By 11 THOUGHTS PEOPLE WHO ARE ANXIOUS ALL THE TIME GO THROUGH
“Did I leave the gas on?” “Did I make an error in my previous email?” “Should I not have said that?”
These are some of the countless thoughts that go on inside an anxious person’s mind. And these worries are alway playing on loop, driving them towards the point of becoming completely petrified of their actions and words. And even if some of these thoughts are what people without anxiety think, anxious people fail to recognise the difference because they are worrying all through the day.
1. “Did I offend them with my words?”
Saying something that could have offended others is a constant worry for people with anxiety. They think their words through carefully but simultaneously fret that they should have simply refrained from saying anything at all.
2. “Does this text read okay?”
Anxious people re-read their texts several times before hitting the send button. They keep re-wording their texts to the point when the final text resembles nothing like the original one. And once they hit send, the worry of getting a reply sets in.
3. “I should have taken the cab to the office today.”
Anxious people dread travelling in public transport. They feel all the eyes are on them. They sense danger at every turn. They feel like they are losing control over their surroundings and it worries them sick.
4. “Shit, what if something goes wrong?”
Having a loved one travelling or falling sick throws some people into the abyss. They can’t stop themselves from thinking the worst. The constant thought that something may go wrong leaves them feeling helpless.
5. “I forgot to lock my house!”
Anxiety makes people check their locks more than once. I personally know people who would literally hang on their locks as if their life depended on it. But it’s no laughing matter. On bad days, such thoughts overpower them.
6. “What if not enough people like my post?”
Social media is held responsible for more than one problem, especially for anxious folks who, after sending a post, sit on it and worry themselves sick about how people would react. “What if no one comments?” or “What if no one even likes my photo” are some of the thoughts that linger on.
7. “I can’t go to sleep.”
Restlessness is one of the by-products of being anxious all the time. The clock ticks on as they try to calm themselves down to dive into slumber. Self-chastising gives little solace – “It’s 3 AM! I don’t know how I will wake up tomorrow. I should have gone to bed early.”
8. “Are they laughing at me?”
The nagging feeling that someone is judging these people also never settles. In a social setting like a workplace, it becomes more pronounced. The already anxious person then finds herself/himself looking for a corner to crawl into.
9. “What if they pick up my call after two rings?”
Making a call is a real struggle. Speaking to an unknown person is an added tension. People avoid making calls or picking them for as long as they can manage. But when the moment comes, they are terrified.
10. “Will I get hurt?”
Whether in relationships or friendships, this thought is always there at the back of people’s heads if they suffer from anxiety. They may be leading happy lives but will always get upset over this thought for no apparent reason.
11. “Will this feeling ever leave me?”
More often than not, anxious people will fret about being anxious and would like to force the feeling to go away, once and for all. The anxiety stresses them out and leaves them drained of happiness. All they want is for it to stop.
