How does anxiety feel to you?

Phil10 said:

How does it feel for everybody else? is it common to suffer this type of anxiety minus any panic attacks?

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My anxiety and fear is worse then panic attacks, at least for the most part. I realize the panic attacks are out of the blue for no reason. However with anxiety, the fear, or the what ifs seem very real.

A long while back, I thought my anxiety only manifested one way - HELL. Then, after speaking about it with my therapist, she helped me realize that I have much more subtle symptoms, and much earlier than I previously thought. Anxiety, for me, often feels like some nagging thought in my mind - back or front - that just won't shut up.

It's also evolved over the years. When I first began experiencing panic attacks, they were still extremely uncomfortable, but I also somehow - in some odd way - got some satisfaction from them. They almost "felt good", if that makes any sense at all.

These days, however, a solid panic attack knocks me on my bum. I feel like any movement is going to kill me. I feel completely useless. Fortunately, I've been able to recognize the signs much earlier and thus I can divert them. But it is still uncomfortable and sometimes scary.

Phil10 said:

My ocd has been more mild lately but my anxiety has been worse. It started a few weeks ago on holiday I felt uneasy on the train felt I was going crazy I had these random thoughts that I would throw my phone away. It caused me lots of distress and again past few weeks these anxiety spells occur. It happens most of the time in the car of public transport that’s when the offset of the anxiety is. It’s not a panic attack but my head goes down the route of worrying I will lose my mind forever questioning if you can totally go mad permanently? I had a breakdown in 2016 so that’s where the worry stems from.

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These types of nagging thoughts are common for me as well, in fact I think they are actually part of OCD. Persistent, unwanted thoughts that keep nagging at you and make you uncomfortable in certain situations. For me they often times come when I’m meeting someone new especially if they have a disability or a medical condition or had a recent loss. The thoughts range from somewhat reasonable like “what if I say the wrong thing and embarrass myself or look like a jerk?” to totally unrealistic and nonsensical like “oh god what if I have some kind of spasm or something and randomly punch them in the face for no reason?” They make me extremely uncomfortable and the thoughts usually don’t reflect something I would ever do or could realistically happen. I’ve often had similar thoughts about my phone like you mentioned, thinking I’ll just toss it off a cliff or chuck it at a stranger for no reason. Just random thoughts that make zero sense and most people would just toss aside and continue on with daily life, but for me and many others these random meaningless thoughts can persist for hours or even days. They’re not even fears really, just random nonsensical thoughts that I beat myself up over or feel uncomfortable about. I have OCD too and I just can’t help but dwell on random thoughts or embarrassing moments.

Luckily as I’ve gotten more social lately these unwanted thoughts have happened less and less. Anxiety isn’t just panic attacks, I’ve had anxiety for years and didn’t start having panic attacks until I was in a very stressful relationship. Anxiety to me has so many different forms, like the panic I start to feel when boarding a plane or the awkwardness I feel in every social situation second guessing everything I say and stressing out about whether I seem normal or if someone thinks I’m being weird or oversharing or whatever until I have to basically eject myself from the situation and go outside for a bit to vape. Anxiety can also be the self doubt I feel every time I apply for a job or try something new.

My advice would be: anything your anxiety tells you to do, do the opposite. We only have one life to live so whatever you’re thinking about doing with it just go for it and see what happens. It’s easier said than done I know, but you always regret the things you said no to more than the ones you said yes to. Basically what I’m trying to say is that life is too short to pass up opportunity. You made a good call in taking up this new job or transfer I guess, it’s important to take chances like that.


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