Little thoughts blowing up

[bin_tenn]

I'm having a bit of trouble with anxiety tonight. Nothing out of the ordinary, and nothing extreme, but enough to keep me awake. As usual, it started with some anxiety-driven thoughts, and then those simple thoughts turned into much more, snowballing before I even realized it was happening.

I should try to be more aware of times like this. If I can see it early, I can probably keep the thoughts from blowing up too much. I may or may not prevent it entirely, but I should at least be able to make it more manageable.

Distracting myself doesn't tend to work very well, at least initially. I'll start thinking about positive and happy things that are relevant to my life at the time, but I'm very quickly drawn back into the original thought that provoked the anxiety. I usually have to repeat that several times before it finally works.

This is also happening during the late night hours as usual, too. If I had been asleep a couple hours ago I would've been just fine. But it's 1am, I'm tired (baby was up extra late), so the anxiety ramped up. I'll try to sleep again now.

I didn't need anything other than to share this thought process because that helps sometimes. Any tips you have are always welcome, and the same goes for your own experiences if you'd like to share. As always, I hope you're all doing well.

 

[Missy]

I'm having a bit of trouble with anxiety tonight. Nothing out of the ordinary, and nothing extreme, but enough to keep me awake. As usual, it started with some anxiety-driven thoughts, and then those simple thoughts turned into much more, snowballing before I even realized it was happening.

I should try to be more aware of times like this. If I can see it early, I can probably keep the thoughts from blowing up too much. I may or may not prevent it entirely, but I should at least be able to make it more manageable.

Distracting myself doesn't tend to work very well, at least initially. I'll start thinking about positive and happy things that are relevant to my life at the time, but I'm very quickly drawn back into the original thought that provoked the anxiety. I usually have to repeat that several times before it finally works.

This is also happening during the late night hours as usual, too. If I had been asleep a couple hours ago I would've been just fine. But it's 1am, I'm tired (baby was up extra late), so the anxiety ramped up. I'll try to sleep again now.

I didn't need anything other than to share this thought process because that helps sometimes. Any tips you have are always welcome, and the same goes for your own experiences if you'd like to share. As always, I hope you're all doing well.

My anxiety has been increased as well. I know exactly about how the thoughts can spiral. I try to help myself by breathing exercises. Sometimes it takes.a couple of tries. I experience morning anxiety right when I wake up. It greatly diminishes as I get up and get moving. For me, this is due to alot of stressful situations in my life currently.

 

[Seryn]

Totally understand. I use an app called One Day. I basically use it as a brain dump. I will write absolutely everything down when my anxiety is going on and on and on at night in bed, all the anxieties that I'd probably cringe at if I re read go down. It can help get it all out of my head and sleep or I'll talk to myself all night long and never sleep!

My routine for getting myself to sleep then probably works by boring myself to sleep ha but it works every time. without moving my eyes around or my body whilst in bed I slowly (slower the better I find) list in my mind 5 things I can see. I don't pick obvious things like door, bed, floor ect and be done I usually pick more obscure things "silver door hinge, screw on light switch, back sock fluff on carpet". Then 4 things I can touch I try and move as little as possible. Feel the texture of my need sheet, feel the texture rubbing my feet together, feel my tongue on my teeth. So I actually do the touching. Next 3 things I hear, the. 2 things I can smell, then 1 thing I can taste. Usually just toothpaste, a drink flavour if it's by my bed, spit lol whatever. If I'm still awake I go again. I've never gone past 3 rounds usually it's enough to snap my brain out of the anxiety spiral and sleep.

 

[lixen222]

I know that feeling. It’s like one random little thought sneaks in and suddenly it’s a whole mess in your head before you even know what happened. Happens to me most when I’m overtired too, late at night, brain won’t shut up. I’ve started just grabbing my phone and typing out whatever’s bouncing around in there. Doesn’t even have to make sense, but somehow it helps quiet it down. You're right though, catching it early is key, even if that’s easier said than done.

 

[Jonathan123]

'Catching it early is key'. Yes, but what is 'IT'? We talk about 'IT' as if it were something outside ourselves that is giving us hell. Bit it's not. We tend to see our anxiety as something that can be overcome in a variety of ways. We engage in what I call 'grasshopper practice'. Going from one therapy to another looking for reassurance and answers to what most people regard as being abnormal.
But what is normal? Look around, at your fellow humans, are they behaving normally?
In my counselling days I found that those with anxiety behaved a lot more sensibly than those without.
They knew they had a problem and were seeking help. Most so called 'normal' people have anxiety problems but would never say they are anxious. It is still regarded as a weakness, especially among men, to admit to anxiety. The old macho image still exists.
As a man, the day I allowed my feminine side to come into play was the day I began the journey out.
The feminine attributes are all about caring, love, empathy and nurturing. All men have it but few would admit to it. It would be seen as being a 'Sissy'. Actually it is a strength.. We don't have to lose our masculinity to have feminine attributes.

 

[bigjetplane23]

Maybe the lack of sleep? Maybe it’s one of those annoying visits from our anxiety where it reminds us “Hey, I’m still here! You can’t get rid of me”.
But in all seriousness, it does suck having those small “episodes”. This too shall pass.