A couple of years ago I also got sick of constantly worrying about what might happen. I was anxious and not happy over something that would happen four weeks from then. I decided to try the anxiety tools I knew about at the time. And managed to reduce my anxiety until the event happened. And the event went fine. I have been working on my anxious brain since then. Some times forgetting to work on myself, sometimes my anxiety is stronger than me and nothing works. Getting on the right dose of the right meds for me also took the edge off the anxiety. Maybe you need to try another medication. One that doesn't make you sleepy. I would talk to your doctor. Hopefully its a Psychiatrist. They understand anxiety and the brain better than a regular doctor.
You can get better. Don't give up.

Regarding my meds, my psychologist suggested taking later in day in case it’s making me sleepy and thinking it would help morning anxiety. So I have been doing that. And yes it is a psych nurse who prescribes my meds.
This is such a tiring situation. I am so sick of it.
The one thing I am also wondering if anyone has any insight, I am 59. Went through menopause late. Could some of what I’m going through still be hormonal?

Upon just speaking with my therapist we came upon something. I have the tendency to not look forward to trips. (We have one coming up in two weeks). I feel like I cannot prepare because then the trip won’t happen. Well in the past I always worried something would happen to my mother and I wouldn’t be able to go. Well my mom has passed away so it now seems as if I have transferred all that worry and energy to my dogs. So they would make it impossible for me to go. I have made them my burden and that is why I spoke about hating the responsibility earlier on.

That sounds helpful. To understand yourself a bit better.

I’m 57 and I had blood work this summer that showed I was probably in menopause but then just got another period in March so I am a little late to menopause myself. For me my anxiety ticked up when I was going through all the hormone fluctuations during perimenopause. I think it’s because feeling so emotionally all over the place put me on edge. In my 50s, as the hormones started dropping rather than fluctuating up and down I didn’t feel so emotionally out of whack. So I think any hormonal peaks and valleys can affect all aspects of our well being. I mean, I always feel most vulnerable to anxiety when I’m not in a good emotional or mental place.

I went through similar feelings when I had dogs. It was really hard for me to not obsess about them. I would just have to create a plan, sort of like, IF my dog got sick while away, THEN I would … .

The IF/THEN exercise can be really helpful in sorting stuff like this out, to get you to a place where you may still feel underlying anxiety but you at least have a practical pathway through it.

Thanks rmb.
I’m surprised people feel dogs take away anxiety and are calming. I really am. They are not like that for me and actually I never had them growing up. I always had cats. They are the opposite for me.
I feel like once I leave I’ll be okay. The place I take them has a vet on call or they will transport to your vet if needed. But I don’t have anyone to watch them here at the house. I know people have house sitters. I don’t have anyone to watch them but the kennel.
However it’s getting to the week of vacation that has me in this state I told my therapist that I have made these dogs a burden. People probably would think I’m crazy but that’s just how I feel.

Those feelings are because you are overwhelmed right now. It really has nothing to do with the dogs or your planned trip or anything else. It is anxiety, pure and simple.

Yes mtd. I’m having quite a bad day.
I usually calm as the day goes on but today is brutal.
I even spoke with my therapist which will sometimes help. But today is not getting better
The anxiety is quite bad.
I know I just have to remember it’s anxiety

Oh I find being with animals very calming. It’s the fretting over their well-being that is not calming to me.

Yes exactly rmb. That’s really what I meant. If I wasn’t the primary care giver I would be fine.
But their lives are totally in my hands. So I worry about their well being and now I’m in an obsessive place

Hi Marian,
I had a really difficult time in 2016 that ended up being due to perimenopause. I began using progesterone cream and the anxiety, and insomnia, morning nausea all gradually went away. I am 58 and two year post menopause now. For me COVID increased my anxiety and hormonal symptoms astronomically. I had been doing really well for over 5 years. I would definitely look into getting some labs drawn to check your hormone levels. I thought once I got over those perimenopause symptoms that I was free and clear, but not so.

Take care!