Hi, I am new here - I want to know if what I am experiencing is AD

[freakingout]

Hi everybody. I am a scientist by training, supported by 'soft' money, and I believe that every time that I know that funding is running out and I will have to find another job/position I experience anxiety disorder, although I have never been formally diagnosed. I am in that situation now, with funding likely running out after the summer. Reading the description of panic attacks and Anxiety Disorder symptoms online, I recognize the chest constriction (plus a general physical uneasiness that I cannot describe well), plus a sense of impending doom, negative thoughts that go around my head without me being able to control them, inability to enjoy everyday activities and lack of concentration. It is as if the fear of the impending future takes over and it is all I can think about, leaving me unable to enjoy the present. I try to tell myself that the last two times this happened I found another position without a gap (albeit making less $$ and doing something slightly different) so the terrible things I imagined and ruined my life for months never really became real. In retrospect, I suffered in vain - and so did my family, since I am not fun to be around when I am feeling like this. I also remind myself how other people are much worse off, but that only works for a short period of time. In the long run, these rationalizations do not dispel how I feel. I was on antidepressants once, and they did not make me feel good at all - and I am suspicious of my ability to benefit from behavioral therapy. Any tips and suggestions would be welcome!

[Cuchculan]

Welcome to the forum. Good to have you as a member. Here you are with like minded people. People who understand. As we all suffer from something or other. So feel free to ask any questions. Our members are always willing to help others out. Good chatroom too. 3 posts to enter the room.

Find the correct section of the forum that suits your condition and create a new topic on it. This is just a welcome section. Never really get the same amount of help in this section as you would on the other sections of the forums. So whatever one suits the questions you are asking. Get much better answers.

All users of the chatroom must be 18 years old or over. The room is off limits to anybody under the age of 18.

[Toofless-suh-suh-sorry...]

Anxiety doesn't listen to logic (trust me, my own anxious behaviour is nonsensical), and it can be utterly ruthless on you and those around you. Rationalisations only work for the rational part of your mind, and when you're anxious an entirely different system is driving things. Knowing you've survived the situations before is actually helpful, but your anxiety is still going "yes, but what if..?". Behavioural therapy helps because you learn to identify the thoughts that trigger the feelings, and learn how to use thoughts to counter the runaway effects of those feelings skewing other thoughts. It isn't easy or quick, but learning how to put that rational mind to use and put measures in place -like relaxation and breathing techniques- will help you begin to be able to manage. Learning about how anxiety works on your body and mind helps with objectivity as well.
And there are always people worse off, and there are always people better off as well; what you're going through is hard on you, full stop.
Take care, and I wish you well.