Fear of dying and going crazy

[Pokerguy]

Does this mean I am going crazy if I keep forgeting things because of so much constant anxiety. I cant stay still evrrrr, I constantly think about goin off the deep end and obsess over some health issues that are real. I always feel dizzy and tired never refreshed please help..

[Evilbob333]

Don't worry about forgetting stuff...it happens all the time with anxiety. Personally i get it a lot and i think the reasons why are twofold. Firstly think about how tired your brain has become with all these days, weeks, months or even years of self checking and self analysis...it makes sense that your mind would be too tired to remember everything. Secondly the things that you are forgetting wont be properly registering because you're too tied up thinking about your anxiety and the things that are dashing around in your head to pay full attention to the things that you're supposed to be remembering.
As for going off the deep end, as you put it, it's not going to happen. I worry myself sick over this, in fact i came on here today to write a post about it. I worry that i'll go mad, or that i'll start seeing things, that the things around me might not be real,that i've already gone mad and havent realised it yet...loadsa stuff. But then i'm still here and have been worrying about these things for such a long time that i figure that logically if i was going to go mad, it'd have probably happened already! I read another post on this forum, or perhaps another (i check em all!) that quoted a persons advice from their psychiatrist. It read something along the lines of 'The mad are not aware of their journey into madness'. Now its something we all know...if we were going mad we wouldnt think that we were...the mere fact that these thoughts worry us and we know that they're illogical, the mere fact that we question whether our sanity is intact is a pretty good indication that it certainly is. If it weren't it wouldn't even be a concern.
I find the key is in recognising that these thoughts, however terrifying, are just part of our anxieties and just thoughts...they cant harm us or damage us, and whilst they are scary (or massively frigging terrifying, depending on the thought) they are not going to make us do anything we choose not to. You are in control, you are driving this bus!
In terms of your tiredness i would strongly recommend some exercise even if its in the comfort of your own home. Do something that'll raise a sweat, listen to some music, lift some weight and feel the burn! Not only will it tire you out, it'll give you a buzz, it'll give you energy in the long run and you'll sleep better. Sleep is such a huge thing in beating this, and its hard to get a good unbroken nights sleep. Do you sleep well,by the way?
Please write back with more details of what it is you're experiencing, there are a lot of people on this forum with great advice and tips in beating this real imaginary monster!

[elgrande]

I learned recently that a common symptom of anxiety is this fear of going mad. I agree with what the previous poster said in that I don't think we would be thinking about it like we are if it was actually happening. I used to dabble a bit in recreational drugs when I was younger and for a long time I was convinced I had some sort of brain damage as a result. Obviously I know now that in fact what I triggered was simply anxiety. Anything more sinistar would have had a much greater impact on my life than anxiety has. I have still achieved a great deal and have no problems interacting with other people. People with serious mental illnesses find their lives grinding to a halt and its usually close friends and family who notice the changes first. I honestly don't think you have anything to worry about. These thoughts are simply part of this condition and I'm sure if you did a poll on this forum 99% of people would say that they have felt like this at one time or another or maybe even most of the time!

[Pokerguy]

Ty so much for the responses, they were a great help. I totally agree i AM BEING IRRATIONAL. My Doctor told me the same thing years ago, "PEOPLE WHO ARE MAD THINK THEY ARE FINE AND IF YOU TELL THEM DIFFRENT THEY THINK YOU ARE MAD OR IN ON THE SCHEME" I have had anxiety for years. I am 26 started about 17 with panic attacks, then turned into general anxiety. I take no medication and see no doctor because honestly I can beat this on my own with support. It started getting out of control when i had numbness in one foot. Then swellling in lower leg then radiating to other leg. It is a problem and I have vericose veins at 26 and am going to a vascular surgeon. But i fear it may hurt me before I see doctor. He is booked for a month. Also I haver high blood pressure am on medication just recently, pressure has to do with anxiety GURANTEED. SO I have soo many problems that make me think, now I am dizzy and I think i am dying. One thing lead to another to make me feel like every day I inch towards death or insanity. Legs get worse day by day regular doc sent me to specialist who knows CANT WORRY UNTIL TIME TO WORRY I GUESS. Well get back my name is Tom by the way, the support is such APPRECIATED.

[Evilbob333]

Hi Tom, I'm Tom too, 25 and like i posted before much the same problem!
I too am trying to beat this w/o medication and firmly believe that i can beat it on my own. Well not strictly on my own, theres my family, friends and counsellor all lending a hand too!
Reading your post i notice a very common thread...we get along just fine living with our anxiety and then something comes and its so big it sets off a whole new set off fears, like your fear of dying set off by the problems in your legs. And then after a while you'll get back in control of those fears and you'll b managing another set, and then eventually something else comes up and you'll have to start managing those. I dont want to say what the pain in your legs is but chances are its something absolutley minor and manageable, it could quite easily be an anxiety symptom. But the fact is, whatever it is...it will be manageable, and you'll deal with it, just like you're dealing with the torment of your anxiety.
I'll say again...you are in absolutely NO DANGER. none, at all. Your anxiety can do you no lasting harm, its adrenalin and the worse it can do is give you a few horrible symptom and knacker you out! It will not, no, it can not make you go mad or die...adrenalin is designed for the exact opposite reason...to keep you alive. As soon as you (and me) fully accept that yes its horrible and scary but nothing beyond that then we will start moving on with things...hard but its the only way to get over it...its about relearning our reactions to a scary thing.
Where do you live anyway? Have you tried accessing any CBT?

[Pokerguy]

I am from massachusetts, also what is a cbt?? Where are you from and I have aim if you do get bck with your sn??

[Evilbob333]

CBT is an acronym for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy...its thought to be the most effective form of therapy in addressing anxiety disorders. I dont have aim...i dont even know what aim is, but feel free to email me at [email protected]

[LemmycautioN]

I know where you're coming from pokerguy. My anxiety started at 17 with a panic attack and settled in as general anxiety after that. I used to worry all the time about going mad and ending up in a psych ward somewhere. I was told basically the same thing, if you worry about going crazy then you're definitely not going crazy. In regards to your vascular issue, I'm sure if your doctor thought that there was any life-threatening danger he would have scheduled a more immediate appointment. Varicose veins are not dangerous, but seeing a doctor was a good idea (coming from me that doesn't mean much since I'll go to the doctor for almost anything. ;) ) Also, anxiety can cause high blood pressure. I know when you have real reasons to go to the doctor your anxiety can increase. Last year my asthma came back after many years symptom-free and my panic attacks - which I hadn't had in almost ten years - followed shortly. Dizziness is also one of the most prevalent symptoms of anxiety for me and is very common for anxiety sufferers in general. Anyway, I hope you feel better.