Has my overactive imagination turned into anxiety?
April 2, 2008 7:58 AM Subscribe
Has my overactive imagination turned into anxiety?
I have always been an imaginative person with a tendency to daydream, but lately (past few years) I've noticed that I am dwelling increasingly on worst-case scenarios. Examples:
- In the past three years, my old house, my parents' house and my car were broken into and now I constantly worry about making sure the doors are locked. I often walk away from my apartment or car and have to turn back to make sure the doors are locked. They always are, but if I don't check I can't concentrate on anything else. When I was staying with my parents over the holidays I often came home worried that I was going to find my things missing and my parents murdered.
- Since the September 11th 2001 attacks I've been afraid of flying. I used to have no problem on airplanes and now I often need a drink before getting on a plane. Without alcohol I am tense and I sweat throughout take-off, landing and any turbulence, but for the rest of the flight I do pretty well. I know how rare plane crashes are but that knowledge doesn't help to subdue my fears.
- If anyone is late and I don't hear from them I assume they were in a car crash. My boyfriend has a long commute over a dangerous freeway and I worry about him constantly. If he forgets to call or doesn't pick up his phone, I get frantic, call him repeatedly and sometimes check accident reports. Even as I'm imagining a car accident I know I'm being irrational, but it's difficult to distract myself from worrying.
- I used to love skateboarding, wakeboarding and snowboarding, but in the past couple of years when I've gotten on a board my whole body tenses up and I don't have any fun. Now I make up excuses to avoid these activities with my friends.
- After a difficult college class with a lot of important quizzes, I get extremely anxious about tests. Last year I got lost on my way to the GRE test center, was late to the test and I was completely tense and near tears throughout the entire test. Part of my reluctance to pursue graduate school is that I don't think I can get past my anxiety to do well enough on the GRE or the LSAT. I had no problems taking the SATs five years ago.
From what I understand about anxiety, I have never had a full-blown anxiety or panic attack. I think that what had previously been normal levels of worry have become something else, but I don't know what to call it or how to treat it. I know that therapy will probably be a popular suggestion, but I would like to explore other (if any) options first. I searched for "anxiety" on AskMeFi but skipped most questions because they appeared to be related to social or performance anxiety which I don't think applies to me. Apologies if I skipped over a thread similar to mine.
What is happening to me and what can I do about it?
I have always been an imaginative person with a tendency to daydream, but lately (past few years) I've noticed that I am dwelling increasingly on worst-case scenarios. Examples:
- In the past three years, my old house, my parents' house and my car were broken into and now I constantly worry about making sure the doors are locked. I often walk away from my apartment or car and have to turn back to make sure the doors are locked. They always are, but if I don't check I can't concentrate on anything else. When I was staying with my parents over the holidays I often came home worried that I was going to find my things missing and my parents murdered.
- Since the September 11th 2001 attacks I've been afraid of flying. I used to have no problem on airplanes and now I often need a drink before getting on a plane. Without alcohol I am tense and I sweat throughout take-off, landing and any turbulence, but for the rest of the flight I do pretty well. I know how rare plane crashes are but that knowledge doesn't help to subdue my fears.
- If anyone is late and I don't hear from them I assume they were in a car crash. My boyfriend has a long commute over a dangerous freeway and I worry about him constantly. If he forgets to call or doesn't pick up his phone, I get frantic, call him repeatedly and sometimes check accident reports. Even as I'm imagining a car accident I know I'm being irrational, but it's difficult to distract myself from worrying.
- I used to love skateboarding, wakeboarding and snowboarding, but in the past couple of years when I've gotten on a board my whole body tenses up and I don't have any fun. Now I make up excuses to avoid these activities with my friends.
- After a difficult college class with a lot of important quizzes, I get extremely anxious about tests. Last year I got lost on my way to the GRE test center, was late to the test and I was completely tense and near tears throughout the entire test. Part of my reluctance to pursue graduate school is that I don't think I can get past my anxiety to do well enough on the GRE or the LSAT. I had no problems taking the SATs five years ago.
From what I understand about anxiety, I have never had a full-blown anxiety or panic attack. I think that what had previously been normal levels of worry have become something else, but I don't know what to call it or how to treat it. I know that therapy will probably be a popular suggestion, but I would like to explore other (if any) options first. I searched for "anxiety" on AskMeFi but skipped most questions because they appeared to be related to social or performance anxiety which I don't think applies to me. Apologies if I skipped over a thread similar to mine.
What is happening to me and what can I do about it?
When you start obsessing over these things that are bothering you to the point that it's affecting your life, it's probably getting out of hand. Plus you're giving in to compulsive behaviors like re-checking your car doors and going online to check accident reports (and if you don't do those things, you can't function).
Go to a doc, get some therapy and then take some medicine if you need it.
posted by Caper's Ghost at 8:22 AM on April 2, 2008
Go to a doc, get some therapy and then take some medicine if you need it.
posted by Caper's Ghost at 8:22 AM on April 2, 2008
I HAVE had a full-blown attack, and in case, it was because there were serious things i was ignoring/letting slide. (I knew I didn't want to be with my boyfriend (or part of me didn't) but I didn't know how to break up with him, I was unhappy about my job but again, not sure what to do, my dad was dying and I hadn't really faced that). I say, stop googling anxiety, and face your fears. Next time fly without alcohol. Try a new exercise/sport, it really does relax your mind as well as your body. Don't let your thoughts turn dark. Tackle the thoughts that make you anxious instead of musing on the general term "anxiety". I'm sure there are courses on how to prepare for a test that might help you. Try meditating. Spend time with close friends and loved ones. Consider getting a pet - it's sounds cliche maybe, but they DO help you relax. Maybe a dog, so you can go on nice walks with it.
posted by Penelope at 8:25 AM on April 2, 2008
posted by Penelope at 8:25 AM on April 2, 2008
IANAD. Your lock-checking and worst-case imagination are symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder, which is often paired with generalized anxiety. Medication for a short time period while you get your life back under control can help greatly, and you shouldn't have any problems tapering off when things are better. Exercise helps a lot as well.
Penelope, you have some great advice, but I wouldn't advise taking on the heavy responsibility of a pet while trying to get the rest of your life back in order.
posted by infinitewindow at 8:59 AM on April 2, 2008
Penelope, you have some great advice, but I wouldn't advise taking on the heavy responsibility of a pet while trying to get the rest of your life back in order.
posted by infinitewindow at 8:59 AM on April 2, 2008
Yet another vote for exercise here. I also agree that this sounds like anxiety and that self-help books, especially ones about anxious obsessing, will help.
If you don't want to go with conventional meds, there are always calming teas (cornsilk or valerian + mint are my favorites). But definitely exercise, preferably outside.
posted by PatoPata at 10:20 AM on April 2, 2008
If you don't want to go with conventional meds, there are always calming teas (cornsilk or valerian + mint are my favorites). But definitely exercise, preferably outside.
posted by PatoPata at 10:20 AM on April 2, 2008
In addition, you must consciously strive to not let the constant litanty of "fear, fear, FEAR!" from our current administration feed into your personal challenges. Seriously.
posted by Aquaman at 10:24 AM on April 2, 2008
posted by Aquaman at 10:24 AM on April 2, 2008
When did all this start? Did something happen around that time? Is there any reason you would have high background anxiety (recovering from a move, a death of someone close, etc.)?
posted by salvia at 10:38 AM on April 2, 2008
posted by salvia at 10:38 AM on April 2, 2008
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The main thing that helped me control anxiety then, and keeps any remaining anxious tendencies under control for me now, is exercise. Once I started running I grew a lot calmer in general. I slept better, and though I don't know the biochemistry, it feels to me as though whatever bad body chemicals cause anxiety are kept in check, or counteracted, by whatever good chemicals exercise produces. This is the biggest non-therapeutic strategy I can suggest (though I didn't do it until it was highly recommended by my therapist).
I also got a lot out of reading about anxiety. There are a number of useful self-help books out there. You might try checking out some self-help sites like this or this (found randomly - there are many others).
posted by Miko at 8:20 AM on April 2, 2008 [1 favorite]