Does anybody else have general anxiety besides just SA?

SadSally

Well-known member
I think I do. In general, I'm pretty calm, but certain things just make me tremble. In school, I never worried about exams or stuff like that.

But recently I've become petrified of terrorists. Last week I was shopping with my mom and there was this guy who was acting shifty (he was probably acting normally but I was paranoid) anyway, his jacket was extra puffy(bomb vest?), he kept walking in and out of the store, staring at everybody, it looked like he was inspecting they area. He was talking on the phone and he gave a thumbs up to some other guy. I thought he was a suicide bomber.
I was so jittery and I was on the verge of tears. Nothing happened. Afterwards, I felt so guilty because the guy ended up just buying a microwave. Lately this has been happening with every stranger I see. It doesn't matter what race they are, but I constantly find myself wondering if there is a bomb vest under their clothes.

Also, whenever my mom and brother are home later than they say they will, I begin to panic that they have been murdered or kidnapped. Like once, my mom came home and hour later than she usually does and I was a nervous wreck crying in my room. I really thought she was dead.
This happens whenever they're a little late.

Also, I'm afraid to walk around the house when I'm alone. I stay in my room until somebody comes home. I won't even walk down the hall to the bathroom if I'm alone.
 

Sacrament

Well-known member
By judging the guy with the puffy vest, you're doing the thing you're paranoid of others doing to you (judging negatively).

Try to leave your lights on when you're home alone, and convince yourself that it's more likely for everything to be fine than otherwise.
 

LoyalXenite

Well-known member
At the risk of sounding like a conspiracy theorist, its the governments fault for the terrorist fear. Its constantly being shoved down the throats of the western world. People in fear are easier for the government to control and manipulate.

I share your fear of loved ones being hurt when they are late, or dont reply, or dont answer the phone. I dont really have any advice for how to cope with it, because I dont know how to cope with it, I just tend to be in a state of panic until proven wrong. So no advice, but I understand the struggle.
 

Kiwong

Well-known member
Irrational thinking is something all people with anxiety suffer from, I suspect that would range along a spectrum for general to social anxiety, and possibly elements of OCD, agoraphobia, body dysmorphic disorder. I know I have many almost paranoid thoughts, and whilst my anxiety is mostly social it does go into generalised anxiety too. I'm not sure it would be possible to easily pigeon hole someone's mental illness.
 
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