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Constant sense of dread

ConstantRepeat

I'm living with this underlying sense of dread all the time as if something terrible is about to happen. I'm always worrying about something bad happening to my loved ones in particular, and whenever I say goodbye to one of them I have an awful feeling as though it might be the last time I see them. I'm just always waiting for disaster to strike and it's having a really negative effect on my life. I guess it's my brain realising how unpredictable the world is and being unable to accept it. I was just wondering if anyone else here deals with this and if anyone has found a way to ease the stress.

Parents

  • Hi, I can relate to this and I think it is related to overthinking and trying to go through as many hypothetical scenarios as possible (eg. to be prepared). It’s not always a bad thing to think ahead but for me it gets excessive and I end up worrying about possible things that could happen that I have no control over anyways or I worry about events that are too far in future for me to even make a reliable prediction or come up with a plan if it did happen (as there are too many what ifs and too much information still lacking). I haven’t figured out yet how to deal with this stress best but I try to stop myself from worrying about things I have no control over anyways (as it’s not going to help) and in terms of coming up with plans for what i would do if xxx happened I try to draw the line at some point if it’s too far in future or I am lacking information and I tell myself that I am lacking info and cannot possibly think of all possible outcomes so I need to wait and see. Not sure if any of this helps - it’s super stressful when worries take overhand and it’s hard to switch it off. 

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  • Hi, I can relate to this and I think it is related to overthinking and trying to go through as many hypothetical scenarios as possible (eg. to be prepared). It’s not always a bad thing to think ahead but for me it gets excessive and I end up worrying about possible things that could happen that I have no control over anyways or I worry about events that are too far in future for me to even make a reliable prediction or come up with a plan if it did happen (as there are too many what ifs and too much information still lacking). I haven’t figured out yet how to deal with this stress best but I try to stop myself from worrying about things I have no control over anyways (as it’s not going to help) and in terms of coming up with plans for what i would do if xxx happened I try to draw the line at some point if it’s too far in future or I am lacking information and I tell myself that I am lacking info and cannot possibly think of all possible outcomes so I need to wait and see. Not sure if any of this helps - it’s super stressful when worries take overhand and it’s hard to switch it off. 

Children
  • in reply to Ann :)

    My brain works in an extremely similar way. I immediately analyse every possible outcome and then get stuck on and overwhelmed by the negative ones. Your reply definitely helps though! I usually just fall deeper and deeper into my worries when I start thinking like this but maybe reminding myself that I don't have enough information to come to any conclusion might be helpful in the future so thank you.