Save Me from My Stress

I stress over 'real' things, not what ifs. But my stress level is so high, I get anxious. I mean you should see me when it happens. It's like there is no break to where my mind wanders off. I also realized I was getting out of control worrying about things and was affecting my day to day life (examples: cancelled playdates, refusing to get together with people worrying if they're sick and not open about it etc). I discussed with my doctor who said I need help with my anxieties. and she prescribed pristiq. It's been over 4 weeks since I am taking it and boy what a difference. I still worry but nothing out of control.

Stay away from the internet and computer. This is like a bad addiction and go cold turkey and get some counseling. Admitting there is a problem is the first step.

I do pray and it really helps put some proper perspective on things and life. Since you don't pray or profess to be not hugely religious, here is my advice for you. You say that 3% seems huge, why not focus on the 97% which is huge?

You may need some counseling for this if you can't manage change on your own. It's alright to get help. I'll keep you in my prayers and give you one scripture to think about when these troubling thoughts plague your mind, "Cast all you care on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7 God loves you and I do too. Be well and be blessed.

Stress damages you! You know that.....other than "trying" not to stress, improve your diet, exercise, get on an absorbable multivitamin/mineral complex (some are good, some aren't. I can recommend one if you like), see the chiropractor and have a glass of wine....

Each of these things helps stress. Try them all. Determine what helps most and do it. Then try to do the other things as well.

God bless!

M.

I agree that you should never google anything medical - it would give anyone an anxiety attack! More broadly based, 1. take three deep breaths and 2. make a gratitude list of all that you are thankful for and all that is "right" in your world. You can even do both of these each morning and night before you get up and before you go to sleep. If you can take a yoga class - it's a wonderful way to calm your mind - if even for just one very peaceful hour... good luck to you

Ok my Dear - FOCUS WHAT IS GOOD IN YOUR LIFE. Really What if? Listen I know to much about Cancer becuase I am surrounded by it in my life right now. What IF you live your life to the fullest - cup half full not half empty! Come on.... I could go on and on here! You have the power to change your thinking - I pray you don't and that's ok - Positive thinking will get you through! Maybe find a support group for M.'s at your local hospital. GOOD LUCK!

A) Talk to your doctor. You may have an anxiety and/or obsessive disorder.
B) Talk to a therapist. They can help you put things in perspective and give you tips to combat your "need" to worry about things to this extent.

Someone once told me that about 99% of the things we worry about never even happen.
That's a lot of worrying for nothing.

Best wishes.

If your stress is keeping you from your life, if you know you're stressing about things out of your control and can't stop, if you KNOW it's irrational to feel that way but can't stop yourself, it's very possible you have an anxiety disorder. I like the suggestions of yoga and healthy, nutritious eating, but if those don't help, it may be time to check in with a doctor. I'm sorry you're going through this. Upsetting, runaway thoughts that you can't control can really wreak havoc on your life and affect everyone around you, so there's absolutely no shame in getting whatever help you need to get it under control.

STOP reading about them. Talk to yourself and say "I am not going to go there", I do not have that illness, I am healthy, I will be fine", then do the things necessary to prevent getting what you fear the most. I know where you are coming from. You are not alone.

So when you have a headache and you feel it is a brain tumor, don't be tempted to read up on what a brain tumor is, hard as it might be, but redirect your mind to something else, and analyze whether you have done anything to really cause of have a brain tumor...genetics, bad eating habits, stress, etc ..THEN when you have something valid to research, do so or to ease your mind call your doctor or speak to someone who really HAS the illness.

Ativan ;-) LOL I'm sorry your such a 'worry wort' ~ At least you understand its not "healthy" to go through life that way and not a good example to show your kids. Have you gone to a therapist ? YOGA was suggested and I'm going to 2nd that !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IF your going to research something on line PLEASE research Yoga and its BENEFITS ! xoxoxo

My girlfriend and I were just at lunch joking about how much we 'stress' over stuff.

First, cut yourself some slack. We all worry-and becoming parents increases that. And I think some of us worry more. Does the worry paralyze you or is it just a constant annoyance in your mind? If you can't shut off the worry and you are constantly replaying things over and over in your mind or it paralyzes you, (keeps you from allowing your kids to do something, etc)-you might want to consider talking to someone. A therapist can help give you tools to to deal with these types of things.

The other thing I can say-and it's easier said then done I know, but it REALLY helps. "Worry in order". It's a phrase my ped uses and I've adopted it. When my son wasn't doing this or that by the 'designated' age...and I was concerned she would say...'let's worry in order"...or when the entire bpha bottle controversy came up she broke down the facts and again said-worry in order....

I just said it to my husband the other night about something.

When you start running down a path of 'what if's' try stopping yourself, take a deep breath, consider what you can control and deal with and know to be true RIGHT NOW...and worry in order and then go from there.

I've been there and once in a while I feel those things again, but I pray, read the bible, and I seek comfort from people that love me, and I share my deep sadness and fear with them and they comfort me :) you should seek comfort as well from people that love you, turn the computer off and get out of the house, meet with your friends, go shopping, just dont be alone, you'll see you will start to enjoy your life and kick the what ifs to the curb!!

Psalm 91

1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a]
2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”

I have created a mantra for myself that I repeat when I begin to feel stressed--it's a reminder that I always land on my feet and that I come from a long line of people who rise above. I also told my partner that I was giving up stress and when I begin to get in the spiral of anxiety for him to remind me of my mantra if I have forgotten it. That really has helped me a lot.

there is a book called the Worry Cure, I havent read it yet, maybe you could read the reviews on it