Discussion Topic
Am I Really This Anxious? -How Bad is It?
Posted on 05/22/09, 12:46 am
Hello! I just joined this group. I'm new to the "world of anxiety" and am looking for some advice.
Here's my story (sorry its a little long):
I am 20 years old and finishing my second year of college. I think I've always had anxiety, but I had never thought to identify it as something. But when I had started getting panic attacks the night before papers were due, I went to my college's counseling center.
In the past month and a half, I have met with the counselor about once a week, I went to the doctor (which I never do) 3 times and was put on xanax and prozac, I was taken to the emergency room by a worried friend, and I stopped doing homework and going to class (I have talked to my professors, and they are all more than willing to give me extensions, thankfully).
Aside from meeting with counselors/doctors/school administration, I have been spending most of my time lying on my bed thinking. Before seeing the counselor, I had never been this low for this long. Now I am starting to pick up "symptoms" I never had before - I am calling and texting my friends obsessively because I'm afraid of being alone, I've been avoiding public places, I walk very, very slowly, I can't focus, I haven't been eating much, I startle very easily, I don't care about homework, I feel like I'm removed from the world, I've been shaking/snapping my fingers, talking to myself... etc.
So my question is: How do I know how bad my anxiety really is? Am I legitimately getting worse, or am I just picking up symptoms I "think" i should have? (Sometimes l feel like these new "symptoms" of anxiety are things I am picking up because someone told me I have an anxiety disorder, and so I am acting how I think people with anxiety should act.)
I hope that made sense...if not, I can try to clarify. Just curious if anyone had any thoughts on the situation.
Thanks
Here's my story (sorry its a little long):
I am 20 years old and finishing my second year of college. I think I've always had anxiety, but I had never thought to identify it as something. But when I had started getting panic attacks the night before papers were due, I went to my college's counseling center.
In the past month and a half, I have met with the counselor about once a week, I went to the doctor (which I never do) 3 times and was put on xanax and prozac, I was taken to the emergency room by a worried friend, and I stopped doing homework and going to class (I have talked to my professors, and they are all more than willing to give me extensions, thankfully).
Aside from meeting with counselors/doctors/school administration, I have been spending most of my time lying on my bed thinking. Before seeing the counselor, I had never been this low for this long. Now I am starting to pick up "symptoms" I never had before - I am calling and texting my friends obsessively because I'm afraid of being alone, I've been avoiding public places, I walk very, very slowly, I can't focus, I haven't been eating much, I startle very easily, I don't care about homework, I feel like I'm removed from the world, I've been shaking/snapping my fingers, talking to myself... etc.
So my question is: How do I know how bad my anxiety really is? Am I legitimately getting worse, or am I just picking up symptoms I "think" i should have? (Sometimes l feel like these new "symptoms" of anxiety are things I am picking up because someone told me I have an anxiety disorder, and so I am acting how I think people with anxiety should act.)
I hope that made sense...if not, I can try to clarify. Just curious if anyone had any thoughts on the situation.
Thanks
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Reply #1 05/22/09 5:23pm
i know how you feel . i do the same thing you do ( talking to myself walk slow ) i also look around like a crazy person i feel im justafied (really spelled wrong sorry) because i was raped as a teen so i alway look around i have a odd thing that happens to me as well like when im alseep i wake up with the sweaty hands and the shakes had a sleep study and they found nothing wrong with me . i do not like taking pills and have an illness that i do have to take meds for so i have just tooken up swimming to de stress my days.. i think at times when do have a anxiety disorder we dont realive what the sympotoms are until someone tells us . then your like oh yeah i do do that -
Reply #2 05/26/09 3:47pm
First of all .. welcome to our group..
and yes I know some of the symptoms too.. like never wanting to be alone.. I would (and still do out of habit now.. ) take my cellphone everywhere.. just so I could talk or text .. it would make me feel safe ..but at the same time .. not wanting to be out and about a lot of people.. and and and.. it took me quiet some time to change.. and you know what .. it started simply by recognizing symptoms.. just like you are starting to notice..
realizing that it is only anxiety and not a severe illness.. knowing about it.. knowing that I will be alright after.. knowing to keep myself occupied and distracted from being anxious.. and so on and on..
Feel free to message me anytime if you need any more answers.. or post.. because that is how I learned to deal with it.. by asking .. talking and just making sence of things.. different things work for different people. .. and coming here to DS .. I know for a fact has been lifechanging for me..
Hang in there.. never give up.. Hugs Simone -
Reply #3 06/05/09 5:15pm
This is also just how I feel, I have an array of different symptoms that I have suffered with for more than a year now and I have had quite severe deppression for over 4 years now, I have fond daily strength a real source of comfort and hope that we can help each other through these tough times.
Lots of hugs to you hun
Becky xxxx
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