Anxiety over intrusive thoughts

[Pink Flower]

I have recently joined No More Panic to try and find more information about Anxiety, Ocd and the different types.

I have always been an anxious person {itÂ’s in the genes) but it wasnÂ’t until I had my baby 30 years ago that I had post natal depression.

Fast forward to now I have been on a low dose of antidepressant on and off for about 15 years as my dr said I would probably need to be on a low dose for the rest of my life as itÂ’s the kind of person I am. I have been experiencing stress at work sinceSeptember then I was quite poorly with a virus and a stressful event happened. Then out of nowhere on New Years Day I had an intrusive thought come into my head for no reason about a family member and since then all day every day I cannot get these thoughts out of my head. . it is the thoughts now which are causing me so much anxiety and stress. I have lost my appetite, I canÂ’t go to sleep until the early hours, keep waking up. I have withdrawn from socialising. My dr upped my dose on 23/12/24 from 50mg to 100mg then I had a follow up appointment 3weeks later and said I was still feeling the same so he upped them again to 150mg which is the highest I have been on in the past and they worked for me. I mentioned to him about these intrusive thoughts and could it be harm ocd and he said IÂ’ve never heard of that.

Fast forward to 31/01 and I rang the Drs for an emergency app because I said to the receptionist I felt like I was having a mental breakdown so I had an appointment that afternoon. He has also referred me to the mental health crisis team who he said will contact me which they since have. I dont want to be sectioned or labelled as mad. I just want to know whats caused these thoughts to come out of nowhere towards a loved one and to help me get better

I am just going to be assessed for talking therapies so really hoping this will help.

Sorry for the long message. I am also trawling Google hundreds and hundreds of times to try and find the answer and to see if my story is similar to anyone else

Does anyone else experience what I have described?

Do I have OCD?? I’m feeling like its pulling me apart 😥

Thankyou for taking the time to read this

[venusbluejeans]

Hiya Pink Flower and welcome to NMP

Why not take a look at our articles on our home page, they contain a wealth of information and
are a great starting place for your time on the forum.

I hope you find the as site helpful and informative as I have and that you get the help and
support you need here and hope that you meet a few friends along the way

[YoullNeverWalkAlone]

Hi Pink flower just read your message but don't really want to answer it here as it's in the wrong place for messages, maybe Nicola or another admin could put it put in GAD or copy and paste your message and put it in yourself, that way more people will see it and get back to you xxxx

[Pink Flower]

Thankyou. I am new here so not really sure what to do. I will try and copy and paste it like you suggested xx

[nomorepanic]

Thread merged for you

[YoullNeverWalkAlone]

Hi Pink flower....
Intrusive thoughts are very common with anxiety, even thoughts about loved ones, family, children etc and they can be horrible, scary thoughts that are totally out of character for you, buts that's all they are, thoughts, they are not reality cause you would never act on those thoughts.
It is a kind of obsession when a thought preoccupies your mind to an abnormal degree and that's exactly what can happen to a sensitised person suffering from mental fatigue, which you yourself have said you've been struggling for a while now.....
You are definitely not going mad or be labelled as mad or be sectioned, you have anxiety and what your doing is adding more tension by fearing these thoughts and not letting them come and just go...just try to dismiss them, they have no importance, they are just horrible thoughts in a very tired mind, by accepting this you will release some of the tension and fear....and eventually they will just come and then disappear as quickly as they came.....
You are not on your own with this Pink Flower, we all get these thoughts....but remember they are NOT reality....
Hope this helps and you start feeling better soon xxxx

[Pink Flower]

Youwillneverwalkalone

Thankyou for replying to my post. It makes so much sense what you are saying.

Anxiety just takes over. I am trying so hard to overcome this I’m reaching out to all the support I have been given as I dont want to be like this anymore as it’s debilitating

Thankyou once again for taking the time to read my post and replying

[YoullNeverWalkAlone]

Hi Pink flower....
Your very welcome, your right sometimes anxiety just gets the better of us, that's when we have to brush ourselves down, remind ourselves that the thoughts, feelings and symptoms we are experiencing are only normal reaction's to both a sensitised body and mind and if we keep how we respond to those anxiety thoughts and symptoms to a controlled level and not respond with more fear then they will back off more quickly and not be as intense....A bit like standing up to a bully....
I hope I made some sense....xxx

[Pink Flower]

Hi youwillneverwalkalone

I am really trying not to respond to these thoughts but it’s when I feel like an impulse that’s what frightens me even more (I know I would never act on these thoughts, it’s just that horrible impulse feeling). I really am trying as it’s not going to drag me down any further.

What you say definitely makes sense.

Thankyou once again for your support xx

[Pink Flower]

Just need to share this

Today is a better day for me. I have had a long assessment with talking therapies and I am ticking the boxes for OCD and GAD. I felt so much better after talking to her. I hope it continues. Just dreading when the demon strikes again as I felt uplifted after the assessment.

The only downside is the waiting list which could be 6 months.

Thankyou for reading🌸