I have panic disorder, and OCD and anxiety. Does anyone else ever feel just off the edge all the time? Like I always feel like something’s off or something’s gonna happen. I don’t know how to explain the feeling. But I always feel off and when I feel off I panic
I feel “off” all the time! And you’re right it is hard to explain the feeling, you just don’t feel quite right but you don’t know why. It’s a really stressful feeling that makes me feel even more anxious than I was previously. It’s a vicious cycle of anxiety that leads to feeling off, then anxiety because of that and the anxiety making you feel even more off 🥲. It is especially hard when struggling with health ocd because you wonder if something could be wrong which leads to anxiety and panicking. I wish I had advice to give when this happens, but I struggle with it too. The thing I try to remember is that I have felt off and weird so many times, but nothing has happened because of it. It works sometimes but other times I think you have to just accept the feeling and try not to worry about it, which feels impossible at times, but with practice it gets a bit easier. You are not alone in that feeling though. I’m sorry you are going through this, but also, you’ve got this!
@shmemalee YES this is so me. thank you!!
@shmemalee It’s like I could’ve written the same thing. If anything it’s helpful to know we’re not alone in this ❤️🙏🏻
Hi cows12465! What you're describing is very common with panic disorder (and OCD and anxiety). If you're in ERP already, "interoceptive" exposures are a fantastic way to build up a tolerance to these uncomfortable feelings you're describing. With anxiety, OCD, and panic, we often develop a fear of bodily sensations, which can be due to or cause panic attacks. By exposing ourselves to those sensations deliberately, with guidance from an OCD & ERP specialist, we learn to dissociate discomfort from immediate danger. Here's an article that explains a bit more about this topic: https://www.treatmyocd.com/what-is-ocd/info/related-symptoms-conditions/can-intrusive-thoughts-cause-panic-attacks - I hope this is helpful!
@Tara Wight thank you!!
I also have panic disorder, OCD, and anxiety (along with some other things) and I definitely feel off, on edged all the time. Almost like I’m bracing for something to hit. If it’s stronger than usual, I panic. You’re not alone, I think panic disorder causes this almost waiting for the other shoe to drop feeling. Once the right shoe is down, we’re waiting on the left. Left goes down and suddenly we’re waiting on the right again. I also experience this kind of peace after a panic attack, do you? It’s like it finally hit so I can just relax for a few minutes before worrying again. I might just be tiring myself out, but it’s almost this drug induced calm feeling for a few moments.
@issphra 🫶🏻 yes yes. after i have a panic attack i feel peaceful, but i get them like every other day so it sucks but ive been doing better
I have always said that anxiety keeps you living in the past or living in the future, but not really focused on the here and now. You worry about the things that you did not do, or the things that you might miss out on, but you are really not focused on the here and now. This is unfortunate, as there are so many great things to do right now other than worry about how those things might go wrong. Now, could they go bad? Sure. But, is it better to not take any chances or do you want to live life? Anxiety says take no chances - only have guarantees. I say boo to that. I got married. The vows said in sickness and in health. I thought we would get health, but all we got was sickness. After my wife died, should I have regretted getting married? Did I make a stupid choice, or, did I do what seemed to be the best thing to do at the time of doing it, and it just turned out not to be so great after all? That is what it was. But, I am still glad that I did it. So, you may be anxious and you may feel off at times, but that something I believe you can handle, and I hope you learn to live with the fear that something might happen instead of be ruled by it. It may happen, but, again, I believe you can handle it. If you need help with this, check us out here at NOCD.
@Patrick McGrath thank you so very much!!
I feel the same way. I have panic disorder and I constantly feel on edge of something bad happening so rn I struggle with schizophrenia ocd and I’m scared to go crazy so everyday I’m on edge feeling impending doom like I’m about to lose control of myself and go crazy. Every. Single. Day. It’s a battle. Anytime I feel off/ weird I also get panic attacks or really anxious thinking that it means I’ll lose control of myself. Anytime I feel weird/ off I panic. Exhausting.
@Lilly2442! YES, this sounds like i wrote it out!! huh it sucks, it’s like my body is constantly worrying about my next panic attack that it makes me have one
@cows12465 Yes. Even thinking about a panic attack or just remembering how it feels to have one makes me feel as if I’m having one. I’m scared to panic. Remembering how anxiety feels or panic makes me feel as if it’s happening right now :(
@Lilly2442! yes i feel that it sucks so much.. i haven’t enjoyed my past couple of days because my mind is so focused on when the next is coming
Everyday I worry about when I might panic or “lose control” so my body is constantly on edge and I also experience panic attacks everyday not full on but just on edge feeling if that makes sense I’m never NOT anxious or stressing about panic or my thoughts.
@Lilly2442! me too it sucks
@cows12465 Do your intrusive thoughts give you panic attacks?
@Lilly2442! oh yes, that usually sparks them but most of the time it’s just out of no where
Yes. Here's what helped me. Match the anxious energy to your physical body. You're in a survival state fight/flight freeze, so go somewhere and run. Your breathing will go into a more natural rhythm and your nervous energy will lessen. Let's say you can't run right then, if you breathe in through your nose, then out, then plug your nose and hold your breath for as long as you can, then repeat that for however many times you want, your anxiety will lessen bc of the parasthetic nervous system. Panic attacks happen when you're the most stressed out due to triggers and life changes, so do the little things right, like water, eating and sleeping, and try to work on your triggers little by little, so that you grow your resilience. Wish you the best!
@andkel24 thank you!!
yep im in panic mode obseessing over finding a job. sucks. pulling my hair out in chunks while i stare at laptop for hours.
@LKRoseCity YES i sit and pull my hair in knots, it’s awful. im stressing over find a job right now because i recently got diagnosed with agoraphobia, so it’s making me stress. i hope all is well!
@cows12465 Same. People suck.
I feel like there’s no way out of this. everyday i’m anxious and depressed from these thoughts. i feel like i have to constantly question if it’s OCD or not. the panic attacks are insane and i freak out. and a compulsion i have is looking eveything up on the internet when im stressing to know that it’s just my OCD and im not in danger. but looking things up add on to my thoughts and i start thinking “what if” actual suidcal people think. do others with this theme whenever they do something like if im taking a picture it’ll be like “yeah you look happy people will wonder what happened when your gone” LIKE i DO NOT want to end my life. or even as simple as cleaning my room, “yup keep it clean so when your family goes through your stuff” then i panic and can’t even do anything. those thoughts distress me so bad. i’ll sit there and think how good my life is or when im having a good day my thoughts will be like “NOPEEE what if your just saying that to convince yourself” it never shuts up and genuinely makes me think i have SI or something. i hope this reaches the right people just to know im not alone. Even when i do get better in the back of my mind it’s always “people who want to are the same a day before too” im genuinely scared and im scared one day im going to just snap and do it because its “too much” do i need to go to a mental hospital! i feel insane.
I can't live with OCD anymore. It's ruining my life. I feel like I'm being constantly bullied in my own mind all day everyday. I don't know if what I think and feel is ever real or normal or okay, what is me and what is the OCD thoughts. I don't know if any of my experiences are normal. I'm exhausted from picking apart every single conversation I ever have with anyone until I'm strung out by a vague and ambiguous feeling of guilt. I'm tired of feeling like I'm a bad person and feeling scared all the time and not knowing why and having my brain spin me out on an endless spiralling train of thoughts that never goes anywhere and just makes me feel disconnected from everything and everyone around me. I don't know what I feel and if what I feel is normal or if anything I am doing is real and actually me or if I'm 'losing my mind.' I don't even know if this makes any sense. I get into these states of mind where every thought in my head and everything I feel and perceive makes me question my own sanity. I don't know if anyone likes me because I have absolutely no concept of what I am actually like. I feel completely lost and confused CONSTANTLY.
i’m currently experiencing a panicky anxiety attack and i don’t know why. i’ve been on edge all day because of being scared to get sick, but right now, i know i’m not going to get sick but i’m just really panicked and cannot calm down. i’m currently listening to music that helps relax me with an icepack on my neck to help, but not much is happening. my sister and mom keep coming into my room and it’s only making it worse but i don’t know why. i just don’t want to talk or be around anyone right now. these kinds of episodes are worse than any other because i don’t know why i’m so scared. it just feels like it’s never going to go away.
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