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 had to go get groceries earlier today. My husband and I are having our half bath remodeled and I suggested him staying to work on the bathroom and for me to go get groceries alone. Since we have been married I have only gone shopping alone once before.
I woke up feeling so good and was actually having a happy go lucky day, which for me is very rare. I can actually probably count on one hand the days I have had like this morning. Anyway, I set off to the grocery store and realized before I got there that I had forgot to look in our chest freezer to see what we had left. My husband is a biker (Harley) and had his bike out at the time for a quick start up since spring is coming soon. I tried calling and was expecting no answer because I knew he said he would be down working on his bike and had no idea if he would hear the phone.
Luckily he did. He told me what we had in the freezer and I got off the phone.
As I was walking into the grocery store I could hear laughing behind me. I was wondering who are they laughing at? I assume it was me, but have no clue. I am off to a rough start, have no one there to help me with the list. My anxiety is climbing.
Somewhere close I hear someone else laughing and whispering. My mind wonders if they are talking about me. Did I mention I hate shopping!
I am a t-shirt and blue jean kind of girl and today I am wearing a nice gold shirt with jeggings. I wonder, do the people know that I am so uncomfortable in these stupid, tight, restrictive clothes? I start to sweat. Oh no! I hope people don't smell that I am sweating. How gross and embarrassing can it get? Ugh! I asked too soon.
I am finally at the check out line and the lady in front of me is talking with the cashier. I thought she said something to me, but I was wrong. She mentioned she happened to leave her husband home and was enjoying it. I could feel my face turning bright red, my ears were getting hot. I told her, why did I open my mouth? I left my husband home too and I am about to freak out. She told me not to have a panic attack.
SERIOUSLY!!!! I am in a grocery store standing in line sweating profusely, bright red ready to just leave. I feel a tear. What is wrong with me? It is 40 degrees out and I am driving the 15 minutes home with all my windows down.
I get home and my husband is outside ready to help me carry in the groceries. Before anything I call him to the side and have him feel my back. He only touched my shirt and said, what's wrong; you are soaking wet? The only thing I could get out was I am never doing that alone ever again. (Truth is I really hope I can, but it will take some time)
Has anyone ever had a similar experience?
I woke up feeling so good and was actually having a happy go lucky day, which for me is very rare. I can actually probably count on one hand the days I have had like this morning. Anyway, I set off to the grocery store and realized before I got there that I had forgot to look in our chest freezer to see what we had left. My husband is a biker (Harley) and had his bike out at the time for a quick start up since spring is coming soon. I tried calling and was expecting no answer because I knew he said he would be down working on his bike and had no idea if he would hear the phone.
Luckily he did. He told me what we had in the freezer and I got off the phone.
As I was walking into the grocery store I could hear laughing behind me. I was wondering who are they laughing at? I assume it was me, but have no clue. I am off to a rough start, have no one there to help me with the list. My anxiety is climbing.
Somewhere close I hear someone else laughing and whispering. My mind wonders if they are talking about me. Did I mention I hate shopping!
I am a t-shirt and blue jean kind of girl and today I am wearing a nice gold shirt with jeggings. I wonder, do the people know that I am so uncomfortable in these stupid, tight, restrictive clothes? I start to sweat. Oh no! I hope people don't smell that I am sweating. How gross and embarrassing can it get? Ugh! I asked too soon.
I am finally at the check out line and the lady in front of me is talking with the cashier. I thought she said something to me, but I was wrong. She mentioned she happened to leave her husband home and was enjoying it. I could feel my face turning bright red, my ears were getting hot. I told her, why did I open my mouth? I left my husband home too and I am about to freak out. She told me not to have a panic attack.
SERIOUSLY!!!! I am in a grocery store standing in line sweating profusely, bright red ready to just leave. I feel a tear. What is wrong with me? It is 40 degrees out and I am driving the 15 minutes home with all my windows down.
I get home and my husband is outside ready to help me carry in the groceries. Before anything I call him to the side and have him feel my back. He only touched my shirt and said, what's wrong; you are soaking wet? The only thing I could get out was I am never doing that alone ever again. (Truth is I really hope I can, but it will take some time)
Has anyone ever had a similar experience?
Good luck & hugs!
I remember when I was anxious I was on a shopping trip to Walmart. Out of nowhere my heart started beating fast and I became very nervous and sweaty. My first though was...OMG....I gotta get out of here. This was when I first started learning the tools to overcome anxiety and depression. Just being in the store was a huge stretch for me to begin with. So I grabbed the cart with both hands and began walking around the store slowly all the while breathing in through my nose and then slowly out through my lips. I kept telling myself that this was a negative scary trigger and that the feelings would pass.
Well...by golly, the symptoms slowly began to calm and I was able to finish my shopping. I guarantee you no one even noticed my panic. Even if they had...I'm sure any kind person would have helped me and really that is the only type of person I would waste any of my emotions on. People are generally very compassionate...I suppose that there may be a few bad apples out their but thank God they seem to far and few.
Great idea on trying on listening to meditation music if sounds bother you when you are out and about. The other thing is using just ear plugs....maybe that would help too!
By the way...Bravo for doing the shopping by yourself in the first place...it may have been a little trying....but, you did it!!!! Pat yourself on the back for that one!!!!
I'm just really angry when I go.....like homicidal...don't get in my way...I want in and out..and if I thought anyone was laughing at me...I would become very voistruous about it...embarrassing myself and others.
I become aggressive on my passive/aggressive behavior scale.
If I were ever to get arrested (never been)...it would be at the grocery store.
I will go with you. LOL...It makes me very anxious and that is how I react...you seem to be on the timid reaction side.
Yes I am very timid. In fact I was mute at one point in my life. I Often don't find people worth the wasted breath. I Have a very odd sense of things. I rarely ever smile either because I feel like I will age more quickly. I am a very serious person as well. I often think like you act, but never actually let those feelings out. There has been times that I have thought about putting holes in walls among other things, but I step back and think. Do I have the money/resources to get myself out of the mess it will put me in and is it worth it? Often the answer is no so I don't react.