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Can a person develop stress intolerance?

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Posted 5/4/2012 12:26 AM (GMT 0)
I am a middle-aged male with a history of (among other things) GAD, Panic Disorder, Hypochondria, OCD, Tourettes, Social Anxiety and ADHD.

Over the years (and decades) I have found that it has taken less and less to make me feel completely stressed out and overwhelmed. I can remember at one time only being stressed out by really serious or bad things but these days, it can be something as trivial as a simple trip to the grocery store and suddenly I'm a basket case going over all of the terrible possabilities and trying to analyze every angle and aspect of the trip until I just end up not going at all to relieve the stress of going in the first place.

The things that at one time I wouldn't think twice about doing are now things I wouldn't dream of doing because there is just too much "risk" and the exhausting process of having to analyze everything, looking for anything that could possibly go wrong and having to leave my safe zone for the scary unknown world of trying new things. Worrying, fretting, going crazy inside with fear over every little thing (even FUN things)...every minute detail, etc.

Sometimes I feel like I'm going mad. I have visitors coming that I haven't seen in years and all I can do for weeks on end is worry that this or that will go wrong and have gotten to the point where I am so stressed out that what should be a really fun time is turning into a stressful nightmare.

I have noticed this has gotten much worse over the years to the point where it is taking less and less for something to stress me out and send me into a complete downhill spiral. Could this be stress intolerance that has built up over the years?. Maybe adrenal fatigue?. Maybe just anxiety or OCD?. Anyone else feel this way?. It's like I can't even have fun or enjoy life anymore because everything is a worry. Need guidance please )-:

- Thanks, Seth
Posted 5/4/2012 12:53 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to Healing Well Seth,

I could probably write a small book about what you are experiencing, but I'll just comment on the key things.

 

My opinion is the one's that recover from anxiety to some level have to begin to face their fears, I feel like if we don't that the anxiety will consume us and progressively get worse.

First we may avoid one thing, then something else and something else until it becomes the common and not just the occasional.

 

Anxiety feeds off our fears and for the most part it's mostly false fears. We tend to be afraid of what we don't really know enough about. It's takes knowledge of the condition like what is really happening, how it works and so on. Even if we know how it works and why we feel the way we feel, it still takes a lot of effort to begin to turn it around and that includes facing fear and the uncomfortable stuff...unfortunately, that just seems like the way that it is......Best wishes Seth and take care......WM

Posted 5/4/2012 1:30 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Seth,

I definitely think that our tolerance to stress can get lower and lower if it goes untreated. Please remind me what you have tried as far as treatment for your anxiety?

There are many options available to help you to manage the issues that you describe in your post, and to help you to face and enjoy the things that you need and want to do in life.:)

Post back and let us know so that we can help/make recommendations.

Scaredy cat
Posted 5/4/2012 6:13 PM (GMT 0)
Seth,

I know from my own experience that what I dealt with in the past without a care or worry is much harder to deal with now, however, I feel each of us have our own unique life experiences that also influence how we cope with stress and anxiety.

I read a great answer from a member in the other forum you posted in and I agree with the response you received.  In fact reading the answer helped me so I hope you find it helps you.

Be Well,

Kitt

 

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