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...
Hey everyone, I didn't know where to share my story because I don't even know if I have anxiety. The thing is that I've always had trouble communicating or talking to people, no matter the context (social, school, etc). Lately, this has gone worse because now I'm not even able to raise my hand and talk in front of my classroom when the teacher asks for an answer. I know it doesn't sound like a big deal but it is for me because I'm majoring in commmunications and my career consists in talking to people and performing all the time, so I'm really worried. An example: A couple of years ago I failed the participation grade with 04 (the maximun is 20 in my country) because I didn't want to talk, didn't want to everyone to listen to me bc I could be wrong, etc. A days ago, I was in my classroom and my heart start beating faster just because the teacher told us to introduce ourselves in the class, it was not the big deal and I met most of the people but still I got nervous. I don't know whats wrong with me, but I think it is affecting my life. I've been to the psycho before twice, and both of them have told me I'm shy and I don't want to leave my comfort zone, but I really really think it is more than that. Yesterday, I started crying because I'm not able to do this, to participate, envolve in the class and talk to the teacher or people I don't know, because I would like to say what I think. A lot of people in my class say nonsense things outloud and they don't even care if they're wrong, I want to be them. I want to stop feeling lonely when I have friends there with me. I know I may be overreacting because people with anxiety have worse problems than mine, but still. Physical symptomps? Well, my heart beats faster, tremors, I got colder (my hands especially, they're like frozen). Of course, I always try to do my best and pretend I'm 100% selfconfidence, but it is so hard. Thank you for reading, I haven't told anyone about this, at least not what I really feel. One more thing, I hate eating in public, I think everyone is looking at me all the time
You can get medication which will take the edge off, but you don't want to rely on it for life.
I was on medication for about 2 - 3 yrs, and it did wonders for me. It was a slow time coming off, but while I was on there I really did shift inside myself.
You know those people who don't mind being wrong? I am nearly one of them. I am almost totally one of them. This has been actually three years at the place I work doing the quiz. For the first year I never said a word, for fear of being wrong. And then one day I had some good answers, and people started listening. And as I gave good answers, I would give bad ones. And the boss would say if the wrong answer was followed that the person with the right answer didn't speak loud enough. So even if I was wrong, it wasn't my fault.
I just got to let go of the fear. So maybe just try risking being wrong. :) Nobody cares but you. One thing my ex boyfriend's daughter came up with once which was amazing, was giving someone a turn at being wrong. Didn't matter who made the mistake she'd say 'it's dad's turn to be wrong this week' and he could be blamed for everything. Next week someone else. so liberating.
Go talk to the counsellor about how bad this is. Unburdening is the first thing. :) you are very brave. I know you've got this.
I'm not a doctor, but I would say you're displaying some classic social anxiety disorder symptoms. I have had many of the issues you've talked about here and can tell you that if you bottle this all inside and pretend that you're ok when you're not, things will only get worse. But posting here is a good first step. Does your college have any mental health services? It would definitely be beneficial to speak with a therapist about what you are feeling. You don't have to live with it.