I need help with my anxiety

[xocys]

My anxiety started about two years ago when I had a very frightening dream about mine and my children's death in airplane crash. The next day someone at work commented that she dreamed I was an angel. Naturally this scared me to the point where I was afraid to go on my scheduled vacation. DH told me I was being silly and so we went ahead and took our vacation but I was a terrified, nervous wreck the entire time we were gone.

When we got home safely I started to fear driving. I became obssessed with the fact that I was going to die in a car accident. It's this feeling that I've always had and so I just knew it was going to happen. Since I live in an area that doesn't have a bus system I really have no choice but to drive so I can work. But for months I drove in sheer terror. I had severe panic attacks as well. I finally got a peace that I was going to live at least two more years (after all the odRAB are strongly in my favor still in my 30's).

Anyway, it has now been 2 full years and my anxiety is back with a vengenance. Luckily, I don't have panic attacks this time- just those impending feelings of doom and outbursts of tears. I'm afraid to drive again and I just can't shake the feeling that this is my last year.

I'm seeing a counselor and they believe that I have anxiety and OCD that has developed from PTSD from traumas that I suffered as a child. I'm afraid of taking medication because my Mother tried to commit suicide when she started hers. I don't know what else to do but I do know that I'm afraid and anxious all the time and constantly obssessing about death.

I would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks.

 

[tulum]

Wow, you sound like me.

Is it hormone related? Check with your doc. Did you have a baby recently?

The only thing that works for me is not feeding my anxiety by avoiding doing the things I fear. In your case, driving. You should do it as much as possible and eventually it will subside.

Do the opposite of what the anxiety tells you to do.

 

[anxietycontrol]

Interesting post and interesting comment about what your doctor said... When we get panic attacks we tend to focus on what scares us at the top of our minRAB. Usually we are scared by the symptoms and the events that are occurring at the time but in many cases the real cause is something we are not aware of. Death is an underlying fear many people have. It's something that you have to work through. Death is a part of life but it is so shrouded in mystery that it scares people.

Try to think back to what scares you and really find out what causes your stress, your fears, and ultimately your anxiety.