any suggestions/stop over thinking...

[cowboyup]

I was invited to a family outing - complete with relatives, children...
I get excited initially, then when the time comes near, I get scared, think about it constantly, and wonder how I can 'get out of it' - I lay awake at night counting down the days til we finally go on the weekend trip.

The only time I have been able to go out with is if I have meds to constantly take with me - I would take an anti-anxiety pill before, make sure I keep some in my pocket at all times, take another one (or two)during, then after, just to get through a (for example) dinner, over night road trip, hiking, etc... and these are no "extraordinary" situations, just regular things that regular people do.

I'm not on any medication now, mainly due to lack of insurance and money.

Any suggestions on how to stop over-thinking and worrying about this without the crutch of my medicine?

I have been in a constant state of fear, panic, dread, you name it, all because of some silly thing that I secretly wished bad weather to cancel the trip.

I am grateful that I have chance to go someplace, but I tend to fear things in advance and then it turns to unable to concentrate, loss of sleep, pounding heart, etc.

 

[zhaich]

Reminds me of my trip this past May...got little sleep the night beforehand because I was anxious. But I realized that it was not out of fear, but because I was excited to go. Positive things happen far more than do the negative, and yet we worry over the negative more often than not. I try to focus on the great times I'll have with the people involved and trust myself knowing that everything will be fine.

It was been in my experience that trusting yourself is an anxiety killer...

I wish you luck on your trip.

 

[coyote]

have you tried meditation?

 

[NathanielWingatePeaslee]

I was invited to a family outing - complete with relatives, children...
I get excited initially, then when the time comes near, I get scared, think about it constantly, and wonder how I can 'get out of it' - I lay awake at night counting down the days til we finally go on the weekend trip.

The only time I have been able to go out with is if I have meds to constantly take with me - I would take an anti-anxiety pill before, make sure I keep some in my pocket at all times, take another one (or two)during, then after, just to get through a (for example) dinner, over night road trip, hiking, etc... and these are no "extraordinary" situations, just regular things that regular people do.

I'm not on any medication now, mainly due to lack of insurance and money.

Any suggestions on how to stop over-thinking and worrying about this without the crutch of my medicine?

I have been in a constant state of fear, panic, dread, you name it, all because of some silly thing that I secretly wished bad weather to cancel the trip.

I am grateful that I have chance to go someplace, but I tend to fear things in advance and then it turns to unable to concentrate, loss of sleep, pounding heart, etc.

I have 2 suggestions; things that help me with that stuff. As for non-medication ways of decreasing anxiety in general, exercising to the point of utter physical exhaustion helps me with that. It completely changes the chemicals in your bloodstream and in your brain. Plus it's good for you!

To help sleep better at night (and this one takes more practice to work well) try replacing the worried thoughts with a fantasy. Be aware of your thoughts, and when you catch yourself thinking along unproductive lines, go back to the fantasy. Make every detail of it perfect. Work on it step by step, over and over. Force your mind back onto that track again and again.

 

[kilojoule]

I keep myself too busy to worry about things and I fill my time with things that scare the **** out of me(exposure therapy) I have to say it works for me. I worry about 70% less than I did a year ago. Focusing on something else really helps. Having just one upcoming event means you only have one big thing to stress over. It gives it power over you.

If there is a particular upcoming event that fills me with impending doom I have a regime.
1) Running - or any exercise/aerobics class before hand helps burn all that nervous energy up
2)herbal teas- my lifesaver. Camomile really does calm me down and fennel really does stop stress induced ibs
3) Tapping.- when I was at my absolute worst a kind old dear taught me tapping to help me and it got me through the initial horror of leaving my house. She was a retired counsellor who counselled soldiers suffering ptsd after world war 2. This was what she taught me to get through. Tapping. Tap each word on your leg. Youve 5 fingers so use 5 words. She told me to tap 'the lord is my shepherd' ( didnt tell her I was an athiest lol) hand by your side, discreetly tap out the words nobody will notice. I swear this was how I eventually got myself out the door.
4) sleep. I cant do anything when Im tired. Before something mentally exhausting, extra sleep.
5)Humour. Say what it is that scares you out loud and youll see how totally implausible and funny it sounds. Eg. Saying my thoughts out loud: What if my headache isnt actually a headache but is in fact my brain swelling. Panic. What will I do? I saw this tv programme once and now I have all the symptoms... My brain could explode...People will stare. ." at which point I can usually laugh at myself.

6) I dont know how to explain this but I put it out of my head until the last min. Thats something Ive been doing recently and I dont know how. I think I use distraction, keeping busy. But more and more I can just switch off, put it on hold with a little brain tab on it to come back to it later. When later comes I use the other things to get through.

 

[Foxface]

I've tried many things, but failed. I pace aross the floor, and let my thought take it it's course, and eventually, my mind gets tired of thinking too much. Always had trouble sleeping, lay there alone at night, deep in my thoughts. Me mind wonders so bloody much, and can't help it. It's main reason why I;ve trouble sleeping.

Thinking my loneliness is driving me bat-**** insane. Am so upset all the time. I feel like a steaming pile of excrement right now because i'm so ridiculously alone. I feel at a loss. Have tried but have failed and I try make friends and it never works. Am too shy, too immature, too self-aware, unconfident, lonely cretin. Nobody cares. Is just, it's difficult to get anywhere with anyone when you dont have any confidence anymore, you know?

 

[cowboyup]

Thanks so much to all of you for your suggestions! I really appreciate it

I still have a day and 1/2 before I go so I will get to try your suggestions.

Again, thank you!

 

[cowboyup]

I've tried many things, but failed. I pace aross the floor, and let my thought take it it's course, and eventually, my mind gets tired of thinking too much. Always had trouble sleeping, lay there alone at night, deep in my thoughts. Me mind wonders so bloody much, and can't help it. It's main reason why I;ve trouble sleeping.

Thinking my loneliness is driving me bat-**** insane. Am so upset all the time. I feel like a steaming pile of excrement right now because i'm so ridiculously alone. I feel at a loss. Have tried but have failed and I try make friends and it never works. Am too shy, too immature, too self-aware, unconfident, lonely cretin. Nobody cares. Is just, it's difficult to get anywhere with anyone when you dont have any confidence anymore, you know?

^ I'm sorry Foxface for the awful time you are going thru right now. People do care about you but I do know from personal experiences that it does feel like you are going bat cr#p crazy at the time. It's hard to regain confidence when you feel like you hit rock bottom but just even with my *silly* inconvenience right now that is driving me insane, SPW is filled with people who are or have gone thru bad times with our anxieties, depression, medical issues, IBS, etc. and somehow, we are all here to talk about it. ANd it does really help to keep contact with others (like this site) who we all can relate and help each other out.
I wish you the best

 

[cowboyup]

I keep myself too busy to worry about things and I fill my time with things that scare the **** out of me(exposure therapy) I have to say it works for me. I worry about 70% less than I did a year ago. Focusing on something else really helps. Having just one upcoming event means you only have one big thing to stress over. It gives it power over you.

3) Tapping.- when I was at my absolute worst a kind old dear taught me tapping to help me and it got me through the initial horror of leaving my house. She was a retired counsellor who counselled soldiers suffering ptsd after world war 2. This was what she taught me to get through. Tapping. Tap each word on your leg. Youve 5 fingers so use 5 words. She told me to tap 'the lord is my shepherd' ( didnt tell her I was an athiest lol) hand by your side, discreetly tap out the words nobody will notice. I swear this was how I eventually got myself out the door.
.

Interesting about the Tapping, Jewel. I'll definitely try that one...thanks

 

[cowboyup]

have you tried meditation?

I've tried it several times but could not seem to calm down enough to get it, if that makes sense.

I did hear a doctor on the Doctor Oz show once suggest the 7-7-7 method before attempting mediation, which is to breathe to the count of 7, hold to count of 7 and release to the count of 7.

Maybe if I can just try to empty my mind and calm down, then meditation would come more easily to me.

Thank you for the suggestion!

 

[Sial Axetder]

I've tried it several times but could not seem to calm down enough to get it, if that makes sense.

I did hear a doctor on the Doctor Oz show once suggest the 7-7-7 method before attempting mediation, which is to breathe to the count of 7, hold to count of 7 and release to the count of 7.

Maybe if I can just try to empty my mind and calm down, then meditation would come more easily to me.

Thank you for the suggestion!

Breathing like the doc suggests, excellent idea. Just tried it myself. Euphoric oxygen. Felt good to hit the lower lungs with fresh oxygen. This is a form of meditation. All ya gotta do is take 5min and just focus on your 777 breathing. Just focus on breathing. If your mind wanders drag it back to your breathing. Helps you learn self mind control. So you can choose what to worry about.

 

[zhaich]

I've tried many things, but failed. I pace aross the floor, and let my thought take it it's course, and eventually, my mind gets tired of thinking too much. Always had trouble sleeping, lay there alone at night, deep in my thoughts. Me mind wonders so bloody much, and can't help it. It's main reason why I;ve trouble sleeping.

Thinking my loneliness is driving me bat-**** insane. Am so upset all the time. I feel like a steaming pile of excrement right now because i'm so ridiculously alone. I feel at a loss. Have tried but have failed and I try make friends and it never works. Am too shy, too immature, too self-aware, unconfident, lonely cretin. Nobody cares. Is just, it's difficult to get anywhere with anyone when you dont have any confidence anymore, you know?

Right with you, been doing that so many times in the early hours of the morning. Can't even sleep till 6 AM because my mind wont stop thinking!

 

[cowboyup]

Breathing like the doc suggests, excellent idea. Just tried it myself. Euphoric oxygen. Felt good to hit the lower lungs with fresh oxygen. This is a form of meditation. All ya gotta do is take 5min and just focus on your 777 breathing. Just focus on breathing. If your mind wanders drag it back to your breathing. Helps you learn self mind control. So you can choose what to worry about.

I tried it as well. I actually had forgotten about it until someone suggested meditation. Go figure!

It does seem to calm me down - I like that thought of I have control of what I choose to worry about (and usually it's not as bad as my mind fears it to be)

Glad it worked for you!!