Nervous rather than excited?

I've been having anxiety since around 2002 but it wasn't overly bothersome until around 2007 or so. I also have a sleep disorder which is not yet taken care of (in the process). My anxiety often isn't explainable and my doctor claimed the anxiety was likely physical as my body was actually stressed rather than my mind and it explains that through anxiety. I accepted that, though when I would tell this to my general doctor (allegedly, the only one who can prescribe anything for this), she was entirely against giving me anti-anxiety medication and opted to offer anti-depressants. Seeing as the anxiety isn't daily nor mental, I declined and decided to wait it out. I've had friends and family with poor results on anti-depressants and am quite content with the way I think at present and don't really want to screw with my brain chemistry. A family member (who is a nurse) recommended I got a small quantity of Valium for whenever the situation arrises. It's not a daily issue, so I'm currently uncomfortable with a daily solution but definitely need something for when it does happen as at the time being, I just drink or try an herbal remedy to subside the anxiety which likely isn't the best route.
More recently, I realized I became more anxious rather than just randomly. Now, I seem to get anxious in place of excitement. For example, I often make plans in advance to go out for the weekend. For a party or to see a band play; Something that should be and is enjoyable. I just made plans for next weekend and became extremely anxious rather than excited. Even knowing entirely that I have the power to cancel, I'm still anxious. I'm definitely not a social anxiety person as I'm extremely comfortable in social situations. I enjoy being on stage and in large crowds and the anxiety also subsides entirely by the time I'm out. This also doesn't occur for less enjoyable activities like attending classes, going to the gym or running errands. Still, this was not the case a few years back and it's slightly bothersome that I now have the randomized anxiety and now a trigger as well.
I haven't had much luck via Google and honestly have far too many physical medical issues to be concerned with adding a psychiatrist on at the moment. I'd love to know what this is and how to deal with it. Through Google, I have found a few people having the exact same complaint, but with no answer to accompany it. So, in efforts not to make this post any longer, I'd love to know A) What this could be and B) How to possibly deal with it or revert to the aforementioned excitement.

Hi, ashley! Maybe your mind is just translating excitement into anxiety because of the stress your body is going through? Have you looked into meditation? You could look it up online and see if meditating a little every day helps you.
How are you?

One thing I learned with me... And I am a bonified anxiety basket case is that I have trouble telling what is excitement and anxiety.

I am not a Psychiatrist or psychologist... ju8st someone who worked as a CNA in pyschiatric hospitas and decided to take as many Psych courses to help me understand what I was doing... that's my background.

I have been this way all my life. I never knew a day without servere anxiety. But, if you have never known the difference, you have nothing to compare it to. Stanima was my allie... when that dwindlede... then I became a patient as well as someone who has knowledge of psych.

Anxiety and exitement are similar. They both work with a chemical called adrenilane. This makes you aware ready for situations... like threats or fun things that are challenging. Nervousness...well... here

You are taking a mid-term: The grade is very important... it will effect your grade in your field of study. If you get a bad grade... you take it opver again... and pay more money for the class. You really want to ace that test. Anxiety: Am I ready for the test. Will I get a good grade. I hope I don't fail this class. That's anxiety.

Someone says that you are invited to go on vacation. Your best friend has talked with the parents and they would like for you to go on their yahte down in the Caribean. It will be fun. Yet, you have no idea what will happen... the people you will talk to... any problems that mi9ght arise... but the fun you can have outways the risks.

Both of these things cause adrenilane. Good things with anxiety are healthy... you get pumped up so that you are prepared for the unknown and the fun. Anxiety with out anything to look foprward are threats and nothing else... you feel you should avoid them...

Nervousness is normal. You get nervous to bring up adrenilane. The chemical changes you, getting you reaqdy for whats at hand. Focused. Sharp. excited in a good mood, ready for an adventure. Nervous is a dread feeling where you are afraid you are not ready for something. You wuish you could avoid it. You think of everything you could do to make the situation right... even second guessing what people might say even though you have no idea what one would say. Being prepared for negativity creates an obsessed mindset which is unheathy. Worring to much can make you sike... thus, professional help is needed. If you find yourself having difficulty with things that you need to do everyday... that's the time to get help.

Nervous... something needs your attention to prepare for situations that you perceive as harmful.
Exciting... something that captures your attention because interesting things can happen and you want to ready for them and have fun.

That's basically it.

I haven't tried meditation yet, but I should give it a try. It's sort of intimidating to start into a whole new field on your own, but I'll likely Youtube a few videos and attempt to get a grasp of it to see if it's for me.

It's definitely a negative anxiety that comes with positive situations suddenly. Although the only positive situation this effects is going out with friends. It's not affecting things I do everyday, necessarily. I used to go out and party daily/nightly... constantly, really. But it's not something I need to do daily, so I wouldn't consider it something that effects daily life. I also had the random anxiety when I was doing that, but not the anxiety prior to going out. Aside from the aforementioned random anxiety, this is only triggered when I make plans to do something fun. The plans I made when I initially got anxious, for example, are tonight. I'm not noticeably anxious yet, but that could subconsciously be because the weather isn't too good and I've yet to hear from my friends (although it's early) therefore I've psyched myself out of going (it's over an hour drive away, so I likely would cancel if there was whiteout snow as there just was). This would entirely make sense if social situations made me nervous, but they don't. The anxiety entirely subsides once I get out. I often attempt to think situations through logically, and it's somewhat bothering me that I don't have a logical solution for this.

Maybe the anxiety goes away the moment you go out because "you're doing it" then and you can feel that there's nothing to fear? Maybe it gives you courage? Let us know how you're doing!