Hey everyone! I'd like to talk to everyone about something to get it off my chest...
I've been dealing with anxiety for two years now. I don't know exactly when I started. It just sort of came. At first I didn't know what it was, and I thought everybody experienced what I was experiencing and that I was just being over-dramatic. I went through two years without help and wondering the whole time if something was wrong with me. It was only at the beginning of this school year that it got worse. I ended up in a class with none of my friends and a teacher that I didn't particularly like and everything just started to get worse from there. I'm generally a shy person when not around people that I know well, so I didn't talk much. My anxiety started getting worse and worse and my parents and teachers finally noticed. I would sometimes break down and cry at random times for no reason and yeah, it sucked. My mom took me to our family doctor and I explained what I was feeling, and she diagnosed me with Anxiety Disorder. I honestly felt relieved because I now knew what I was feeling was actually a thing. I started getting more help and talking to a therapist every month, and I talk to a school counsellor every week. This has helped me a lot.
Mind you, I still get anxiety attacks and they're mostly school related. They sometimes get so bad that I need to stay home or sometimes I need to ask my teacher if I can write a certain test another day because I'm just so anxious. People sometimes wonder so I tell them that I had to do this because I have bad anxiety, and they sometimes just give me a weird look and are probably thinking I'm just being too dramatic. It really sucks because I can't explain to them what I'm feeling because I don't even know why I'm having anxiety half of the time.
So I just wanted to take a moment and share my story. I think I'm getting better with my anxiety, but it's been a slow process. I do believe that people with anxiety can relate and understand another person better who too has anxiety.
Feel free to comment your anxiety stories below or just share some feelings on the topic.
I just wanted to talk about this because even though it seems silly, anxiety is actually a very serious topic.
I've been dealing with anxiety for two years now. I don't know exactly when I started. It just sort of came. At first I didn't know what it was, and I thought everybody experienced what I was experiencing and that I was just being over-dramatic. I went through two years without help and wondering the whole time if something was wrong with me. It was only at the beginning of this school year that it got worse. I ended up in a class with none of my friends and a teacher that I didn't particularly like and everything just started to get worse from there. I'm generally a shy person when not around people that I know well, so I didn't talk much. My anxiety started getting worse and worse and my parents and teachers finally noticed. I would sometimes break down and cry at random times for no reason and yeah, it sucked. My mom took me to our family doctor and I explained what I was feeling, and she diagnosed me with Anxiety Disorder. I honestly felt relieved because I now knew what I was feeling was actually a thing. I started getting more help and talking to a therapist every month, and I talk to a school counsellor every week. This has helped me a lot.
Mind you, I still get anxiety attacks and they're mostly school related. They sometimes get so bad that I need to stay home or sometimes I need to ask my teacher if I can write a certain test another day because I'm just so anxious. People sometimes wonder so I tell them that I had to do this because I have bad anxiety, and they sometimes just give me a weird look and are probably thinking I'm just being too dramatic. It really sucks because I can't explain to them what I'm feeling because I don't even know why I'm having anxiety half of the time.
So I just wanted to take a moment and share my story. I think I'm getting better with my anxiety, but it's been a slow process. I do believe that people with anxiety can relate and understand another person better who too has anxiety.
Feel free to comment your anxiety stories below or just share some feelings on the topic.
I just wanted to talk about this because even though it seems silly, anxiety is actually a very serious topic.
I am so sorry that you're going through this. I have occasional run ins with anxiety myself, and it can be extremely difficult, especially if you don't know what's going on. I have seen firsthand how extreme it can become, though.
When I was in college, I had a roommate who thought that there was something seriously wrong with her stomach. She would often double over in pain and vomit or dry heave, and had to miss many days, sometimes weeks, of class. After nearly two years(!!) of this, she was actually diagnosed with panic attacks. She would get so anxious that she felt like she was dying!
With medication and counseling for her panic attacks, the frequency went way down, and she started to feel much better.
When I was in college, I had a roommate who thought that there was something seriously wrong with her stomach. She would often double over in pain and vomit or dry heave, and had to miss many days, sometimes weeks, of class. After nearly two years(!!) of this, she was actually diagnosed with panic attacks. She would get so anxious that she felt like she was dying!
With medication and counseling for her panic attacks, the frequency went way down, and she started to feel much better.
First of all, I want to say how proud I am of you for you to have posted this. I know it's really hard to come out about something like this, especially with the judgment of others. I'm not officially diagnosed, but I struggle with anxiety as well! I met with my school therapist and was able to overcome it for the most part. But I completely understand the struggles, I've had my anxiety make me physically ill at times, so it's definitely not a walk in the park. I am so glad that you're able to do better! Just keep working at your meetings, and keep taking it step by step! If you keep going strong, I'm sure you'll be able to get through without always suffering it! I am amazed at the change that I've experienced myself, and I'm sure that the change is possible for you as well! Best of luck
I know it's really hard to come out about something like this, especially with the judgment of others. I'm not officially diagnosed, but I struggle with anxiety as well! I met with my school therapist and was able to overcome it for the most part. But I completely understand the struggles, I've had my anxiety make me physically ill at times, so it's definitely not a walk in the park. I am so glad that you're able to do better! Just keep working at your meetings, and keep taking it step by step! If you keep going strong, I'm sure you'll be able to get through without always suffering it! I am amazed at the change that I've experienced myself, and I'm sure that the change is possible for you as well! Best of luck
I've got a lovely diagnosed combo of depression, anxiety, avoidant personality disorder and to some extent adjustment disorder. It's a big mess that turned my life into a big mess, but I'm getting help. I was on Xanax for a bit to help me, but it wrecked me for days so I stopped using it. Having a healthy relationship with my boyfriend and being surrounded with understanding and supportive friends is definitely one of the biggest reasons I'm making a recovery though!
@Kim: Thank you. And yes, anxiety can be scary too. I couldn't imagine how scary it would be to watch someone have frequent anxiety attacks though with both of us not knowing what's going on. I'm happy to hear she got help and she started feeling better.
@CelestinaGrey: Thank you so much for the encouraging words!
I'm glad to hear you were able to overcome your anxiety for the most part. I think that anxiety will never really "go away". It's just always there. We can just learn how to deal with it and make it tolerable (but that's just my opinion). I'm happy you were able to fight it though! Stay strong! 
@Sanne: I am so sorry that you're going through all of this.
I can't imagine how hard that would be. Glad to hear you have good relationships and that helps you!! I agree that having supportive people surrounding you helps a lot.
@CelestinaGrey: Thank you so much for the encouraging words!
I'm glad to hear you were able to overcome your anxiety for the most part. I think that anxiety will never really "go away". It's just always there. We can just learn how to deal with it and make it tolerable (but that's just my opinion). I'm happy you were able to fight it though! Stay strong! @Sanne: I am so sorry that you're going through all of this.
I can't imagine how hard that would be. Glad to hear you have good relationships and that helps you!! I agree that having supportive people surrounding you helps a lot.
I've been dealing with it since I was in my mid-teens (I'm turning 27 this month) but I was diagnosed officially very late. For the longest time I thought I was just a generic failure in life who was too lazy to accomplish anything. It took a long time before I admitted I have real issues that inhibit my ability to function normally and that there were things that happened in my life that made me worse as time went by. I wish I had gotten help sooner. That's why I'm VERY glad to hear you've reached out 'early'! It makes the recovery process easier if you get to it in time.
If you ever want to talk about it, or figure out some extra tips and tricks to how to manage it, let me know. I'm by no means an expert and still getting therapy myself, but after so long I've learned a thing or two.
If you ever want to talk about it, or figure out some extra tips and tricks to how to manage it, let me know. I'm by no means an expert and still getting therapy myself, but after so long I've learned a thing or two.
Diagnosis is a beautiful feeling. I've got a whole cup of mental illnesses and generalized anxiety disorder is a huge part of them. I don't have many panic attacks, but I always feel this terrible feeling in my belly and it's really affected who I am friends with and who I want to be around.
Ironically I'm a lot better in person than I am online. I spend weeks if not months trying to get into online interaction. Honestly this is my third try at writing this out and I feel like it still might not really be what I want to say. I have to actively fight with myself to stop from editing posts all the time.
As for real life, I either withdraw and try never to see people more than once, or if I've deemed I like them, I get loud and embarrassing. I tend to spill all my secrets to them and usually I end up scaring people off. I've tried to act normal, but when I'm anxious, things just spill out of my mouth and it's terrible.
I also buy gifts for people because I think it will make them like me more, but often it just ends up being awkward and they want to reciprocate, but that makes me freak out. What if I don't like it? What if they gave me something special to them and I don't react right? Christmas is hell for me, not knowing what is in a package. My partner buys only what I ask him for because he knows I'll probably go crazy trying to figure it out. I hate reacting wrong (like I did our first Christmas together when he bought me a book he loves and I had no interest in. I still try and read it sometimes, but it's so boring!)
So, yeh.
Ironically I'm a lot better in person than I am online. I spend weeks if not months trying to get into online interaction. Honestly this is my third try at writing this out and I feel like it still might not really be what I want to say. I have to actively fight with myself to stop from editing posts all the time.
As for real life, I either withdraw and try never to see people more than once, or if I've deemed I like them, I get loud and embarrassing. I tend to spill all my secrets to them and usually I end up scaring people off. I've tried to act normal, but when I'm anxious, things just spill out of my mouth and it's terrible.
I also buy gifts for people because I think it will make them like me more, but often it just ends up being awkward and they want to reciprocate, but that makes me freak out. What if I don't like it? What if they gave me something special to them and I don't react right? Christmas is hell for me, not knowing what is in a package. My partner buys only what I ask him for because he knows I'll probably go crazy trying to figure it out. I hate reacting wrong (like I did our first Christmas together when he bought me a book he loves and I had no interest in. I still try and read it sometimes, but it's so boring!)
So, yeh.
Cacophony wrote:
Diagnosis is a beautiful feeling. I've got a whole cup of mental illnesses and generalized anxiety disorder is a huge part of them. I don't have many panic attacks, but I always feel this terrible feeling in my belly and it's really affected who I am friends with and who I want to be around.
Ironically I'm a lot better in person than I am online. I spend weeks if not months trying to get into online interaction. Honestly this is my third try at writing this out and I feel like it still might not really be what I want to say. I have to actively fight with myself to stop from editing posts all the time.
As for real life, I either withdraw and try never to see people more than once, or if I've deemed I like them, I get loud and embarrassing. I tend to spill all my secrets to them and usually I end up scaring people off. I've tried to act normal, but when I'm anxious, things just spill out of my mouth and it's terrible.
I also buy gifts for people because I think it will make them like me more, but often it just ends up being awkward and they want to reciprocate, but that makes me freak out. What if I don't like it? What if they gave me something special to them and I don't react right? Christmas is hell for me, not knowing what is in a package. My partner buys only what I ask him for because he knows I'll probably go crazy trying to figure it out. I hate reacting wrong (like I did our first Christmas together when he bought me a book he loves and I had no interest in. I still try and read it sometimes, but it's so boring!)
So, yeh.
Ironically I'm a lot better in person than I am online. I spend weeks if not months trying to get into online interaction. Honestly this is my third try at writing this out and I feel like it still might not really be what I want to say. I have to actively fight with myself to stop from editing posts all the time.
As for real life, I either withdraw and try never to see people more than once, or if I've deemed I like them, I get loud and embarrassing. I tend to spill all my secrets to them and usually I end up scaring people off. I've tried to act normal, but when I'm anxious, things just spill out of my mouth and it's terrible.
I also buy gifts for people because I think it will make them like me more, but often it just ends up being awkward and they want to reciprocate, but that makes me freak out. What if I don't like it? What if they gave me something special to them and I don't react right? Christmas is hell for me, not knowing what is in a package. My partner buys only what I ask him for because he knows I'll probably go crazy trying to figure it out. I hate reacting wrong (like I did our first Christmas together when he bought me a book he loves and I had no interest in. I still try and read it sometimes, but it's so boring!)
So, yeh.
I've been your friend for a long time and this sounds so alien to me! I've never felt like you were scaring me off or being inappropriate or anything like that.
Sanne wrote:
Cacophony wrote:
Diagnosis is a beautiful feeling. I've got a whole cup of mental illnesses and generalized anxiety disorder is a huge part of them. I don't have many panic attacks, but I always feel this terrible feeling in my belly and it's really affected who I am friends with and who I want to be around.
Ironically I'm a lot better in person than I am online. I spend weeks if not months trying to get into online interaction. Honestly this is my third try at writing this out and I feel like it still might not really be what I want to say. I have to actively fight with myself to stop from editing posts all the time.
As for real life, I either withdraw and try never to see people more than once, or if I've deemed I like them, I get loud and embarrassing. I tend to spill all my secrets to them and usually I end up scaring people off. I've tried to act normal, but when I'm anxious, things just spill out of my mouth and it's terrible.
I also buy gifts for people because I think it will make them like me more, but often it just ends up being awkward and they want to reciprocate, but that makes me freak out. What if I don't like it? What if they gave me something special to them and I don't react right? Christmas is hell for me, not knowing what is in a package. My partner buys only what I ask him for because he knows I'll probably go crazy trying to figure it out. I hate reacting wrong (like I did our first Christmas together when he bought me a book he loves and I had no interest in. I still try and read it sometimes, but it's so boring!)
So, yeh.
Ironically I'm a lot better in person than I am online. I spend weeks if not months trying to get into online interaction. Honestly this is my third try at writing this out and I feel like it still might not really be what I want to say. I have to actively fight with myself to stop from editing posts all the time.
As for real life, I either withdraw and try never to see people more than once, or if I've deemed I like them, I get loud and embarrassing. I tend to spill all my secrets to them and usually I end up scaring people off. I've tried to act normal, but when I'm anxious, things just spill out of my mouth and it's terrible.
I also buy gifts for people because I think it will make them like me more, but often it just ends up being awkward and they want to reciprocate, but that makes me freak out. What if I don't like it? What if they gave me something special to them and I don't react right? Christmas is hell for me, not knowing what is in a package. My partner buys only what I ask him for because he knows I'll probably go crazy trying to figure it out. I hate reacting wrong (like I did our first Christmas together when he bought me a book he loves and I had no interest in. I still try and read it sometimes, but it's so boring!)
So, yeh.
I've been your friend for a long time and this sounds so alien to me! I've never felt like you were scaring me off or being inappropriate or anything like that.
This is actually probably a side effect of the way your parents raised you. I tend to go overboard with adult conversation with some people because it is a coping mechanism for stuff that happened when I was little. Either way, I'm glad I never scared you off.
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