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...
Hi all, I have suffered from anxiety for a very long time. I'm hoping to reach out and see if anyone has experienced the kind of anxiety I do. When I was younger, and it first began, I got the general sweats, shaking/tingling hands (and feet, strangely), chest pounding, feel of suffocation, and night terrors. Sometimes it would happen for weeks straight. As I got older, I learned how to calm myself down, and I haven't had a really bad anxiety attack for a VERY long time. The things that I experience are what I like to call "Flashy Anxiety" when I try to go to bed at night. I lie in bed and try to get myself comfortable. Suddenly I start thinking of things, and when I say things, it is 100's of things all at once, like flashes in my mind. Everything is random. If I am really bothered by something, I will think of it obsessively. Sometimes it is the same phrase or lyrics in a song like a loop in my mind. It is to the point where I have to get up, turn on my lights, and do something because I can't settle down. I have TERRIBLE sleeping habits, but that is another story. I have never been honest with these things because I don't know how normal it sounds. I'm hoping that someone on here has experienced this kind of anxiety and maybe have some advice. I am waiting for my next doctor's appointment where I plan to come clean with my anxiety as well as my depression and see where I can go from there. Thank you in advance!
-C
Secondly, yes, I've had that type of anxiety. I've only experienced it a couple of times (my anxiety is more tied to long slow feelings of depression) but I've been there. For me it was almost like obsessive compulsions, without having obsessive compulsive disorder. I would have to get up and touch everything a certain way, or say phrases over and over again while paying extra close attention to the way my tongue moved in my mouth. I never got the OCD diagnosis, because like i said, this kind of panic is really inconsistent for me, but it's real, and you're not alone.
I''m glad to hear you're going to be talking to your doctor. That's a very brave thing to do, and it took me a long time before I could. I'm so glad I was able to get the help I needed and still need from my doctors and therapists. Please keep updated with us. This is a cool place to be!
It didn't used to be so easy. it used to be just panic, and yes, I could get it for days. I think my longest was 1 week, I would lose 10kg just from the constant anxiety. and fixated? OMG.
For me these have been the crisis times in my life, the crisis decisions I have had to make. before the decision I would be in this state. After the decision I'd be fine.
Thank you, Cach! Honestly, it would be amazing to actually be able to sleep at night. I'm usually up until about three to four in the morning tossing and turning. The flash anxiety is really the worse, and being in college triggers it even more, especially when I have deadlines. The one thing that has terrified me is become dependent on medication. I've had friends who were addicted to sleeping pills, and because I don't have much knowledge in that area, it kind of caused me to not ask my doctors about it, but I need to do what will help me live better.
Bridgie, I'm happy that you don't get the horrible anxiety anymore. I've definitely come a long way since my anxiety and panic attacks. I remember being terrified to sleep at other people's houses, walking alone, even showering was difficult. Luckily those days are over, but I still have a lot to work on. I think tackling my depression will really help with my anxiety.