I've turned into a scary cat

This may explain why my mother kept putting off phoning her sister, whose birthday it was last week. Every night I phoned early so that she had time to call her after she'd spoken to me. To answer the question in the OP, I think this is the way we all go. First it's filling in forms, then it's phoning the Council, next it's people you know, and finally it's phoning members of your own family.

Sorry, this is not very helpful, but we should perhaps take on board all the sensible advice that people have posted on the thread: E.g. Don't be afraid to get help, take it in small doses.

I would add: It's the starting that is the biggest hurdle. Start well in advance in case it takes longer than you thought it would, then take a deep breath and take the bull by the horns; when you've finished, check and double-check, print it out or take a copy and go!

Oh I feel for you. I've had occasions when so much was coming at me from all directions that I couldn't make simple decisions
and put things off all the time.
Age UK used to be good at helping with forms in situations like yours - I hope they still do.
I think you need some space - a mental rest - and I hope you manage to achieve it. Very best wishes - remember - you are not alone.

You have sa lot going on and probably can't concentrate as well as you could good idea to copy form , try and get someone to help you hope you manage to get it done ?

I, too, am more nervous about things now I am older. I keep thinking I will die in poverty even though I probably won't as I am prudent and on top of most things.

I don't like admin much, nor do I like the way my husband drives on motorways (I used not to mind. He's never had an accident.). I hate phoning someone more than ever and I am not very good at days out or holidays.

I do battle with all these fears though as I do not want to end up as a reclusive nervous wreck.

Morethan2 Yes! I was thinking of copying the form before you start. Get two or more copies if you can and do it in pencil first. I am very bad at filling in forms correctly.

I know what you mean though. When not doing these things regularly any more I think we can be unnecessarily worried.
Gather everything together first.

I have had this feeling with a number of things recently. Bite the bullet and get it done and I think you will feel better.

Glad it isn't just me then. I am scared of most things now, rarely get beyond the front door, can't cope with paper work, hate modern life, not that keen on life in general.

I do bits of things and then go back to them...........it does at least get them done but the quality isn't what it used to be.

I am like this too and the more DH pushes me to get it done the worse I get. I just have to find a day when I won't be interrupted and grit my teeth. I do always find that once I get started it is better than I thought. One tip though, answer each question as you go, don't leave one to go back to because it means you will have to read the whole darn thing at some point! Good luck

morethan, it seems to me the last thing you are is a scaredy cat. With so much pressure it's not surprising you are overwhelmed. Only so much of you to go around. You've worked out your way forward so you will get there and I agree with others, the lift of pressure once it is done will be wonderful. Some virtual for you and maybe a real life treat for yourself for facing it and getting started?

Get help with the form, morethan. Maybe even legal help.

Get counseling for your general anxiety. You don't have to be such a "scaredy cat." There is help out there.

So sorry about ddil. Hoping her health improves.

...have become a scaredy cat too!! Have developed a real fear of taxis!!!!! And it makes life difficult...am in Dubai helping daughter with new baby..she cant drive till well after C section..hubby at work..only way around is to take a taxi....been getting worse this fear over last couple of years? Age? I dont know....

Can I ask, do you think you may be suffering from depression? I only ask because I dealt with paperwork all my working life but, when my marriage broke down I just couldn't face dealing with my own letters etc. At one point I put them in a bag, in the bottom of a wardrobe I didn't use, and just shut the door. It made me ill just thinking about them lying in there, unopened.

I hope the suggestions help morethan.

I'm sure you will feel more up beat when the darn form is in the post.

I can visualise you doing a little heel click & a skip just after you drop it in the post box

Never be at all concerned if you get words or phrases muddled up in life.
There are always more than enough people to back you up and support you

It's the language they use on the form it's so ambiguous. That makes me feel stupid. I can ask some of my colleagues but I so hate bothering people and worry they'll think I'm thick. Some of you are right my DiL visited at the weekend following the end of her treatment. She looks so tired and her skin looks burnt and sore. She didn't complain at all. She's been through so much. This is her second round of treatment in less than a year, she's had a mastectomy she's has to take so many drugs. My admiration knows no bounds but I find it harrowing seeing her suffering so much. So that's obviously is having a bearing on my anxiety. It makes me feel very whimpish. If she can cope then what excuse have I got. I'll have pulled myself together by tomorrow. I've started the form and will take it in tomorrow but it's finding the time in a busy schedule to ask for help. It's been going on for weeks. I just want it done. Thanks for your support I did follow some of the suggestions. I realise I've got the title of the thread wrong and that's what I mean there are times when I can't string two words together or in this case one.

Well, I've just had to fill two forms in online which made me very nervous. I took ages checking and double checking before I pressed 'submit'.

This is trivial by comparison I know because anything to do with pensions is so much more serious, but I spent about 15 mins this morning trying to claim compensation for a train journey delayed by well over 40 minutes. The amount of information needed was incredible and then, once I had ploughed through this online form, it requested the code number on the ticket. It showed an example of the ticket and where the code number was placed. My ticket did not have a code number. I gave up in digust. My ticket was only £12 but it was such a horrible journey that I wanted to claim for the delay - but it really wasn't worth the stress.

Anyway, sorry, back to your pension issue. If it is really worrying you, I expect someone at the CAB or Age Concern would be able to help you.

She'd probably prefer the spas, Luckygirl, but it would get the forms wet and would be no help whatsoever.

Everything just takes so long, doesn't it? I had my credit card declined twice in town yesterday, rang the provider to find it's been cancelled as their database has been hacked and I will be getting a letter about it. It took me 45 minutes on the phone just to get that far. And everything seems to be coming up for renewal at once, so it's all to price up/cancel/set up etc. I do find myself putting all this stuff off, and admin used to be meat and drink to me when I was at work. But as others have said, worrying about things can be worse than just doing them. The one step at a time approach is good advice, as is taking a copy of the form and having a dry run, if you still feel unsure about it.

one page at a time

morethan am I right in thinking you have a lot on your plate with regard to DDIL and family and some time from work to consider your options...maybe the word is overwhelmed ..how I feel when the world and it's bits of paper won't leave me alone

"saps"!!

Lots of good suggestions here and I hope they will be helpful to you.

You have a very stressful life at the moment I know and it spas one's confidence and leaves no energy for things that might once have seemed simple.

CAB are indeed good with forms and very happy to help.

I spent the whole of yesterday morning trying to sort out our savings. I could not find any info about our ISAs - all I knew was that we had some! Panic stations! Not a sheet of paper or a word about them anywhere! I did eventually ring them (I could at least remember whose they were) and they went through it all for me - I felt like a barmy old lady!!

Good luck with this. A bit at a time is definitely the way to go.

I get like that too morethan2. I think when you have a lot of stress over a period of time, you get frightened by unexpected important stuff. Just try to do it when you are feeling not quite so low, and take it slowly.
I get panic stricken over the most stupid things sometimes, but cope better on other days.

Two threads this weekend have made me heave a huge sigh of relief. This is one of them. Thank you morethan2 and good luck with your form filling.

I think the dummy run copy idea is excellent. I also tackle awkward forms in pencil then ink in. (Passport renewal looming and I'll do that then).
I had a difficult letter to write recently and left the first draft to mature for a week, tweaked it then wrote out and posted it quickly.
Today the problem has been solved!
Just don't put off too long as it will be more stressful with a deadline looming.
Good luck with it. ?