Tuesday, August 11, 2009

high anxiety


i'm having the strangest sense of anxiety today. normally, i'm quite a laid-back person and while i can obsessively over-analyze, i generally don't have much anxiety. but today, i'm feeling quite anxious. my stomach is even in knots. it actually started last night, when i suddenly, out of nowhere, worried about husband's flight (he checked in and is fine and all was well, so there was nothing in it), but it's continuing today. and i can't put my finger on a cause. and i can't seem to shake it. i've diffused lavender (thanks TFM), i've gone for a long walk, i've tackled items on my list, i've cleaned up the kitchen, but nothing is working. it's a really strange, waiting, prickly, uncomfortable feeling, yet not related to any specific worry or anything concrete. does this ever happen to you? and how on earth do you get rid of it?

36 comments:

kristina said...

unfortunately yes, I know the feeling. and I really don't have a good strategy to lose it - but I do try to remind myself that it won't last forever, that it will pass. sending hugs!

spudballoo said...

Yes I know that feeling and hate it, gnawing away at you. I find there is something specific making me feel unhappy, normally an unresolved dispute of some sort with someone, feeling unloved in some way, a petty dispute etc. And it puts a cloud on everything untile I've resolved it.

So usually I have to boringly go through the 'worries' on my mind and ID which one it is and then bash it on the head.

Hugs to you xx

Maria-Thérèse ~ www.afiori.com said...

The only thing that helps for me is to meet a friend, have fika and talk (not too much about problems).

Liz Fulcher, The Fragrant Muse said...

Woah. Read my post today sistah.

Laura Doyle said...

They say anxiety is from one of two things...being in denial of your true feelings (which drives me wildly insane with self-doubt, thanks Freud or whoever)...and when something going on is recognized by the subconscious (remember Blink?) to be following a pattern that turned out badly in the past. That can be a lot less serious then it sounds. It's why people get panic attacks in crowds...it reminds them of feeling swallowed up or invisible...or whatever it is that their brain/body experienced in the past and didn't like.

Whew! (That's a lot for 8 am) Anyway...my solutions are hit and miss. Getting to the heart of the matter with some deep thinking sometimes works. Sometimes distraction works (usually after I've recognized the issue as silly and I wait for my feelings to catch up with my logic). Sometimes its cause is as evasive as a yeti and I never figure it out. In that case, I lose myself in a story (book/movie) and hope when I come out on the other side I'll have absorbed enough character "feelings and perspectives" that I'll have successfully distracted myself. A clean house helps me. But I'm a neat freak.

Good luck sweetheart. I'll make some cookies and eat one for you.

*jean* said...

vodka??

Unknown said...

Am sorry you are feeling like this. When it happens to me ( often) it's normally something worrying me without me realizing if that makes sense? What I know for sure it's it'll pass... I hope soon!

I_am_Tulsa said...

Hope the feeling passes soon...when I have "anxiety attacks" it usually means I am feeling restless and helpless at the same time...my pick me up is:
to eat chocolate.

I meditate (ie. focus on my breathing)....and eat more chocolate.

If that doesn't work, then I watch some of my favorite movies on DVD...while eating chocolate...

McVal said...

I get feelings like that too sometimes. It usually happens at 4 in the morning and then I can't get back to sleep. I usually pray about it and my mind starts to wander eventually to lighter things and then I can get back to sleep.

Anonymous said...

I think everyone gets those feelings and the thought that you don't know what you're worrying about makes you worry all the more ... I am sure all will be fine and the feeling will disappear as soon as it arrived.

kristine said...

yeah i get this.....although, thinking about it, I do get it less than I used to. I do wake up at 3 am worrying about things though, and that bothers me because it must mean its churning away pretty constantly in my subconscious.

A while back I started to do a lot of yoga to help balance myself a bit, and while I havent really stopped to assess what thats done, you are making me think about it, and I think actually I have been feeling a lot calmer and less stressed for the last few months. Thank you yoga!

bearer of three said...

I am always anxious, what helps me is deep breathing with the lights off. I also write, well blog which you already do and letting it out thru words helps as well.I hope you feel better.

Kim: said...

It most definitely happens to me too, and I was about to post my long-winded explanation of what I think it could be and what I do to combat it, but Spud said pretty much exactly what I was going to say, only a lot more clearly and succinctly.

Best of luck. Sometimes the only thing to do is pull out your journal and just start writing until it spills out. Either that, or buy some killer shoes. ;)

Anonymous said...

I've been feeling this way quite a bit, actually, usually in the middle of the night when something wakes me up and then I lie in bed obsessing about apartment rent and school costs and taking a cat on a nine hour flight. I have no solutions. Only empathy.

An Open Heart said...

Unfortunately, the only thought that comes to my mind is retail therapy, because that is what I do when I have anxiety....Maybe you could talk to Odin and see what he has to say? Sometimes just sitting, calmly in a quiet place and concentrating on your breathing and emptying your mind will help.
Sending good thoughts your way....
S

Wanda said...

It has been happening to me more lately. Weird. Sometimes I think it is an astrological cause.

Here are some things I do:

1) Take some total amino acids.

2) Say "Who does this belong to?" three times and see if it abates.

3) Tap my philtrum [the dent in the upper lip under the nose]. This is an acupuncture point that acts as a "reset button".

I am sure there is more, but these tend to help.

d smith kaich jones said...

Julie - I have a pretty bad anxiety disorder & I have dealt with this kind of stuff since before I attended school. My whole life. All good suggestions here - I do a lot of what you've done - cleaning, etc. At some point I just sit down, phones all disconnected (unless that makes you feel more anxious) & play computer games - easy stuff that moves fairly quickly, that requires me to pay attention to just what's going on on the screen, leaving my brain no extra time to worry about whatever is making it anxious. Or crossword puzzles - start with easy ones; you want to move through them quickly, you want to know as many of the words as possible & keep moving, keep your brain engaged on just that. It will pass - it always does.

:) Debi

Lorac said...

I find that Chamomilla really helps me. I get it a a homeopathic store here. It can be ordered online too. The tablets that I have are 2 dram and I take 4-5,(they are tiny) under my tongue to melt slowly. I have used these now for several months and find them helpful and natural.

Delena said...

I know what you are talking about. I worry about nothing, I feel sad sometimes when there is absolutely nothing to be sad about. I get stomach cramps when I leave my grandchildren for the winter. It all passes but is absolute hell when it happens. I usually just sulk until I snap out of it.

Sarah said...

I've suffered my whole life with panic attacks and anxiety disorder, so I totally sympathize. I find the best thing is to concentrate on your breathing, lay flat on the ground, and just count to 100. By the time I get to 50 usually, my anxiety has calmed to a level that is more manageable. I am sorry that you are going through this, I know how disconcerting it is.

Indiri Wood said...

I try some of the things here (breathing and quiet or watching a happy movie) but if that doesn't work I embrace it. When I'm anxious I feel like I need to DO something, even though I don't know what exactly. So, to solve it, I turn on some really loud fast music and dance around. I TRY to get my heart moving fast. Then when I come down from that the anxiety usually comes down with it.

Good luck!

Mari Mansourian said...

i think it's fair to say that most people have this sort of feeling every now and then, but it's usually because of something that's worrying you, something on your mind.. but that's strange that you have nothing going on..(hope nothing bad happens) sorry... my grandma used to get so scared when she felt this way... she would always say keep your eyes open today...
wish i could help with some words to comfort you.. but i got nothing...needless to say i'm in a bit of a dark hole myself these days. hang in there dear friend :)

Anil P said...

It's a gut feeling. Almost as if the mind's eye sees something is amiss. It passes. A quick prayer, a concious effort to think something positive. But it can persist occasionally.

la pianista said...

okay, you guys are freakin me out! I believe that we are 'premonicious' and while i'm not feelin anything, some of you are! I agree with the 'foreposters' who suggested vodka and chocolate. I'm not makin light of anxiety; it's real. Sometimes you just do what you can to get through the next stretch of daylight -- and -- don't watch the news for a few days, that should help!

Sarah Anne said...

I hate it when this sort of thing happens. Usually I just have to wait it out.

kristina - no penny for them said...

sorry to hear/read this, such a bummer.

i sometimes have this after very close and intense times with family and/or friends and then being back in the house all by myself. do something you really love, spoil yourself a little, take care!

histreasure said...

i know it..a gut feeling, disconcerting.like something bad is about to happen or you've missed or forgotten something important.
for me, music works..and a prayer to still your heart for ti too shall pass.

Char said...

yes, it happens to me too but I usually get these feelings about 3:00 a.m. when my brain overloads with random thoughts. what I do is get up, pace a bit and then try to read to forget.

sorry it's being a pain in the ass...and I'm glad the hubs is okay.

N said...

I have the same problem with anxiety, but the funny thing is that in my perspective nothing seems to work against it. I am nearly trying japa meditation, ill let you know if it works...

regards from the UK

N

The Redhead Riter said...

I had a terrible dream about my husband last night so I dread going to sleep tonight. He just laughed it off...for once, I wish I could be like him...LOL

Lisa-Marie said...

I get it now and again, mostly when my husband travels. I have a quite big feeling of unease every time, right until the time he walks back in the door again.

It could just be that this times its gotten to you a bit more, and your internally worried about the husband.

The only thing that works for me is to have a cup of tea and read for a bit. I hope yours goes away soon!

Optimistic Pessimist said...

i have had lots of anxiety problems, but all relationship related.

Still when it did happen i would meditate...which is ridiculously hard for someone as impatient and easily distracted as myself.

Sending lots of good anti-anxiety vibes your way.

Bee said...

Do you know about that iconic British WWII poster saying, "Keep Calm and Carry On" ? Well, here's the modern twist on it, which I saw on a mug the other day: "Now Panic and Freak Out!"

I'm not very laidback, so I try to keep my life as serene as possible. I'm afraid that lowgrade anxiety is a common feeling -- and particularly if I have too much to do. But that's just me.

McGillicutty said...

I have these feeling every now and again when I've been ignoring something, usually my bank account!!! Hope it gets better for you.

Mariana Soffer said...

I am sorry for you it is going to passs sopon why don t you read the comments I answered in my blog?
I guess it is an important point how much pressure we put ourselves in our lives. I guess you could never be happy if you have ridiculous high expectation. which are almost impossible to reach. Then you are never going to be satisfied with your life..

I do not thing we have the right to call getting as low as it is possible for us an accomplishment, Lowering the pressure while leading our normal lives, that is an accomplishment, we need to learn to cope with pressure in a better way for doing that.

and

Stress can also be seen as an adaptation to desperate and hopeless situations (i.e. to situations and environments where continued effort to pursue a certain goal will result in either danger or loss of valuable resources).

http://singyourownlullaby.blogspot.com/2009/06/depression-and-culture.html

discounderworld said...

Go to bed. Seriously. Even if you aren't tired, lie down and try to think of nothing. Then you will think of everything, and that thing that is annoying you that you can't put your finger on will come to you. Have a pen and paper ready to write it all out, and then act on it.

Works for me!