Feeling weird

Today I've been feeling as if I'm living in my own world. Like when I look at other people I can't stop thinking about how they have a life just like mine, how there's 9 billion people in the world living this life. I don't know if it's my anxiety or obsessiveness but this idea just overwhelms me to a point where I fear leaving my own house. Any suggestions to help ease this thinking?

Hi NB.,

Strange, obsessive, intrusive bothersome thoughts go hand in hand with anxiety some of the time.

Even people who don't have anxiety issues can experience this in times of high stress, so know that it is pretty common.

When it gets to the point of interfering with your life or affecting your happiness, then it is time to take steps toward help.

We do have some therapy worksheets that you can download and try. These can help you to work through the thoughts that are bothering you. Give this a try and see how you do.

Therapy Work Sheets:

http://www.get.gg/freedownloads2.htm

Distraction is another tactic that helps. Whenever you are suffering with worrisome thoughts, divert your attention to something else, and do your best to ignore the thinking patterns.  

If neither of these things help, then consider finding someone to talk to about these issues. Therapy has helped many people with similar challenges.

Keep talking with us as well. We understand, care and will be here to support anytime.:)

S.C.

Nick,

I remember from my panicky days how I felt different and disconnected. And this feeling different and disconnection totally charged up my panic. It went through the roof! Making me feel even more disconnected. This is because anxiety is what we feel when we are disconnected. Anxiety comes from a feeling of separation. That there is something missing in us that doesn’t allow us to handle situations. A false assumption that we are different than other people (thus separate).

Feeling disconnected is a very scary illusion.

It feels so much like it is possible we won’t come back to ourselves. Like our sanity is about to go off a cliff somewhere, never to return. This is terrifying! And feeds the anxiety. An already huge snow ball, rolling around, gathering yet a wider girth. Intense panic ensues.

If your panic is this intense, stop and remind yourself that this is just panic, not death, not psychosis, not a cliff. Picture a red stop sign in your mind and concentrate on kicking the anxiety to the curb.

We have some great resources available in our resource thread on the very 1st page of this forum; do take a look and try a couple of ideas that may appeal to you.

Keep talking to us and know that we are here to support you.

Kindly,

Kitt

 

Nick- do you have Xanax for when you start to feel the anxiety? What about a therapist? Dude. I'm in your shoes too. It's so so gross but NOT deadly and TREATABLE. It IS fixable. Anxiety will always be part of our lives, it's natural and human, just as it is to laugh or cry. The problem is when we let our thoughts get the best of us or stuff crap away. With medications, therapy, support, etc, it IS manageable and will NOT always be this way. Sometimes I think God/Universe brings struggle to us not bc it wants us to hurt but without the struggle, we wouldn't know our strengths. I know you may not believe that, I'm in it too presently so I'm speaking from knowing how you feel. Most of my 43 yrs were not like this but looking back at every time, I see I was being spoken too. Unfortunately, I was always "lucky" & a med worked for me quickly and I didn't have to do much "work", aka soul searching, practicing coping skills etc. Badda bing, it slapped me in my face several months ago.

You WILL get over this and like any painful time in our life, God has a way of taking the stinger out of much pain and IF we do the work, practicing coping skills, facing fears, talking, therapy, taking care of our bodies, we will have much easier days when adversity comes into our lives. Hang in there & just keep posting and get yourself a therapist if possible. If not, check out the resources they have here and DO THEM. It may not feel like it's helping at first but do the work anyway.

Hugs!

-Lisa

N.B.

That could be so...

However...I also had that advice from my first therapist, and I thought...'How could support be anything but good?'

So I promptly ignored his advice.

I credit this forum to much of my recovery and ongoing success of my anxiety management...

...so the experts are always right about everything...just sayin'!!

Perhaps we will talk again, maybe not...it's your call.

Know however that you are always welcome. :)

S.C.