I worry myself sick

I have difficulty when I have something "ahead" of me. Such as an appointment or a social event like a wedding or something big like that. I have a pattern of worrying about it until I am almost physically ill. I worry about being late, screwing up the date or time, what to wear, etc. etc. etc. It is an old pattern with me and I would really like to change it. It causes such anxiety that until I am past the "thing" whatever it is, I cannot focus on anything else. This is probably sounding very strange but this is my pattern and I am realizing it is probably anxiety but what can I do differently? Thanks for your help.

Hello (((IO))). it is good to see you posting again. One of the things that may help you is to write down the things that need to be done, and as you do them, check it off of the list so that you can see that things are in perspective and going accordingly. You may also think about talking to a therapist about your repetetive obsession and worrying, this could be a form of OCD or anxiety that can be managed through therapy and medication. I hope thing sget better for you. Take care, Soidhonia

Invisible One,

Have you ever tried limiting yourself to worrying about just one thing, like what you are going to wear?

Then you could find a dress early, get it already, pick out a pair of shoes, etc., and then you would be done until the time to put it on.

Was your mother a worrier?

Hugs,

EJ

I've had a lot of problems with this. I use to have major problems with throwing up due to anxiety and it wouldn't stop until my fear of the situation went (usually meaning till it was over). I've gotten better at controling this by trying to make myself excited about the event. Try focusing on the positive rather than negative. That probably is the best advice I can give. I know it is a lot easier said than done, but the more I"ve practiced it the better I've gotten at it.

((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))

I try and think what could make this worry any more worse than it is now? There's something in that thought that removes the power from the original thought.

I either get fatalistic (I'm going to die so I might as well enjoy X activity while I'm doing it since it will be my last/is going to kill me/I'm going to be mortified/embarrassed :-) and focus on the "good" things that are equally possible (I might meet someone who is pleasant to be/talk with) or I work on the worries and make sure they can't/don't come true (make a sign with the date/time and print out a map how to get there, do a "practice" run driving there to see how much time it takes, what is difficult about it, etc.) and imagine various conversational things I can say, get a "friend"(s) involved in what I should wear and willing to talk with me about how scary the event is and help relieve some of my anxiety, etc. Remembering what others have said and conversations with them (even from here, online) helps me as I feel less "alone" when I'm at the event itself and I can remember the other people and the conversations and move forward a bit better.

I've had very similar problems. I have extreme problems with social anxiety and panic attacks. I've been through group therapy and I'm still in individual therapy, but I still avoid any social situations at all!

I'm still working to get better at it. One thing that has helped me was something learned during the group therapy. It's the notion that these types of beliefs are simply irrational, no matter how real they are to you. It is very difficult to do, but I ask myself "is this situation really going to be that bad?" I know that I am thinking about the situation in an irrational way, and I challenge myself to "STOP" thinking about it in this way, and try to envision the situation in terms that are more likely.

Like I said, the social/public situations usually still end in panic attack for me, but I find myself more frequently able to get past it by thinking about it in a more logical manner.

I have suffered with the same social anxiety...although I get by in normal social situations but panic when I have to public speak or perform in front of someone for a grade. It's beyond just getting nervous....but more like a full blown panic attack-so embarrassing! The social anxiety peaked in high school and I missed so many days that I wasn't able to graduate. However, I did end up going back to school at 34 years old and receiving a Bachelors Degree with honors. I'm not going to say it was easy and I didn't want to quit sometimes---but if I could do it any one can! Also, I suffer from hypochondria. I'm currently home with a stomach virus and I;m having alot of anxiety since I went to the doctor a few days ago and they took my blood. Everything was normal except my white blood cell count which was low...the doctor said that is normal if you are fighting a virus and are sick...but I;m soooo scared I have cancer or something. Even though I know I have been previously healthy and active and I'm never sick and I am improving...I don't know if my anxiety/panic symptoms are interfering with me getting better. Help!!!

My mother used to say "You make me sick." In fact, her saying that made me sick. Along with all the other things she said and did. Maybe something similar is happening with you...