Do you ever get a sense of impending doom?

[Virtues]

I think the thoughts you described are called intrusive.
Maybe the psychology world and the medical world should not share terminology. Makes things confusing ( and scary)

No, that was not what I meant...

Now I feel like a complete ass... when I read the original message I misunderstood and was genuinely concerned about your physical health (not that I'm not concerned about your anxiety because I am) but I just misunderstood what you were saying. If I would have asked questions instead of jumping the gun I would have scratched the surface of what you were talking about. I also get "intrusive thoughts" of death and dismemberment all the time (mainly revolving around my children).

 

[Gs172003]

Now I feel like a complete ass... when I read the original message I misunderstood and was genuinel...

You're not an ass. I misunderstand all the time.

 

[Cactus Bloom]

No, that was not what I meant. I meant that I felt that some kind of doomsday thing was about to hap...

Even without PTSD and other dissociative symptoms, I find people having the very real fear of terrible things are going to happen. If you watch the news and see what is going on in the world, it is frightening. Between wars, economic collapse, the fear of not having social security disability being available, natural disasters, death, and the list goes on and on of all the horrible things that can happen at any moment that we have absolutely no control over. This may not even be something you are dealing with but I know people who are.

Of course, there is the issue of your nervous system being stuck in trauma time that reacts to triggers in your present life that doesn’t make any sense at all. Does anything sound right to you?

 

[Freida]

Now I feel like a complete ass... when I read the original message I misunderstood and was genuinely concerned about your physical health

When we triage calls for medical responses at 911 one of the things we look for in people calling in for chest pains is them saying they have "a feeling of impending doom" It's actually a phrase in our medical response questions because it's so common. And yep - it is really pretty weird because it's not a really something you expect to hear from someone saying their chest hurts. but if the caller uses that phrase it actually bumps up the rescue response.

So yep - when I saw that first post that's where my brain jumped to also

 

[Tinyflame]

Actually I've had that, but very infrequently- maybe or 5 times in a lifetime. By that explanation I feel kind of- lucky? My dad had it too though infrequently so I thought it was genetic, or personality, or ptsd. Though I felt really ill.

To me it's different by far than ~premonitional-feeling- that feels like a barometric pressure change, and anxiety-based feels like great fear/ on the look out.

 

[anonymous]

the fear of not having social security disability being available...

What is this about? Is that personal, or is it something new with Social Security?

 

[Cactus Bloom]

What is this about? Is that personal, or is it something new with Social Security?

This isn’t something that is a constant worry but thoughts do creep in every once in awhile on both a personal level and national level. I haven’t heard anything recently to worry about social security disability being taken away on the national level lately so I let that be what it is.

 

[Changing4Best]

I've been thinking about some of what has been said here to do with "impending doom" being a psych term as well as a medical term and I remembered that I had quite a bit of trouble coming up with any terminology at all to describe what I was feeling. I coined the words "impending doom" to describe what I was feeling. I did not know this was medical terminology! I was simply at a loss for words and did not know how else to describe what I was feeling. Maybe this helps?

 

[recoveringfromptsd]

Yes, every time my situation uncertainty hyper-vigilance comes into play, its like the end of the world to me. Nothing but threats, nothing but the worse, even though its my perception which may be irrational.

 

[Freida]

@SpiritSong I think term, and the way you are using is entirely correct. It is a feeling of impending doom --- and that is an emotion to describe fear of what is going to happen next. It caught me by surprise because it also applies to medical triage which is where I used to work. But that doesn't mean it isn't the right term for what you are feeling! So go ahead and stick with it if it defines how you feel. But maybe, if you are talking to someone from EMS or hospitals, make sure you tell then you don't have chest pains :):)

 

[MJF 413]

I had an echocardiogram not that long ago. All is OK in that department. Also, since this is a lifel...

This is extremely common for those with CPTSD I’ve also had it pretty much lifelong to this day. I’m in my 60s now and it is still a regular feeling. Not everyday but many days.

Two explanations that help me are that some of us are just born more sensitive and vigilant. I still startle easily when something moves in my peripheral vision. If you haven’t read about the Highly Sensitive Person, I highly recommend it.

Then, add childhood trauma, I was physically and mentally bullied by a much older brother and you learn that something bad can happen anytime.

The bad news is it is lifelong but the good news is you can lesson the effects and work through it. I find that accepting it is there and that it is an emotional flashback (usually with no obvious cause or trigger) helps. That and knowing it will dissipate with time.

I don’t know if this helps but know you are not alone and certainly not crazy. If we were still hunter gatherers you would be the one that saves us from the tiger or a marauding band of other humans.

 

[Teasel]

I relate to this @SpiritSong and I'm sure I've read that a sense of doom was commonly linked to child abuse. Sounds likely that your trauma therapy would bring up those feelings hey x