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Is this normal with anxiety?

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tzumi56935
tzumi56935

TL;DR- I keep having ruminating what if thoughts (and this time, a word!) due to my intrusive thoughts (that mostly circle around my anxiety itself) like "what if i have or develop ocd?" though i do not have any obsessive or compulsive behaviours according to my therapist. Whenever I get out of one anxious thought cycle, I end up falling into another (it can be a new one or one of the old ones again)

the story-

I had my first therapy session after almost a year and while that made me feel better, I have a few questions on whether some things are normal with anxiety.

Two weeks ago, I had an anxious thought (after so many months without anxiety) and it drove me straight into a panic attack. Since then, I've been kind of struggling.

It started two weeks ago with me being anxious about having anxiety again after so long of not having it. So I searched it up and ended up reading some triggering posts which sent me into an anxiety loop.

After reading one of those posts, I had this one word pop up in my mind and it kind of scared me but eventually, it was okay. However, it randomly popped up again the next day and now, I knew this wasn't something that would actually happen but the idea of having that thought for a long time scared me. But after talking with my therapist and kind words from people here, I eventually started to get over it.

However, that again ended when I read some posts about OCD. I do not have any obsessions or compulsions but the thought that i have this word that pops up scares me. And while i know having certain daily habits (like exercising, praying, touching your hair or using the same blanket for comfort) aren't the same as compulsions, i can't bring myself to accept that completely yet.

Because as i was getting over the "what if i have ocd?" thought, the word that i didn't think about for some days popped up again and it reinforced the "what if i have ocd?" thought cycle.

It's like my anxiety keeps bringing past intrusive thoughts or issues when i start to get over one. So I end up having more negative what if thoughts.

Is this normal with anxiety? To have new intrusive thoughts pop up when you get over one?

Also, I'm really sorry if I'm bothering or annoying anyone here.

Thank You ❤

0 likes, 2 replies

2 Replies

  • sasical72
    sasical72 tzumi56935

    Posted

    Oooh bless you Tzumi, you are not annoying, we all come on here to get support or vent or whatever we need.

    Everything you explain is completely normal with anxiety, they are ALL anxiety thoughts, so don't be afraid.

    Take care x

  • irem1990
    irem1990 tzumi56935

    Posted

    Hey Tzumi,

    Intrusive and repetative thoughts are one of the most common symptom of anxiety, Try to not react to them I know it's hard not too but maybe start doing some mindfulness as I started to do recently and it kind of helps. You are not alone. We all going through the same / similar issues

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