Are you a therapist? What do you make of this?

I'm 23. I've begun to worry myself ill lately. In my sleep, when I wake up, when I get into bed, all the time. It's like all the things that usually go on in the back of my head have suddenly come to the front all at once. I worry about getting older, time, how I'm going to afford to move back to London, what the hell I'm going to do with my life, who the hell I'm going to settle down with, my nose, my body shape, my car payments, whether I have Androgen Deficiency Syndrome/Body Dismorphic Disorder/cancer/manic depression, whether people think I'm insane, but mostly I worry about how to solve these problems. I conclude that I can't and then get panicy and deeply depressed. I'm feeling tired, defeated and have an permanent upset stomach.
I've completely cut off all my friends, I find the presence of everyone annoying, and I've started daydreaming about alcohol (!).

Is this a signal of someone's descent into lunacy? Why is this happening? I've made a doctors appointment for Thursday.

Prof Robin cheers for the insightful description. Has anyone ever referred to you as a c*nt?

What has been going on in your life the latest years? Have you had bad pressure on you some years ago or do you have trauma from the childhood? You are in a period in your life when questions like the one you have are very common. But you will not solve your problems by worrying! Try to analyse your situation and categorise the problems - which one of them are most alarming and needed to be done about? Start with that and try not to worry about the life - life will carry you if you only have trust.
It's no use to climb the mountain before you reach it! You'll be OK, just relax and take one thing at another.
Talk to your doctor about how you feel and have him/her to look for all symptoms of depression. If you have a depression that's ok, then you will get information about it and how you can deal with it. Good Luck!

My diagnosis is that you are feeling overwhelmed and depressed. I hope your Doctor is helpful and supportive.

Sounds like you are beginning to suffer from anxiety. I'd see your doctor and ask for CBT - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. If the worry and panic is stopping you living your normal life then I'd ask for some Beta Blockers.

you are not decending into lunacy and if you were you would be no different from everyone else who at one time or another in their lives feel like they cant cope with all the worries and stresses of life . You may have depression which can make you obsess about things (i know i did when it happened to me) At your age is the hardest because you are no longer seen as a child but probably cant handle the pressures of growing up and being independant because it is well tough especially if you havnt got bags of confidence . Tell your gp everything and make sure you are happy in taking any medication . in the meantime try deep breathing and repeat to yourself that YOU ARE OK and that you will feel better in time .

I am not a therapist. However I have been seeing various psychiatrists for 25 years. It sounds to me like you need to calm down. In other words, you have severe anxiety. I hope the physician you are seeing is a psychiatrist who can help.

Ouch - I feel Prof Stearidge is being a bit harsh. Unlike the prof I remember being 23 and it is an unsettling time. There has been some talk in psychiatry circles of a mid 20's kind of mid life crisis and its easy to see where it comes from. There will always be really successful people in this age group finishing uni and going into great jobs and envy at this is really common. Along with all the other modern ailments you've mentioned (money, body shape etc) its too easy to become overwhelmed.

1st things 1st. Get yourself a copy of "Sunshine (Everybody's Free)" by Baz Lurhmann, and listen to what the guy says. 2nd, start talking to your friends again (you'll know this makes sense when you listen to the song) - I know its really hard to accept but you are gonna have to learn to get on with your nose - I'm well into my 30's, still got acne (although not as debilitating as it used to be) and although its a total pain on the ****, you just have to get on with it. Ditto getting older, body shape, what other people think.

In fact, I could really go on for hours but the simple fact is, listen to that song, it says everything I would want to tell you about making you feel better about your self - but does it in about 4mins 30secs.

All the best.

You are so far up your own ar*se, It's all me me me,
you are a selfish nutter.