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...
Today I got a call from my mother in law....she had been in a wreck and needed me to come and get her.....she was only about 22 or so miles away. Anyway.....I FROZE....and immediately I was thinking in my own head...." I can't do this " because of course the call alone had made me panicky. I hate this anxiety disorder so bad....and I hate that when someone needs me in an emergency.....I buckle up and freeze and can't function. I called my sister in law and she told me that her husband and brother were on their way to get her already....which relieved me because I didn't have to go....but after my relief feeling...I started beating myself up because I feel like such a weak failure for not being able to go and get her. Has anyone ever had situations like this? I mean other people can just up and go to whatever emergency...it is their instinct to just help...and while they may feel nervous they realize the task at hand and look over the feelings. I feel like such a wimp and just an overall bad person for this.
I image most people on the anxiety board felt the same way. I have. Several times. Not always in an emergency, but the effects are the same. The panic, the fear, the hopelessness of the situation. And then it passes and you beat yourself up. Over and over. You drive down your self confidence, you belittle yourself. It's a vicious cycle.
Are you currently seeking any kind of treatment? Any therapy or counseling or medication of any kind? Even a support group sponsored by your local Mental Health Association would help. I'm going to my first group meeting on Tuesday - I've been in therapy for nearly 12 years, and I'm only just now realizing how bad things really are for me. And that I could use the extra help.
Don't beat yourself up. We're all here to help.