Aa
strange worries
Along with my anxiety I get these irrational worries that make no sense or are so far fetched that its odd to me that I worry. I'm always worried about a fire starting in my home. My dad is a firefighter and I've heard some weird stories. I have 3 cats who are like my kids so whenever I'm not home I constantly obsess over if I turned off the coffee pot or blew out the candles and I'm scared something will catch fire and my cats will be trapped inside.
I also worry about my family. I just read a news article about a father and don dieing of a heart attack within minutes of each other, the son was 54 and my dad is 55 and he's in great physical shape but I still worry. Right now I'm waiting on him to get home from a run and he's running late and isn't answering his phone and it makes me worry that something happened to him on his run and I don't know about it. These fears are unfounded. My dad has never had health problems and I'm incredibly meticulous about turning things off in my home and blowing candles off. I've never left anything on and never had a fire in my home.
How can I stop these unnecessary worries and fears? They add stress that I don't need in my life. I know that these worries are just a perfect example of GAD but how do I get them to stop?? I see a therapist weekly and ill be fine a day or 2 after the appointment but then go right back to my anxious state until the next appointment.
I also worry about my family. I just read a news article about a father and don dieing of a heart attack within minutes of each other, the son was 54 and my dad is 55 and he's in great physical shape but I still worry. Right now I'm waiting on him to get home from a run and he's running late and isn't answering his phone and it makes me worry that something happened to him on his run and I don't know about it. These fears are unfounded. My dad has never had health problems and I'm incredibly meticulous about turning things off in my home and blowing candles off. I've never left anything on and never had a fire in my home.
How can I stop these unnecessary worries and fears? They add stress that I don't need in my life. I know that these worries are just a perfect example of GAD but how do I get them to stop?? I see a therapist weekly and ill be fine a day or 2 after the appointment but then go right back to my anxious state until the next appointment.
I can't see another therapist. My insurance ended at the end of june and my doc is seeing me for free because she didn't want to lose me as a patient. We've developed a great friendship since the start of my therapy last year so I don't want to give that up either because that really helps. I take my xanax as needed and its been a great help. I refuse the ssris. I've had nothing but bad experiences with them. The fear of fire is my largest concern. I think because that news article is so fresh in my mind is why I'm worrying about my parents' health. I've had ocd tendencies since I was a kid. I had a crazy bedtime ritual when I was a child that took years for my mom to stop. I've never actually addressed the ocd, just the anxiety. I was doing so well btween february and april...I really thought I was making a great recovery then it started to act up again. I'm incredibly disappointed.
I will bring up the ocd with my therapist tomm though. I've never actually even discussed it because it was never a big deal. But now, having to stop my errands and driving all the way home for no reason is sending a red flag for me. I just don't know the best way to approach this new and unwanted aspect of my anxiety.
Although I must mention I've seen a dramatic improvement from last year. Last year at this time I was almost completely housebound but now I'm out driving alone, going to the store alone, working a lot and putting some weight back on. So before I get myself all worked up over this, I'll stop to think about the incredible progress I have made.
I will bring up the ocd with my therapist tomm though. I've never actually even discussed it because it was never a big deal. But now, having to stop my errands and driving all the way home for no reason is sending a red flag for me. I just don't know the best way to approach this new and unwanted aspect of my anxiety.
Although I must mention I've seen a dramatic improvement from last year. Last year at this time I was almost completely housebound but now I'm out driving alone, going to the store alone, working a lot and putting some weight back on. So before I get myself all worked up over this, I'll stop to think about the incredible progress I have made.
Heya Erin...I read about the father/son thing in our paper today, that was just crazy! Do you know how insanely unlikely that is?? The odds of something like that happening are astounding. I'm not always the most religious person, but I beleive God really had a plan making that happen for some reason. The poor family...I couldn't imagine. It made me really sad reading about it.
It sounds as though you have some OCD tendencies going on, with the intrusive thoughts and then the compulsions (the "checking"). I think this is something that you need to mention to your doctor. Sometimes our anxiety just gets the best of us, but typically, intrusive thoughts related to panic and anxiety don't come with the compulsions like OCD. For instance..a person with anxiety and panic may fixate on germs, but they don't demonstrate the excessive handwashing that someone with OCD would (which would be the complulsion).
You've been having a rough time lately, I know you have a lot going on...I think you need to get back with your doc and start back into some intensive treatment, medications if necessary. I know you're in therapy, but do you feel it is helping? Maybe you should look into a different therapist as well?
I know it's rough...but you gotta get out there and get some help...you're just spinning in circles hon!
Hang in there!
It sounds as though you have some OCD tendencies going on, with the intrusive thoughts and then the compulsions (the "checking"). I think this is something that you need to mention to your doctor. Sometimes our anxiety just gets the best of us, but typically, intrusive thoughts related to panic and anxiety don't come with the compulsions like OCD. For instance..a person with anxiety and panic may fixate on germs, but they don't demonstrate the excessive handwashing that someone with OCD would (which would be the complulsion).
You've been having a rough time lately, I know you have a lot going on...I think you need to get back with your doc and start back into some intensive treatment, medications if necessary. I know you're in therapy, but do you feel it is helping? Maybe you should look into a different therapist as well?
I know it's rough...but you gotta get out there and get some help...you're just spinning in circles hon!
Hang in there!
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