Anxiety Make you Question?

[JustBeHappyG]

Does anxiety make you question your life and happiness? I feel like a big one for me when I’m anxious is questioning everything like an I truly happy, decisions I’ve made, etc. I know really happiness is a choice, but sometimes it bothers me.

 

[Cuchculan]

I think I just accept my life for what it is. Anxiety may have shaped most of my life. But that is what I have to live with. Had anxiety never hit would life be any different? Probably so. I don't think of those things. What I have is what I live. I could question everything I do. But that would be a waste of time and change nothing at all. It wouldn't get rid of my anxiety. So my choice is to ignore it and just live this life I have now.

 

[FinneousRex]

Does anxiety make you question your life and happiness? I feel like a big one for me when I’m anxious is questioning everything like an I truly happy, decisions I’ve made, etc. I know really happiness is a choice, but sometimes it bothers me.

For me, I know I’m not happy and I’m not where I want to be. So my anxiety more or less just solidifies that I am in fact unhappy. Going to therapy on Wednesday for the first time. Trying to get a positive change in my life. I’ve come to the conclusion the way I am living is not healthy mentally, emotionally, or physically and I need to make a change and an effort.

 

[John66]

It always makes me question things and doubt myself. Even at work, doing a job I am good at, someone new can start and even though they’ve only been there 5 minutes I start thinking how much better they are at the job than me. I have absolutely no reason to think this as my work is always fine but still do.

 

[Brad66]

I think that the mindset we (or at least for myself) get in is such:

We become so aware of our mood and put happiness on a pedestal to a point where our idea of happiness is conflated so much that it's unachievable.

Through this mindset we convince ourselves that we aren't happy and that we never will be happy. We tend to get into this mindset anytime we go through some hardship or even just the normal ups and downs of life. Again this all circles back to how aware we are of our moods.

For me this is one of the last lingering effects of being depressed for about a 3-5 year period but I will say that it's getting much much better! I think why it's getting better is that I fear it less and less every time I go through it. For instance right now in this moment, and for the past week or so, I have been in this mindset... The real "problem" is that it's in the dregs of winter and I am tense and constantly tired because I am getting zero sunlight and not being able to exercise outside much plus not sleeping as well as I do in the other seasons... but my mind makes it out to be something more than that. Suddenly it's all due to my job, my hobbies, money, my life in general. The best I can do right now it just catch myself when I am in this mindset and without scrutinizing myself just say "happiness/my life/my job is not the problem, my attention to my mood is" and move on... And when I pops up again, as it most certainly will, say the same again without scrutiny. Without scrutiny is the important part, you absolutely can not think less of yourself over this, we are all human and all imperfect! Do not add the stress of putting yourself down!

Eventually it will pass. Everyone goes through the ups and downs of life, we just notice it more and are hard on ourselves when we shouldn't be.

I hope people can find some peace and helpfulness in my words and wisdom of having gone through this for so long. It does get better it just takes time and practice. Once you start seeing your down times as a chance to practice all you have learned your attitude towards your anxiety and depression will change. This is where I believe the healing starts to take place.