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I know from reading symptoms of panic/anxiety that fear of going crazy is common. So most of the time I can convince myself that this is "just anxiety". But there are moments when I am absolutely convinced that I really AM crazy "this time".

Anyone else? Actually I'd especially like tips on how to cut that out!

I've even gone to a psychiatrist and a psychologist and explained what happens in my head when I'm feeling "crazy" (racing thoughts, thinking I see things out of the corner of my eye) and they both assure me this is NOT a sign of serious mental illness. But I have a hard time moving it to the part of my brain that BELIEVES it when I'm feeling really bad.

I had gone a couple months feeling really great but I've had a little setback the last couple days.

I know exactly what you mean. I felt the same way about 6 months ago. Just tell yourself that these are just thoughts and think of something else positive. I really do believe the positive thinking is the key to getting better! Start each day being thankful for everything you have and keep those same positive and thankful thoughts going through your head each day all day long. If bad thoughts come into your mind try to block them out and think POSITIVE! I know at first it's hard to get used to, but then like everything else it becomes a habit. Hope this helps! God bless you and I hope you feel better soon.

Good point. I guess I get confused on what the difference is between my "crazy thoughts" and really being crazy.

I've also had trouble concentrating this week. I feel like I'm in the twilight zone. I am hoping once I get to take my hormones again tonight I'll start feeling better again.

Today someone asked me a question and I closed my eyes for a second to think about it and I started seeing pictures flashing in my head. Is that normal? Very weird.

Are you taking any medication that could be causing any of these things? I know when I first started my medicine about 7 months ago I had a lot of times when I felt spacey and kind of "out of it." It is not a fun feeling, but somehow we have to know that these are just thoughts and we are not going crazy! Believe me there were days when I was convinced I was crazy! The medication and the tapes really helped me to change my thought process - walking and exercise are good as well as eating fresh fruits and vegetables. Hope this helps!

Faith,

Your thinkiong WAY TOO MUCH!
But that is OK!
It is normal for an anxious person to be extrememly analytical.
You re-thinking everything and that is what is causing you to feel even worse. I di it still sometimes but I am almost 100% better. ALmost NO anxiety whatsoever.
Everyone will have anxiety in their lives it's all in your reactions to them. THe people that have a problem with anxiety are NOT sick, crazy mentally ill or whatever. They just react negatively to the "normal" things that happen to EVERYBOSY! ANd yes that means wierd strange thoughts. Everyone has them Trust me.
Read this post I posted yesterday and be sure to check out the website. You can choose to be happy, calm and peaceful. No matter how hard it is, it is attainable.
Hi there,

I can totally relate with all of you. I suffered for about three years with OST's. (Obsessive Scary Thoughts).
I can now say that this symptoms( because it is a symptom of anxiety) has subsided 95%. I say 95% because, everybody has wierd, sometimes disturbing thoughts, every now and then. The difference between a "normal" person and someone who suffers with this symptom of anxiety, is in the reaction (aka the POWER for the thought to keep recurring) to them.
THEY can NOT hurt you, nor will they.

Please do not get discouraged and keep practicing underreacting to them. It can seem hard at first, Trust me I was there.
I used to say, "But what do you do when it pops up every three seconds! Keep underreacting? Yeah right?"
I felt like such a VICTIM all the time. I'm not and never was. I was just telling myself that I was.
There is nothing wrong with you except that you are probably distracting yourself from something that is truly bothering you. (SOmetimes you may not know what it is or it can take you a few years! like me)
But once you figure out what is bothering you, then you can deal wiht that issue and stop scaring y ourself with untru thoughts.
My issue was/is being my own safe independent person. Knowing that only I make myself feel better and knowing that it's in my control.

The following website helped me tremendously with OST's.

<A HREF="http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-elimin ... &id=231502" TARGET=_blank>http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-elimin ... =231502</A>

Trust me. You'll be fine. Even if the thought pops up again, again, and again.. Keep UNDERREACTING. I cannot stress how important that is.
Eventually they stop coming and you hear from them less and less.
Also- You do not need to have OCD to have Obsessive Scary Thoughts. Lucinda taught me that and I learned that from many different sources. Some like to label it "Pure O" or "OCD" but sometimes its just plain old "ANXIETY!!"

Good luck!!!
YOu are all going to overcome this!!!!

Originally posted by klk1922:
Are you taking any medication that could be causing any of these things?

I just started taking birth control to help with PMS and my cycles. So, possibly. I'm on my 4 days off the hormones and I think my body was liking the estrogen. LOL

Originally posted by Ld26angell:
Faith,

Your thinkiong WAY TOO MUCH!
But that is OK!

That's the understatement of the year LOL

Guess what I do for a job? I'm a Test Analyst.

Also- You do not need to have OCD to have Obsessive Scary Thoughts. Lucinda taught me that and I learned that from many different sources. Some like to label it "Pure O" or "OCD" but sometimes its just plain old "ANXIETY!!"

Good luck!!!
YOu are all going to overcome this!!!!

You know that's one of the things I asked the psychologist (who I went to for years a long time ago and went to recently just to diagnose what was 'WRONG' with me) he said. . . I'd say you have "a little O, a little C, but you're not OCD"

My husband was kidding me the other night (when I suddenly was having thoughts of . . . what if I get depressed and want to kill myself. . . weird) he said "why is it that you are bound and determined to find some terrible label for yourself?" He's convinced it's just anxiety and hormones.

I have some friends that I'm super close to that tell me that after all I've been through the past couple years, anyone would be having anxiety. Actually, one of those friends has shared with me her funky waking up and seeing things in the dark (one of my "issues") and things like that. . . all to try and convince me I'm really not CRAZY.

But my mind just likes to come up with new and creative ways to mess with me. Anyway, thanks for the reminder. I'll go read that link in a bit and probably reply back. I have a friend wanting me to go to lunch.

Yes i think i'm going crazy alot of the times. Especially those days when i'm feeling more spacy and bewildered and then I just remind myself that If I actually went crazy then I'd be put into a really fun room with walls where i can be safe from my anxiety and I can train myself to do gymnastics at the same time. Oh and it would be completely acceptable to pee all over the place and take a poop in the sink. Doesn't that sound really fun to you? I could then be ok with myself because I would be around many people who accept me for who I am and for whatever I do. Nothing would be expected from me...not even rational things. How could you not want to go crazy? That is my question to you.

Mike

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Originally posted by NinjaFrodo:
. How could you not want to go crazy? That is my question to you.

Mike

You're a riot. LOL

Well, I'd rather be home with my family and with my med phobia going crazy and having people coming at me with all sorts of pills to take at their will sounds like HELL on earth.

If I could transplant your vision of going crazy I wouldn't be afraid! LOL