Post Anxiety, Feeling Fine or just Emotionally Numb?

[avocado]

I will preface this by saying I don't really get full blown panic attacks, but I definitely have moments where I get racing heart beat and extreme nervousness. I've kind of always been somewhat anxious my entire life (I'm 21 and have and have a lot of pressure to perform well) but I've developed numerous strategies to deal with it so it's never been too bad. Except about a month ago when everything fell apart for no reason and I was diagnosed with GAD/health anxiety/mild OCD.

Last week my anxiety peaked again and then all the intrusive thoughts about existentialism, aggression, fears of potentially hallucinating, etc. came back. However, after a few days of 10+ hours of sleep, I'm starting to feel relatively normal again. Does anyone else have periods of serious anxiety, but then can feel relatively fine after a few days? Or did I just become numb as a defense mechanism?

 

[triceps]

I will preface this by saying I don't really get full blown panic attacks, but I definitely have moments where I get racing heart beat and extreme nervousness. I've kind of always been somewhat anxious my entire life (I'm 21 and have and have a lot of pressure to perform well) but I've developed numerous strategies to deal with it so it's never been too bad. Except about a month ago when everything fell apart for no reason and I was diagnosed with GAD/health anxiety/mild OCD.

Last week my anxiety peaked again and then all the intrusive thoughts about existentialism, aggression, fears of potentially hallucinating, etc. came back. However, after a few days of 10+ hours of sleep, I'm starting to feel relatively normal again. Does anyone else have periods of serious anxiety, but then can feel relatively fine after a few days? Or did I just become numb as a defense mechanism?

Hi avocado,

I live in a pretty high state of anxiety most of the time. It doesn't seem to give me a break of any consequence ever. I would just like to say that I don't think you've become numb but that the stretch of quality sleep brought down your anxiety level. I went to an anxiety group for a couple of years and the psychologist emphasized the need for decent sleep for anxiety sufferers. She said if possible, don't be afraid to take naps if tired. Anxiety is mentally exhausting and being fatigued just makes it worse.

 

[Rinka]

I will preface this by saying I don't really get full blown panic attacks, but I definitely have moments where I get racing heart beat and extreme nervousness. I've kind of always been somewhat anxious my entire life (I'm 21 and have and have a lot of pressure to perform well) but I've developed numerous strategies to deal with it so it's never been too bad. Except about a month ago when everything fell apart for no reason and I was diagnosed with GAD/health anxiety/mild OCD.

Last week my anxiety peaked again and then all the intrusive thoughts about existentialism, aggression, fears of potentially hallucinating, etc. came back. However, after a few days of 10+ hours of sleep, I'm starting to feel relatively normal again. Does anyone else have periods of serious anxiety, but then can feel relatively fine after a few days? Or did I just become numb as a defense mechanism?

I have similar feelings too. I suppose it’s to do with on the one hand being emotionally exhausted and on the other hand getting over a certain vulnerable period. For some people those periods can take longer and seemingly never end.