peacefulday, hopefully studying will occupy your mind in a good way this weekend. Best wishes on those exams. You are correct in that few people understand this continuous, deep seated anxiety and fear. I really don't think it's all generated by "anxiety." From what I've experienced, I think there's also something biochemical going on in the brain that causes these periods of dark thought. It's like something is chemically out of balance and out of our control to change by conscious thought, and it comes and goes. I have to say, I haven't had an episode of that gripping fear for quite some time. Hope the same for you soon.