keep practicing them?
To be honest, this question is the main thing that gets in the way of my 'recovery' each time I have an anxious spell, so I'd love to be able to start to put it to bed! When I get a new anxious thought/spell it lasts about as long as I worry about it and whether I'm treating it right, and then when I stop this and get on with implementing my techniques I get better. I guess it's just the fact that it can come back again that makes me think 'I haven't cured it, this doesn't work, there must be something seriously wrong with me!'
Maybe I'm looking for an elusive cure when management is the correct option, and if I can do that already I should trust in that and carry on. Maybe I know the answers to my questions already but just need a bit of moral support?!! I guess a lot of this is tied up with worry, perfectionism and anxious thinking, but I just so want to do the right thing!
So what do you all think? Can you relate to this at all? And what advice would you give me?
Many thanks and much love to all fellow-sufferers! x