Uncontrolled Worrying? Please help?

Question

I worry about everything to do with my family - if my sister goes on her bike for example, i have terrible thoughts in my head that she is going to get run over or abducted. I cry before she goes out. She is 12 and never goes anywhere by herself or without friends but it dosen't stop me worrying.
I also have images of terrible things in my head and when i try to block them out, its like my mind won't let me and forces me to think about them.
I find myself doing obsessive compulsions to deal with this, like if i touch a table 10 times nothing bad will happen and bargaining that i will do something i don't want to do if my family are kept safe.
Its not only at specific times that i do this, but worrying and obsessions dominate my life all day, every day. If i go out for a meal with my family i am always wandering if this is the last time we are all going to be together.
Has anyone been through the same thing? Please help, i am a quiet person and this just makes it worse. Thanks

I have tried talking to my parents, but they don't take me seriously and tell me not to worry which doesn't help at all.

Answer 1

I have an issue where I wash my hands regularly and I get paranoid over building my own pcs - ie left a cable off etc. I think this has part developed from days of school where you would get bullied and spat on. It is all psychological though. You have to remember that abductions and other worries you have are rare.

I control them with what I am about to tell you.
Sometimes the naggy voice is worse than others, especially if alone, mixing helps. Keep your mind busy.

What you are doing is looking for all the worst in a situation and making a nice colourful, bright, loud photo in your memory of it. So what you have to do here is do the opposite.

Take the photo and drain the colour from it, weaken the sounds so cannot hear them, colour it black and white, distance the photo, make it small etc. Then instead think of a clear photo (same way you are making the bad, only with good) so imagine her playing happily. Think of the fact she'll be back soon and no need to worry has done before etc. Then tell the voice, "thanks for your advice, but I'm not interested thanks!"

The touching of tables is not needed you only need do this. And if necessary tell yourself no. You can shut up now, not listening. Another thing that works is imagine a screen of any colour you choose. Now when you think that it blanks your mind, stops it thinking. It is also an instruction that you are in control and is a silly thing to worry about. If you do this right you can forget what the thing was you were thinking about LOL.

If someone sends you an e-mail saying send to 50 people get good luck and not get bad luck just bin it. It's called spam simply and its bollocks. You determine your own luck and where you want to be in this world and you have to make things happen if they are not. If you want bad things to happen you make those happen. So what you do is think only on good things and what will make you happy and believe it and then it will be attracted to you. IMHO.

There are some times when I just go to myself, "Oh, this is stupid, not interested, now go away." You are in control, not the voice. Think how silly touching the table 1000 times would be. Therefore it is silly touching it 10.

Answer 2

I feel that a doctor or counsellor could help. However from a self-help point of view:

I have had one obsessive thought while walking - counting. It began by accident and it was never a serious problem. I discovered how to stop it whenever I like. I became the boss of my own mind again.

My method is based on Transcendental Meditation.
Think a word or nonsense syllable as you walkm, keeping time with your steps. The word could be: One / Word / God / Car. Do not use a sentence. Don't tell anyone the word that you use. When you find your mind straying, gently bring it back to repeating your mantra.

This exercise will probably get rid of obsessive tunes in your head, if there.

Walking is a good exercise useful for depression.

Mix with people.

Do not eat junk food.

Keep regular hours of sleep and activity e.g. going to bed at 4 am on a regular basis is a bad idea.

Your long-term aim should be not just to get better, but to be able to be content most of the time.

Answer 3

Sweetie it sounds like you are dealing with a case of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I have it and I will think that if I do something a certain way (the wrong way in my head) that something bad will happen to someone. There is a medication out there to help you out it is called Luvox and is used solely for the purpose of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Prozac also helps. I would suggest that you see a Psychiatrist as soon as possible to get on a drug regiman to help you out with this. I know how bad that this disease can really be. Good Luck and God Bless you.

Answer 4

Excellent description. U can be helped by psychological thereapy along with medication. It is possible u may need antipsychotic medications or some other medications, depending on the diagnosis. I would recommend seeing a psychiatrist who can prescribe medication and let that person treat you. He or she can refer you when you are ready for individual or group therapy with someone after you are ready. If you have insurance it will be better. Some insurance only covers the medical part. You should see someone who will work WITH you not just give orders. In other words, someone who will listen when the medicine works or does not work. You should give any new medicine at least a week trial to make sure though. Good luck.

Answer 5

Hi Bexy89, im sorry you are going through such a bad time at the moment ! By the sounds of it you have depression twinned with OCD,the best thing for you to do is book an appt with ur doc he will be able to provide medication or counselling!! I have been through this myself and have over come many problems and anxiety's! i feel great now, you can get through this . I wish u all the luck in the world and sincerley hope u get better xx

Answer 6

I'm sorry you didn't get any support or reassurance from your parents when you tried to talk to them. You must get yourself an appointment to see your g.p. and ask for help. Cognitive behaviour therapy is really helpful for people with anxiety. So is counselling. And your g.p. can maybe help you talk to your parents?
If you don't get help from your g.p. then talk to an adult at school, ask for counselling, or phone Childline.
Anxiety is tough to deal with, the tension builds up and is unbearable. Rituals, such as touching the table 10 times seems to be the most common way our minds decide to deal with the problem. You're not alone with this one! There are people who have to wash their hands, people who have to turn the light on and off. When it gets to the point where you can't stop, its a compulsion.
Its best for you to get the right help now, sooner rather than later.
Best of luck to you.

Answer 7

I'm sorry that you are going through such a hard time right now.

Have you been to see a doctor yet and explained how you are feeling?

I have to say I have had certain feelings like thinking I am going to die and bad things will happen. I think it is down to anxiety and a lot of other things.

Seek help now - you do not say where you are based there are a lot of free helplines that could offer you help and counselling.

Good luck.

Answer 8

I think hat the issue lies within yourself you need to seek some kind of professional help, because this isn't normal and you cannot live the rest of your life feeling this way, and it isn't just going to go away. You need to Deal with these issues why not seek a counsellor and talk ur problems over, because at this stage it Will be hard to find anyone that Will understand you, especially your family as they will not understand your problem, because this is phycological and you need to find the root of the problem before you can deal with it

Answer 9

Cast your cares on Jesus. I've always been a worry wort, since I was a child (I spent a lot of time in the hospital growing up). But once I gave my life to Christ, everything else became bearable :) It's a process, and it gets better every day. I have three kids, and they have all had breathing problems (one had surgery twice, the other chokes constantly), but I manage. Without Jesus, I'd be on Prozac or something!!

Answer 10

Yes , this is very common. It is probably anxiety and OCD. I have had both in my life. It runs in my family. I was very scared to tell anyone but you must know that it can become worse over time. Please tell someone about it. You are not crazy.You can get a lot of help for this and I don't mean you have to be on medication. But you do need to go see a doctor. okay. Please do this today. Lots of Love Don't worry I promise you it will be okay. I am fine now and you will be too.