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...
My anxiety doesn't generally cause a lot of disruption in my daily functions. It is often brought on when I am overwhelmed but more specifically when my visual and audio senses are overloaded. I work full time and attend school full time and am married with children. I don't take any medication and daily living is stressful but manageable. Today at the store with my wife I could feel the panic setting in. I generally go to the grocery store late at night when there are few people there and I can get in and out relatively quickly. It had been some considerable time since we had done a large scale shopping excursion where we restocked our pantry, dry goods and cleaning supplies. We had the time this afternoon and I knew it was going to be uncomfortable but we very rarely get time to accomplish things together especially when the kids aren't around (they were at grandparents house). The store was packed and every minute we were there my chest got tighter and I felt clammy and unable to control what was becoming very rapid breathing. I ended up becoming pretty short with my wife who in these moments wasn't moving fast and efficient enough for me. I'm sure it is a difficult thing for her to wrap her head around and on some level probably believes that I'm half making it up becuase I just don't like shopping. When I felt like we were blocking someone from getting by or I didn't see a clear path through the isle it felt like my heart was going to explode and I was all but completely paralyzed with panic. She had me get in line and while grabbing the final few items and once we were loading the car it was ok again. I am getting shaky now just typing this though. Where my real confusion lies is in the crowds of people dillemma. I am in recovery from alcoholism/addiction and in the fellowship of others at a recovery meeting, I'm completely fine in a crowded room of 200 people even if I don't know most/all of them. However, in shopping settings or anywhere out in public where I know I will have to make a lot of decisions no matter how insignificant, I almost always have these attacks when the places are crowded. This is why I go to the supermarket at 11pm or later. Does anyone else have this specific issue/use any methods to keep like they are going to have a heart attack?
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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...
Practice standing in front of the mirror, turning to the sides, and turn all the way round so you can see where you are. Draw an invisible circle around your feet, and check out how much you can observe from within your circle the next time you are out in public.
It's not the people so much, as it is the space of observation. We learn techniques in one environment and have to adjust it for other anxiety situations.
I hope this helps.
I have similar experiences at stores that you describe but have become much easier the more I just do it. I find that the most anxietary moment for me is at the grocery store, when I'm in the checkout line and especially when there are people in front and behind me and if starts to slow and I can't get my items on the conveyor belt and I have to just stand there and wait, that's when I get some panic. but not every time, good days and bad days. Like you I would go at off times like very early in the morning. Lately I have been forcing myself to go at busier times, a form of desensitization I suppose, that helps a lot, the more you do it the easier it will get. It has for me. One time I when in the middle of the day and it was packed and I was in the middle check out and when I got to paying it was like total over load with all the sounds and all the movement! lol All I could think of was omg I have to get out of here right now!! But it was ok... I just started to look around what was right in front of me and think of all the details that where there and usually the symptoms pass. Mideyebrow comment is very interesting ....I've never really thought of it that way.
Sorry for what you have been going through. I do not suffer from this, so I do not have any practical techniques; however, I want you to know, I will be praying for you.