Anxiety Support Group
Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...
I've been dealing with the worst anxiety/panic of my life these past couple of weeks and just can't seem to snap out of it. Well out of all of this, I'm starting to deal with some OCD symptoms as well and they are driving me crazy. Like, if my 3 year old tells me something and I didn't understand what he said, I have him repeat it until I fully understand what he said. Otherwise it makes me feel panicky and I get tension in my head. Or I'm getting worse about little things like folding blankets. It has to be just right or I can't put it down. I used to be able to fold it and not worry if it was perfect, but now it's to the point where I HAVE to fix it to feel better. Also, when I was pregnant with both my children, I would panic (at times) because I had this baby in my belly (which I loved, don't get me wrong) but that there was nothing I could do about it. I had no control and was stuck. Those types of situations are bothering me more than they used to. Is all of this part of anxiety as well? How do I stop feeling this way? I try to not do whatever it is the OCS wants me to do (not fix the blanket) and it's hard, but I do it and get over it. Does that help conquer those feelings? I just can't get away from these anxious thoughts. :(
What kind of symptoms somebody has, only depends on what they choose to put their worry into.
Right now, you are focusing your worry on things having to be "just right". This is just anxiety putting on a new dress and trying to get your attention again. Morphing symptoms is VERY common. In fact, it is the rule rather than the exception.
Remember that anxiety is there for a reason. It is your brain's way of telling you that you aren't doing something right. You aren't taking care of yourself the way you should be and you need to rest and relax because you are on overload. Your brain can't talk to you so the only way it has to get your attention is to scare you. It is the best way to try to get your attention. If you don't listen and start changing your life, it is going to keep trying to scare you in new and different ways until you finally get the message and start taking better care of yourself and talking to yourself in a healthier way.
It is like a crying baby. Your baby has no other way to communicate with you but to cry. If your baby was screaming all day every day, would you just ignore it and wonder why it was making your life a living hell every day? Of course not. You would rush right in and calm her down and speaking lovingly to her and take care of her. Well this is what your brain wants you to do for yourself! And you are NOT listening. So until you do listen, symptoms are going to morph and the brain tantrums will continue.
Hugs to you!
I never knew OCD and anxiety were so related, but what you said makes sense. I can't thank you enough for this post, I will be referring back to it often to remind myself of what you said. Hugs.
Just think of me as an air traffic controller...helping to guide you in for a smooth landing! lol
One of these days I am sure you guys will be doing the same for me. :)