Anxiety Support Group
Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...
I've had anxiety issues all my life. I used to go to a therapist a long time ago for my anxiety, but this was a long time ago when I was little. I got it into my head at a young age that I must be strong for my mother, because all of my siblings have been diagnosed with mental issues and I haven't. She's told me a handful of times of how proud she is for me to be the only normal kid. I have a repressed memory of when I almost overdosed at the age of ~12, and I'm a bit paranoid I may have more. I also hurt myself around that time. I told her shortly after that I had almost done so and she simply told me not to do it again. No trips to the psych ward like my other siblings. A year goes by and it's still driving me crazy so I tell her again how stressed I am. She tells me she doesn't remember I ever said anything about my repressed memory. Long story short; I don't trust her completely any more and I feel like I've been overeacting for the past 10 years of my life.
Sorry if this sounds like I'm venting here; I'll get to the point. Things have escalated in the past 2 months and my anxiety has gotten especially bad. I hurt myself for the first time in 5 years as a result of an anxiety attack and I was so terrified that my family would find out and take me out of school. I was incredibly ashamed as well. I couldn't look at a knife or a razor for the next week and a half without breaking down/almost breaking down.
I swear I'm not venting for the sake of it, I'm so scared and I don't know what to do. I feel like I have no one else to look to for help. I'm terrified I'm going to end up like my sister and I don't want to be a burden on my loved ones. I've never been this scared in my life. I genuinely want advice because I just don't know what to do. I don't care about being strong for my mother any more, I love her but I just know she won't help me. I've reached out to "friends" but they've told me I'm too privileged to have a disorder. I feel like every time I reach out for help I get shot down. Excercise has helped a little but then again, how much has it helped if I hurt myself? But maybe I'm just being over dramatic?
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Years ago, I won a mirrored armoire from my job. It's in my bedroom but I rarely stand in front of it. Yesterday, I had to have a dexascan done so I had to change into a gown. There was a full length mirror in the changing room. I'm aware that I gained 5 to 7 pounds over the last year from cheating on Keto but I didn't know what it looked like. It was a reality check.
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"don't be a hate hole" has been one of my recent mantras which seems to be escaping my mouth more and more often. it emerges when i am faced with the endless list of chores i would rather not deal with. insurance. head lice. bureaucracy. in-laws. the list goes on and on and on and on, ad infinitum.reality checks requested. am i making sense?"ever'thin they is but loving leaves a rust on your...
As far as your mom goes, it's important to remember that your mom is not going to see you as you are. She has an image of you that she is using. Again, not your responsibility.
When you change your response, reactions, and choices to fit your well-being, it makes others' responses change, not always for the better.
Stay hydrated, keep moving, use gentle motion to distract "focus in the moment" and even breathing to build the calmness all over fast.
As far as getting help goes, consider outside sources, and be very careful how you present your case. Sit down and write out what you want to say, how you want to be treated, and what you want the resolution to be. By setting it up and being calm when you are asking for resources, you'll have the opportunity to find the best fit for your well-being.
Best wishes.
I agree with the others who have posted. Is there another person in your life whether it be a teacher, school counselor, school nurse, priest/pastor, or simply another relative that would be supportive, listen, and help you get into counseling sessions with a counselor that can help you? Counseling can be very effective, it is not weakness in any way, and it can be very helpful.
Physical exercise works really well for anxiety, distracting yourself, adult meditative coloring books are helpful, journaling can be helpful, posting on here and talking to others will help, and a counselor can help with the different therapy techniques to help you with your anxiety and for hurting yourself. Medication is an option, I've seen it be successful (I used to work as a Mental Health Worker at a Psychiatric Hospital), for others all they need is counseling, some need a combination of both.
Either way, there is nothing wrong with having anxiety, or for what you're going through, you are not over reacting. If you ever need to vent, speak with someone, or need someone to listen, feel free to add me as a friend on her and message me. I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) with psychogenic seizures and panic attacks. Thankfully, I have been free of panic attacks and psychogenic seizures and medication for going on five years, all I experience now is anxiety itself, and most often when stressful, or emotionally painful situations present themselves.
Also - if you have a pet (i.e. dog, cat, etc). They can be great for helping with anxiety, my dogs always help calm me, always help me get through the day, can read my emotions and how they respond always brightens up my day, makes me smile and laugh, frustrate me when they misbehave, but that's furbabies for you :).
-Traci