feeling of doom

[Adamj]

how do you guys deal with that feeling? Like I felt it pretty strong yesterday out of no where scared me. Happened today again was laying looking at my phone and just got that like wave of anxiety and doom that came down over me happened fast this is the first time in months that the anxiety actually felt that way like I felt something similar to that years ago. And of course you look up impending doom it could mean you’re about to die. Which you’d think I’d learn to not look things up!! Even read that part where it was like someone says they’re gonna die and then dies right after. I really wish I didn’t look things up

[Blueruth]

Only people who have experience impending doom think it means they are about to die and live to tell... 🙃

[EndUser13]

Anxiety is tricky like that, it'll lie to you and assure you something terrible is wrong. Then you worry about that and it turns into a vicious circle of self-doubt and symptoms. With experience, I think we all learn in our own ways how to notice these traps, and what may work to help pull one person out of such a situation may not be the same for another.

I tend to rationalize things or find a distraction that is light-hearted (like doodling something cute or embroidering something cheerful). I have felt this sense of doom so many times and no matter what I tell myself when I'm caught up in the moment I can't seem to say enough to get my brain out of some dark place. Reminding myself that I have felt this way before and turned out alright has helped on occasion.

While I don't want you to upset yourself, maybe desensitizing yourself to fear-inducing stimuli could help? Of course, I'd do this slowly, exposing yourself to some small amount of fear and then taking a step back, realizing that you did in fact survive it. I have a love/hate relationship with exposure therapy, I recognize its usefulness of it but it can feel like torture.

Your recent posts make me think you're having one hell of a time lately, I really do hope you find something comforting to latch on to!

[Adamj in reply to EndUser13]

Yeah my life be feeling like hell lately sadly. But I try to understand all this which maybe I shouldn’t be anymore. It’s just all confusing. My brain is always telling me I’m not going to get out of this. I sit and cry because I’m like why do I constantly have to deal with this. I try and be positive I even sat outside today watched the cloud float by enjoyed the birds. And then came inside because I was too hot laid down and got a feeling of fear/doom come over me.

[EndUser13 in reply to Adamj]

I think you are doing well to keep trying to have a positive outlook and do your best at handling what is sent your way, even if it's been awful a lot of the time.

[iOwlface]

Hi, I know this is an older thread but I found myself looking up the threads that mention this dreadful feeling, I’ve been feeling it a lot lately.

I have trouble with anxiety, particularly around health and symptoms. I’ve been having a lot of trouble with my IBS more recently, having had to be put on medication for it.

I notice the feeling of doom tends to happen before I feel some movement in my gut. After reading about the gut-brain axis, I’m pretty sure the feeling is caused by irritation of the vagus nerve. Have you tried any techniques that calm the vagus nerve? I know it sounds cliche but really deep breathing helps, even things like blowing up a balloon can help! As long as the exhale is longer than the inhale you’ve cracked it

All the best!