I kind of get that too, sometimes when I find myself feeling better for a time I feel very strange, like it's completely new to me. I catch myself thinking things like "shouldn't I be feeling worse? or "when is it going to return?" It's quite irritating really.

I have had a similar experience. I asked my therapist about it and she said that it is a habit to go back to the negative thinking and anticipating anxiety. She suggested I write a positive script or affirmation to counter the negative thought and repeat it when I am wondering why I am not anxious, ex: "I am working on feeling better and will enjoy this anxiety free time." Sometime this helps, sometimes it doesn't !

Good luck!

I have experienced what you talk about. In my case I came to believe that it was experiencing thoughtlessness contentment. Something that I had not experienced in a long time. Once I came to believe that I now focus on re-creating that feeling frequently.

Yes, I'm learning how to make it work for me, and using different techniques for helping me stay on the right track, instead of back sliding really fast into negative direction.

When I notice I'm not anxious, I am proud of the action.

Here's to finding what works for you!

I think as your body changes the habits or expectations are slower to follow suit. it seems that change is really hard, or it certainly is on me, and I don't 'settle' for ages and ages.

So I would find myself getting less anxiety, and I would sort of tiptoe around it in my head, wondering what would set the bomb off, why the bomb hadn't gone off yet... when would it go off?

And as time has passed and the bomb hasn't gone off too much, I have settled into a new expectation. It has taken me AGES to do this. :)

Maybe that's the secret to shedding anxiety, letting go. It probably doesn't matter WHAT you were thinking or doing that alleviated, eliminated the anxiety. What matters is you were thinking about and doing something ELSE, other than, besides the anxiety. Congratulations and continued success on creating the kind of beautiful life and thought patterns you desire!

This has happened to me, too, especially when I first experienced prolonged anxiety.

My therapist explained that it's not necessarily wanting to feel "negative" again, but it's recognition that you usually feel that way. Oddly enough, it's "comfortable" because it's what you're used to. When you realize you are feeling better, your mind goes right into panic mode, because that's it's go-to response.

I found that the more often I felt better, the less I went back to being scared when I noticed I felt better. For me, it was gradual and took time and practice. But yeah, it is SUPER frustrating to feel anxious when you realize you DON'T have anxiety. LOL.

I read your post and was like, "IKR????"

I learned I have a gene mutation that causes my anxiety. I started on the treatment and - wow! No more anxiety attacks. I do get some normal anxiety before surgery or really big things but no more attacks.

I started planning out my life and tried a few things and sure enough - no anxiety attacks. All the stuff that used to send me into a panic had no effect anymore.

Cool, right?

Well, sort of.

But here's the thing...I've had anxiety since I was three. My brain thinks it's how I keep myself safe. So without it my brain goes, "Oh crap! She's not even going to know she's in a dangerous situation!"

My therapist told me something that really helped though - she said, "You don't have anxiety any longer. But that doesn't make you stupid!"

I may do safe things that used to scare me, but I'm still not going to do anything stupid.

I just keep telling myself that over and over and it is gradually getting better.

I have found that it's better to very gradually do things rather than jumping into the deep end of the pool so to speak. If you're afraid to go out after dark, going to the nearby grocery at 6pm for a few minutes helps build you up. Going on a road trip in the middle of nowhere at 3am is too much.

Hope that helps a little bit.

Thanks very much for all of the replies everyone! I really appreciate it and am happy to hear I'm not "alone!"