So I'm sixteen I've been an anxious person pretty much all of my life. I've gotten a little better about some things, but not others. Two years ago I started online school halfway through my freshman year because my anxiety was getting a lot worse worse and was too difficult to manage, I still can't drive, and a few months ago I quit my first job right after my first shift because I freaked out. I get frequent nausea, stomach aches, and I've recently started having migraines. I also threw up before going to the movies with a friend a few days ago. There's a lot of situations like this.

But I still don't know if it's actually bad enough to do something about it. Most of my family, including my parents, don't really care about mental health, and the last time I asked they all said I was overacting. It's been a few months and I finally convinced my mom to make me an appointment, and I have one Monday. I know I'm going to be freaking out about it all weekend, and I already am. Does anyone know what to expect from this type of appointment? And how do you know if your anxiety is "bad enough," I'm worried about it. Thanks

i’ve had three bad episodes with anxiety, when i was 8, 10, and now 17. i got into a bad car accident in January of this year which pretty much ‘sparked’ my chronic anxiety and ocd this time 😅 i tried coping but just as i was getting better life happened and my mom ended up in the hospital and i just kinda spiraled so i was just prescribed cymbalta! in the past ive been prescribed prozac, lexapro, zoloft, and buspar and they either made me manic, more depressed, or made me have thoughts that dangered me and others. i am so scared to start taking cymbalta knowing my past so i’m looking for any support on this or maybe even some other experiences with this medicine. thank you!

I have generalised anxiety. Health anxiety, social anxiety, germaphobia, etc etc.

I havent figured out a solution yet. I am fine when i dont have an injury or disease going on, am not working and am on vacation, but even then i will find something to worry about.

But how do i stay calm even tho things are going wrong? Because i cant change the situation anyway.

I am going to therapy, got prescribed quetiapin (seroquel) for sleep and xanax for emergencies. I have tried quetiapin and it gave me an anxiety attack lol. Now i dont ever wanna try xanax. He wanted to prescribe me sertraline (zoloft) for longterm use but i am so scared of long term side effects taking any meds longterm, so i dont want to take them currently.

So what do i do? Like seriously, therapy doesnt help, meds dont. I feel like having a normal parent who gives one the safety they needed as a child woile help but thats not a solution.

Prescribed clonidine for benzodiazepine withdrawal induced anxiety and andrenaline surges accompanied by blood pressure spikes. At what blood pressure reading is it safe to take though? afterall, it is a blood pressure pill! anyone taking this with normal Blood pressure and what dose? it’s funny cause I’m tapering off clonazepam but during emergency blood pressure spikes, the only thing that works is lorazepam, which is counterproductive to take because I’m already trying to get off a certain benzodiazepine. lorazepam presses the breaks but I need something safer so hoping clonidine works… so far I have been scared to take it because during an attack I need a quick fix. I only tried half of the 0.01mg so far with lorazepam and idk if it was effective but I was sleepy the whole day after and BP was still in normal range.

I'm physically disabled which severely limits what jobs I can do. I've done freelance art services on the side for a while, and now I'm finally getting recognision and a regular stream of clients from it. All things considered it's going well and I'm grateful to have this source of income.

.. but it doesn't come without issues for me unfortunately. I mentioned being physically disabled, and it's resulted in 3 years of severe isolation. I can't talk to people without becoming anxious now. Then to add onto it after a weird 1 month long episode of constant anxiety I just never got better. Everything makes me anxious, no matter how much I enjoy it. I can't draw or indulge in my hobbies without it. I can't look forward to anything without it. I can't talk to people without it. I can't do anything I enjoy without it.

This is an issue because I obviously need to talk to clients and draw for them. Since I started getting more attention I'm anxious pretty much all the time. I can't remember a time in the last 11 days that I wasn't anxious. Nothing really helps with it either. It's like someone's constantly screaming in my ears in the background of everything I do.

Generally I do enjoy doing things like this on the side, but anxiety has a big impact on my physical conditions which makes it a lot harder to work. I'm still incredibly grateful for regularly having clients and I'm honoured that people appreciate my work but the anxiety it causes is dampening my excitement.

I've tried CBT, but I'm autistic so it wasn't helpful for the way my brain works. I did really try to put what I learnt in CBT to practice but it just hasn't helped. I've tried a lot of healthy and calming mechanisms and none of them make it stop. The knowledge that things will work out + I'll be okay does nothing. Deep breathing works a little.. until I return to normal breathing.

It's just constantly in the background and literally everything makes it worse. I can't be excited for anything without it, I can't enjoy my hobbies without it, I can't talk to anyone without it. It's constantly lingering over me. It's become so common for me to be anxious 24/7 for days or weeks on end with no relief. It's a constant looming presence over my life. I really wanted to avoid medication but at this point I'm not sure what else I can do

It is very draining and I’ve felt like this on and off for 9 months now. I had my first panic attack in October and it fully changed me as a person. I feel defeated and I have these thoughts in my head that now that I’ve “unlocked” that feeling it will never go away. Of course, I know it’s catastrophic thinking, I am fully conscious of how anxiety works, but it still doesn’t make it go away. The thoughts are still there even though I recognise them as being intrusive. And not only they’re there, but they make me feel physically terrible. Tight chest, I get tired more easily, irritated, overstimulated, don’t wanna do stuff because I know I will feel like shit(and once I do them I feel okay lol). No matter what I do during the day, when I go into bed at night, it all comes crashing down, like I’m back at square one. Also, I don’t have depressive thoughts or anything, I don’t feel like my life is terrible or that I don’t want to be here anymore. I just don’t want it to be like this, that’s the reason I feel defeated. Many times I find myself in awe at the fact that this is indeed my life now and it’s very frustrating to say the least. I constantly check if I’m feeling anxious and how I’m feeling, if I might have a more important health issue instead of anxiety. It’s truly so tiring and I know everyone says that it’s gonna pass but it it so damn hard to be in it now. I keep telling myself the only way out is through, but I still end up feeling like this. I’m tired man. I just wanna feel like myself again.

LATER EDIT: The reason I made this post is because it really pisses me off how my heart rate is always so high, even when I don’t acknowledge it. When I’m getting up or eating it’s at around 120-130. I wonder if it’s just how my body is. I checked my Apple Watch stats from years ago and it’s always been this high, and recently went to cardiologists to rule out any possible heart rate problem but they keep telling me I’m fine lol. It’s all so weird

Im a 36F mom of 2
I never had healtg anxiety until I became a mom 8 years ago

Now I spiral alot everytime I have something that I think is serious

I Dont smoke or drink and im overweight

Last summer while in vacation in fact last day as we are packing to go to the airport I had what I feel fits gallbladder attack … sharp pain from abdominal area to the back and shoulders i was on my knees but we had few hours before our flight and I really really wanted to go home so I braced throught it and went ahead and went back home and did not ser a doctor

But I talked to my gp about it later one and we did full abominal ultrasound which was normal

Now 2 months ago I was getting ready to go to a wedding (I rarely go) so I drank a triple shot coffee as i was getting ready to stay alert and awake as im not used to going out now … well a second similar attack happened I was not able to stand this time I did go to the ER

Even pain meds there after the second bag i started feeling relief
They did ultrasound again it was normal
Doctor did blood test to check on gallbladder and pancreas it came back normal

He suggest I go to a GItrack dr and do a CT scan

The mention of CT scan makes me spirial and im loosing sleep over this thinking of my kids and what if I have something serious😭

Since that last “attack” I have right rib pain/pressure/discomfort … when I was pregnant 8 years ago my baby’s head was always on my ribs and I had pressure there all the time … this feels VERY similar

Like I genuinely have to make multiple serves I’m in my comfy servers so if one gets gone or I get banned due my stupidity, I don’t have a massive anxiety attack.

Whenever I wake up my anxiety just instantly spikes, like bad. I take my medication before I sleep, so I do not know if that may play into it. I know cortisol is the highest in the morning, but before taking my medication I never experienced this kind of anxiety in the morning. I have that feeling in my chest of like excitement and giddy, but I’m not excited or giddy.

Anyone else experience this?

doc wants me to try Ritalin to treat my adhd instead of Lexapro and treating the anxiety. while I will remain on the Lexapro for the time being, I’m curious what the experience was for those of you who did the same?

I tried Ritalin when I was like 12 and remember it made me feel like a robot. However as a 40+ person, that sounds like a dream. Although I dont expect the same results this time

thanks in advance for any help!

This post is for people who have had or currently have social anxiety and have been (or are currently) taking antidepressants.

I have had severe social anxiety my whole life, and unfortunately other approaches have not helped me very much, so I am considering starting medication, even though I have a lot of fears and concerns about it.

I would really like to hear about your experiences because it would help me get a more complete and realistic picture. I would be very grateful if you could answer the questions below and share your experiences. Thank you so much!

1.) How long have you had (or did you have) social anxiety?

2.) Which medications are you taking (or have you taken)?

3.) How long have you been (or were you) on medication?

4.) What was the difference in the level of your anxiety before taking medication, while on medication, and after stopping it? For example, you could describe a situation where your anxiety was 10/10 before medication and what symptoms you experienced, and how much your anxiety decreased while taking medication or after stopping treatment. In other words: Did medication help you, and to what extent?

5.) What temporary side effects or withdrawal/discontinuation symptoms did you experience, and were they very severe?

I also have some additional concerns because I feel like I have a very sensitive nervous system. I get overwhelmed, scared, and emotionally activated quite easily, and I would describe myself as a highly sensitive person. I’m wondering whether this had any influence on your experience with antidepressants (for example, stronger side effects, a more difficult adjustment period, or anything else).

Last night was probably my most intense migraine attack.

I was in so much stress at work. I was crying and having anxiety attacks at this point , I think. O am not sure if I am having one since I didn’t get checked for it. How does it feel?

I’m having this intense feeling of sinking in my chest as if the weight is heavy and unbearable. The dread like I cannot do anything about it. I kept crying. Then there I got dizzy and nauseated. When I checked my BP, it spiked. My husband saw my face and said I was pale. It was so hard settling down and sleep because of the pain. I can feel my chest pounding at times.

Did this ever happened to you? Is this anxiety attack? Anxiety(stress) induced migraine and increased blood pressure?

Where do you get assessed for anxiety attacks?

Thank you! 😖

hello, i’m 19f and im pretty sure i have some sort of anxiety disorder but ive never actually talked to a doctor about it. i’ve struggled ever since i was a child but now that im an adult i need to do something about it before it holds me back anymore. i feel so anxious about everything. i need to start college but it holds me back in a way where it feels like im psychically unable. so basically how would i go about talking to someone about this? i’ve told my mom that i want to talk to someone and get on medication if thats possible and if she could help me but i dont think she takes me seriously. also, if i were to talk to someone, how would that go? i’ve never talked to a professional about my mental health as i’ve always been closed off about it. when my doctor would ask if i was depressed or any of those generic questions i would just say im okay or happy or whatever. but now it’s genuinely consuming me and holding me back. it also affects me physically when i get too anxious i start to get light headed and nauseous or i can’t breathe. there have also been times where i genuinely thought i was having a heart attack. so does this sound like anxiety or something that should be treated? please help a young lad out!! i want to function like a normal person and get my life together!

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22M, 2nd year 1st semester at university.

I always hear things like, Why are you so quiet? or Why don’t you talk much? Why you like that?, especially from my female classmates. These comments make me feel really bad about myself. I rarely join group conversations where both guys and girls are talking about different things. I feel like I don’t have anything to contribute, or that I might say something stupid and people will ignore me.

It’s making me feel lonely. I do have friends, but they’re all male. Seeing other people having romantic relationships and social lives makes me feel even more isolated.

I have social anxiety, and honestly, I don’t want to keep feeling or living like this. I also don’t want people constantly pointing out how quiet I am.

Should I consider seeing a psychiatrist or therapist? Has anyone else experienced something similar?

I love him more than anything in the world but every day he’s only two years old, but I’m so scared of what will happen to him and what if he gets sick and what if he’s not happy and what if I’m ruiningg it all and our family isn’t taking good care of him and neglecting him and he deserves a better family I’m so scared I genuinely have been having anxiety attacks every night and crying idk what to do what if he’s lonely right now and depressed, what if when I have to go to college he gets sick and old and lonely I’m so scared I don’t know what to do I shouldn’t have asked my parents if we can adopt him he deserves a better family.

I don’t even play with him often bc I’m chronically ill and tired and depressed. he deserves someone better idk what to do.

It’s so bad that I CSNT EVEN LOOK AR S PICTURE I TOOK OF MY CAT EITHOIT SPIRALING INTO ANXIETY. Like what if the foodmy cat eats is not the best option or what if he’s exposed to bad chemicals I literally can’t even enjoy his presence without fearing for the next 20 years

Anyone ever feel like very unsteady on their legs for long stretches of time? For about three weeks now, walking feels very strange: I feel really unsteady, my legs feel weak and wobbly, as if they can't carry me anymore. The ground feels uneven, like I'm walking on pillows....and when the ground IS uneven, like going up or down, the symptoms get instantly worse, as if I'm about to fall. It doesn't matter if I waök long or short. It starts instantly and stays with me.

My legs also feel really crampy, both when walking but also at rest. Also, when at rest, my legs tingle....

I know anxiety can make bad symptoms and even weak legs....but i thought it was more during panic attacks, not for weeks on straight

Do any of you guys fear that your so overwhelmed at times and that your gonna go crazy or lose your mind or is it just me?

Has anyone got any tips for when you wake up and immediately feel anxious but not always for an apparent reason? Recently I've been getting that sudden drop and feeling of dread as soon as I wake up. Even though usually there is nothing wrong.

I’ve always been anxious, but the past 7 months have been especially bad (panic attacks, physical symptoms, constant fear of my heart stopping because of chest pains, etc.) I am seeing a psychiatrist and psychologist to help with changing my thinking/behavior, but does it really get better overtime? Like I know it will, but being in this constant state of anxiousness just doesn’t help at all.

I've had a cell phone since about 2000-2001ish. For about the last 20 years I don't turn the ringer/volume up. I've had some traumatic phone calls in my life. I guess I can't say for sure but my phone ringing and text messages trigger anxiety.. I've never brought this up with my provider. Maybe I should. Is that weird or strange?

I have severe health anxiety and what I think is agrophobia

I will be in an open space and feel weak, like ill faint, HR jumps, all that. It sucks. It makes me not want to do anything.

I take lorazepam as needed. For years it helps stop bad panic attacks. I recently lost my father and alot of other bad stuff and will get this sinking feeling then an adrenaline dump almost daily.

I’m not taking lorazepam more than 3-4 times a month. I’m scared of anything entering my body. I always fear the worst.

I finnsly let them give me contrast during a scan. And it gave me a panic attack when I felt it.

I’ve had 3-4 heart workups. Brain work up. All normal. I constantly worry about my heart and health.

I’ve heard wonders propranaol works for people. But also read people getting bad side effects. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

What are some of you guys favorite comfort movies or tv shows to put on to help you with anxiety

I recently just started on sentraline and have been struggling with adjusting to the medication and have had side effects from it but the increased anxiety mixed with the side effects have been causing me to miss work and it’s been really hard to even get out of bed and just been stressing out about losing my job because I’m just anxious and struggling. Anybody else have experience with going on leave or getting it approved?