Advice on a trigger; coming to the end of the day.

[Muffin89]

I'm not sure if this is a common feeling that others have, but I find that towards the end of the day I feel quite stressed. Feelings of anxiety stir up just as everyone around me settles down for the night. I used to believe that these feelings emerged because I was afraid of the next day, I guess that's partially true. However, recently the idea came to me that it might be because I feel like I haven't done enough during the day. I haven't made enough progress, I haven't kept up. I guess this links to the feeling of being behind, I always feel like i'm behind others and will never catch up. I don't know why this is, maybe being left out of many social events has created this insecurity/belief.

Sidenote: for those who may not have read previous posts, I've had a lot of problems with isolation in my life. I was quite alone for a lot of my childhood, things have started to improve and i'm struggling to adjust to that.

If it is due to feelings like I haven't done enough, what can I do to reduce this? I'm currently at college and have a lot of work to do. It feels like my attempts at tackling this huge pile of work lead to minute outcomes. I'm sure even if I do as much work as physically possible, these feelings will still come to me.

These feelings often lead to me staying up late/struggling to sleep. I may have a panic attack sometimes. It can extend to the point where I can't eat dinner, this happens when the anxiety sets in early. It normally doesn't hit until 7pm. This isn't the only reason for my anxiety, but it's a major one.

Has anyone else experienced these feelings or similar ones? Does anyone have any ideas on how I can deal with it. Thanks for reading!

[Satsuma]

That is a nice picture Muffin89 I hope what I have to say helps a little ... Just because anxiety feelings/ thoughts pop up doesn’t mean you have to react to them, or give them power.

Let’s say you wake up in a bad mood, and you feel like you’re not good enough. Step number one is to realize that you have gloomy sunglasses on. You see life through your mood. If you’re in a low mood, don’t pay much heed to what your mind says.

Step number two is to do your best in noticing when you react, because you will react at some point.

In the beginning, your thoughts/feelings seem like black holes that suck you in. But as you notice more and more, this will lessen, because you start catching yourself.

Remember, this isn’t about trying to now perfectly observe your thoughts. As this happens in tiny steps. You become 0.01% more aware every day, and it gains momentum until in a few years you look back and hardly recognize who you were.

[grace111]

Even when i have had a good day, some old part of myself steps in to try and make me anxious. I think when i have been busy during the day and have had things to distract me then i feel fine. When it come time to go to bed what will distract me? i will be left alone with my own thoughts. I tell myself i wont be able to sleep, so i have certain things i put into practise. I know i have stayed up untill im falling asleep through fear of going to bed. Those fears are just bogey men. I use apps to help myself to relax Angep put a post up with free meditations they were called insight timer i think they should be shared again as they are fabulous for relaxation and rest. You can download those free from the App store. There is a part of me that will do anything it can to make me stressed and worry i dont understand where it comes from but im learning how to deal with this. practise makes perfection although i probably will never get there in this world its an ideal i can grow towards. i love your pic with the budgies is so cute. If you have done your best for that day then that is good enough. You sound as if you have come such a long way, its good to recognise this when we start to feel we are not doing enough after all we can only do what we can do. You sound like a very brave person who had come to far. i wish you so much good for your future. It may help to remeber that your not the only one who had this to deal with as i read your post last night and when i had a bad night myself last night i was thinking about your post and thats why i came and replied to it today. love grace xoxoxo

[Hidden]

Yes, no matter what I do in a day it always feels like I've not done enough. Not lived up to my full potential. Falling behind everyone else.

I guess it's worse during the evening because during the day (theoretically) we "do things" that keep ourselves occupied... then when the day is done, we are left with nothing but our thoughts.

I cannot offer much advice with regards to alleviating such thought processes. Guess all I can say is, it's a journey toward being comfortable in one's own skin... and you're never alone.

Hang in there.