could someone give my advice on this anxiety symptom

Hi and welcome to the A/P.;)

I am sorry to hear of this fear that is bothering you at the moment.

This is from what I understand a new fear? Any idea what may have triggered it? For example, did you move back to your hometown, or do you have a reunion coming up?

If this is just a random worry, then it could just be that your brain has simply picked up something to stir up the anxiety.

Sometimes once we clear the big anxiety hurdles...such as the panic attacks/agoraphobia, ect....we can start to focus on more specific fears, that seem to come randomly, out of nowhere.

Mantras are really helpful for me. The words that we speak to ourselves have the power to change how we think and react. If you were to repeat a rational, positive phrase to yourself when you have the intrusive thoughts, it could break the hold that they have on you.

You could repeat:

"This thought is just a result of anxiety, and not something that I need to worry about."

or

"This is not likely to happen, and even if it did, everything would turn out just fine."

In all likeliness, you won't run into an old school mate...and even if you did, they would most likely be friendly...not even remembering the old things in the past.

Keep up the good work on your anxiety recovery. Look at how far you have come! This issue too will pass soon enough, I am sure.:)

Keep up the good work and post anytime!

S.C.

We have had several posts similar to this subject...intrusive thoughts, knowing in your mind that they are irrational, but fearing them none the less. (you may want to do a search of 'intrusive thoughts' or 'irrational fears' here if you would like to read more)

I am not a medical professional, and therefore not able to diagnose you of course...but often these things fall into the OCD spectrum. Did your dx of GAD this summer include any mention of it?

In any case, focusing on lowering your overall anxiety as you have been doing will help. Practicing breathing and relaxation exercises as well as the mantras mentioned above should help.

I know that when I am really stressed, I can get some pretty bizarre worries that normally wouldn't bother me. I know rationally that they are unreasonable, but they still happen. That's my cue to increase my anxiety coping skills!

Keep checking back, as more members may have some other input for you.;)

Talk to you soon,

S.C.'

I Once had those feelings and actually did run into those people I went to highschool with.... even ones I d fought with. Trust me... after all these years... they r not even thinkn about it. I remember one girl in particular that we really had a bad experience w one another when we were younger... everything seemed to b a competition between us and I ran into her on Facebook. I decided to just test the waters so I said hi and how are you.. Blass... blah... then I said I just wanted to let you know if I ever did anything to hurt you or offended you.. I'm sorry. To my surprise, she responded.. you never did anything to me and its so good to hear from you. P eople grow up and are not thinkin about those things. I have had people approach me from high school at stores that I know we weren't friends or had words and they just said don't I know you did you go to such n such high school. I have never had someone approach me in a rude manner or say anything rude.. from my school.Y ou were a kid then.. your grown now. Its just your mind tryn to trick u and you have nothing to b worried about. Sometimes even if your shaking in your boots... you have to confront your fears and make your mind up that if that were to every happen you would b the one to walk up to them an say hi!
Sometimes these anxiety are overwhelming but it does work to just breathe and keep telling yourself its not as big of a deal as your mind is telling you. Trust me... this to shall pass. Vicky

Vicky is right!

CC I graduated in 1960 with a class of almost 400 I have seen less than 10 of them in the last 50 years,
this is not a rational fear, they just dont care anymore, you shouldnt either, I have a suggestion.
In your own words ask God to forgive any past offences to anyone, He will let it go, you should to.

Larry ***

CC, this is what I do in those uncomfortable situations,

"I force myself to confront the situation, I walk directly into the fray, I am not going to let fear run my life,
if its going to get messed up I am perfectively capable of doing it myself". lol

I know its not a joke, but I have found that to confront my fears is good for me.

Larry ***