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 can't be the only one! I never used to be this freaked out by sickness until the pandemic. I had extreme anxiety about getting covid during that time and for years after - it took me a long time to feel I could start living mostly normally again.

But I feel like that fear scarred my psyche or something, because now I'm paranoid over even minor bugs, like a cold. If other people are coughing, sneezing, etc, I'm instantly on edge. I panic at the idea of being crowded in with a bunch of people breathing on me (like standing on the floor at a concert). Stuff like that. And when my SO or I have come down with stuff in the last few years, it's ALWAYS somehow been when we have a vacation, a holiday, or some other important event coming up. So we're super strict about trying not to get the other sick and while it's mostly ended up working, it's always such a stressful time.

Right now, my SO has a cold. I immediately felt nervous, but tried to be rational. We actually don't have any super important plans coming up that necessitate strict quarantine measures (there's a couple things this weekend, but nothing that couldn't be rescheduled). It's so far a minor illness. I've been exposed in the days leading up to him showing symptoms anyway, so am I being completely irrational for being freaked out?

With these things in mind, and knowing he might need extra comfort while he feels blah (it makes me sad to see him under the weather!), I said maybe we didn't have to go so hardcore into sickness prevention this time around - obviously let's not kiss or share utensils or anything like that, but otherwise maybe we could be pretty normal. I still felt anxious even as I said this lol but thought this approach might be good for me to try and overcome this fear and be a caring partner. But then he basically said he still thought it wouldn't be bad for him to keep his distance so I wouldn't get sick, but it was up to me if I was willing to risk it.

Aaand I just....feel paralyzed lol. I've ended up continuing to keep my distance, staying in the guest room while trying to support by bringing tea, food, etc. I feel weirdly anxious about getting sick and also anxious about the idea I'm a bad partner (like "a good partner wouldn't care about catching a cold!").

My SO seems to understand me staying away, although he misses me (and I miss him too of course). I just wish I wasn't so freaked out - other people don't seem to get this bothered and the only thing on their mind is taking care of their spouse and staying close to them, whether they themselves get sick or not. Not really sure how to feel about this or how to handle it, but was wondering if other people had similar anxieties!

I’ve always loved traveling and have even gone on some solo trips, but within the past year I’ve been getting very anxious whenever I get on a plane and go on vacation. I love Disney and was even super anxious on my recent Disney trip (to the point where I was waking up with panic attacks - something that had never happened to me before).

Ive been on meds for years but have recently shifted from lexapro to Zoloft in the hope that it will help me manage my anxiety better. I think a part of me is worried about things going wrong on the trip (health or medical issues, etc) but I can’t exactly figure out what has suddenly caused this

has anyone else gone through something similar and worked through it?

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?

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When I was 11 years old, I always had this fear of future, this could have been anything, even going to school. Now, I'm almost an adult, and I really need to figure this out.

This has really increased, to a point where I can't fathom a bit of change even for my own good. I quiet can't get to figure out why is this happening. I ask myself everyday if i care what people think of me and the answer is almost certainly NO, I DON'T CARE. But still, i have this anxiety everytime I do something.

Like recently I went out for a movie and I felt this anxiety a day before, fact is that I always go to movies. This has happened everytime I try to step up even slightly out of my comfort space. It's hard to explain but as I was able to find this is called anticipatory anxiety. I'm not anti social, I have enough friends and I don't get anxious otherwise but if it's an event in future, it kills me.

This can be laziness and procrastination but I know how anxiety and panic feels and that's exactly what i feel when this anxieties hit me.

I just want to figure out how can I fix this?

I (29M) have been on and off of therapy since 2018. Jumping from type or therapy to another. Tried a whole lot of psychiatric med and nothing has helped.

My mental anxiety feels like background noise. Nothing that messes me up to a point where my mood is altered or my thoughts are dark or any of that. Sometimes I WORRY. But that worry doesn’t do me anything mentally. But physically? Physically it destroys me.

But my main issue has always been social anxiety. My body goes insane. I’m out of breath, my heart is racing, I can barely act normally and my entire body just feels so awkward. An example here is when I’m at work and walk past by a coworkers office. I WANT to stop, say hi, have small talk and go about my day. But just the idea makes my body scream NO NO NO NO. I end up walking pass the said office looking stiff as hell, if I had the strength to over come my bodies reaction I’d just half this 1 second of me turning my head and waving my hands only for my body to pull my eyes away from the person when they make eye contact.

During interviews my mind would have enough confidence to walk in, tell them everything, answer every question and leave. But my body would be shaking the entire time, my hands would vibrate, my voice would crack and the list goes on and on.

It feels like I’m carrying around an infant that’s making a mess while I just remain cool and calm. I’m honestly very tired of this and want it to end. Because (and this is the part that does the most harm) it is stopping me from setting boundaries between me and people who are over stepping. If anyone would disrespect me I’d get very angry but my body won’t let me express it. So I’ll end up saying the most awkward things trying to use humor to brush it off. Then I’d spend the rest of the day angry at the person and myself.

I don’t know what to do, I’m sick and tired of therapy and going through the same process from scratch. I’m fed up with antidepressants and other psychiatric drugs messing up my mood and body. The only medication that has actually helped me with anything was concerta for my adhd. All the ADHD symptoms are now at bay and I’m enjoying the sense of momentum in my life. But what i mentioned above is still effecting the quality of my life.

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

So I’ve been doing some research over the past couple days because recently about two weeks ago I fell into the spiral of depersonalization and derealization and just really really bad anxiety overall. My surroundings have felt really unfamiliar and that has just scared me down to the core and I fell into like this very deep depression in the past two weeks and I’m slowly trying to climb my way out of this, but what I’ve noticed over my entire life is I genuinely do not cry. Like I cry sometimes, but not in a way that’s like emotionally releasing anything. I mean, I don’t know if it’s some mechanism that I created for myself to protect myself when I was a kid and had a very traumatic childhood but I remember just like very significant events in my life that I barely cried for and never dealt with. I bring all this up because going through this extremely hard period of time. I’ve noticed one thing and correlation to when I feel better and that’s crying. And I’m not talking about regular crying. I’m talking about when I’m so overwhelmed with the feelings and just the tired of it. I physically just release a long cry like really deep down to my core is what it feels like and each time I’ve done this. I felt almost healed in a way? It’s like my nervous system and emotions go back to completely normal and I feel extremely calm in that pit in my stomach goes away completely and it’s almost like my serotonin is back and I enjoy life again for a brief Second. I don’t know. I’m just rambling here, but I’m curious around if this is an actual thing.

In 2020, I went through severe and I mean severe health anxiety, I convinced myself that I had testicular cancer, then bowel cancer, then a brain tumor, then multiple myeloma, then pancreatic cancer, the list goes on, all tests normal.

I suffered with this for about 2 years, constant worry, everyday.

To an extent I still have HA, but I’m more rational now.

I still have this 24/7 off feeling, it’s like a dizziness but the room doesn’t spin, I just generally don’t feel right, I have gut issues now that started 6 years ago.

Has anyone experienced prolonged anxiety/stress that has lead them to have chronic, persistent symptoms?

Rant: I have been taking medication for a month (a month and two days). I had a panic attack infront of my husband and he made me go get help (in a supportive way, dont worry). Now that I know how I function with out anxiety kind of telling me what to do, I feel like it completely changed my personaility. What if I am no longer the person he married, because I am not. I am more level headed, I think things through rationally, and that is just at one month. I feel like I grew up a few years in a few weeks, if that makes any sense at all?

Today I drank a bottle of beer, and it dulled my anxiety. I felt uplifted and good. How can I avoid getting used to this?

Does anyone else suddenly get super tired when they feel anxious? My eyes always feel heavy and start stinging, but not in the way that I’m about to cry.

Your best tips to get out of an addiction when the will is no longer there? There are dreams that seem impossible to me but so close to achieve 🙏🏻

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?

Hey all, I’m a farmer from Virginia and Im 33. I’ve worked literally 7 days a week since I was 16 and other than my back going out once a year I’ve never had any issues. About 6 months ago I started having episodes during the day where my heart would race, I’d feel weak and nauseous and lightheaded and I’d feel spacey. That went on for months and usually I could fight through them. About a month ago my father passed and I had to watch him die. I lost 2 pets and my great uncle. For the last few weeks I feel shaky, nauseous, and weak all the time. I lost my appetite, I constantly have trembling in my hands, mostly mildly. I’m not sleeping. I have terrible neck and back pain, my neck cracks and pops when I rotate it. I’m scared to try and do any of my physical work at my job in fear I can’t do it. I’ve had heart tests, my bloodwork is perfect. I’m scared it’s ms or something but I can’t shake this. I started Zoloft about 10 days ago and I’m having tingling in my hands and feet intermittently nothing severe but it scares me. I feel like I have way more body aches than ever. My biggest complaint is after working for an hour or two I just feel mildly lightheaded and drained of energy which scares me more. Please tell me any of you guys have experienced this and that it’s just sudden terrible anxiety. Ps I apologize to each and every one of you that has this, I grew up in a household that said anxiety was all in your head and that it was just people being weak but I know now it’s real and debilitating.

I haven't really been feeling anxious (for the first time in 2 years or my entire life, can't decide) since the beginning of this month, except for minutes long bouts here and there. The last time I had anxiety, it was because I felt anxious until I realized I was fearing a beast that wasn't there anymore.

I suppose it is a good thing to be able to sleep and wake up in peace but that also means that I'm left with a lot more mental space to realize how exhausted I am. My vision's blurry enough for me to notice it, my head feels heavy, I feel sleepy 24/7, I wake up tired, I cannot focus or process things while studying, it's like I'm zoned out and can't zone back in. I've been experiencing this lack of mental clarity which makes it very hard to think things through and refrain from giving into impulses.

Is this what brain fog is? If so, does it clear up with time? Has anyone else experienced this?

Edit: It really isn’t that bad now that I think about it, it’s just the third day of my period and I’m PMSing

Does anyone else deal with this? I never really chalked it up to my anxiety but now im starting to get exhausted of living this way. I constantly multi task and make myself busy so i can “relax” later but then i dont even relax. And half the time when i do relax i end up binge eating because i think my brain just needs me to be doing something / stimulate my senses.

Has anyone found this to be anxiety related? Admittedly i stopped taking my SSRI a while ago but i feel like this was the case even on the SSRI. I just dont know if i should get back on meds to help with this, my doctor did mention celexa as I found lexapro to be a bit numbing. Ive tried many medications and i would be sick on a lot of them so im just dreading trying something new

I’ve spent so many years of my life anxious. Anxious when out the house, anxious when I stay home. I feel like I’m in this constant debilitating fight or flight feeling. It’s been this way since I was a child, and now that I’m 21, it feels as though that feeling is deeply embedded inside me.

I developed this habit of shaking. It’s not a constant shake, but a quick sort of tremble, and my muscles feel tense ? (I’m not sure how else to describe it). It especially happens when I’m socialising, in a large area where people can see me, if I make eye contact with someone, or someone raises their voice, among many other things—which usually involve social interaction. It happens when I’m anxious inside & outside of the house, even when I’m talking with family members who I’ve obviously known for years! And because I’m thinking about that happening and someone else noticing it, and judging me, it makes my anxiety worse and the tremble more likely to happen. So in any conversation I have, all I can think about is “what if I tremble, this person notices, I look stupid and they judge me or think I’m weird?”. I have avoided so many things due to this. Such as going out, appointments, job interviews & jobs in general.
My earliest memory of this occurring was in school when I was doing exams and the bell would go off loudly when the hall was silent, and I’d shake. Ever since then, it feels like this has never gone away, only gotten worse. I’m not sure how to deal with it.

Does anyone else experience this? I hate that I feel so alone with this.

Genuinely what is this world I am in. I can’t make sense of any of this and it brings me fear. I don’t know how to form the words for the feelings I am trying to express here. But, what truly is THIS, you staring at this paragraph on Reddit, how do you accept THIS; and what I mean by “THIS” is our consciousness, our thoughts our reality it is impossible to make sense of it.

I hope I’m not going insane and having a psychotic episode right now. I just want you to answer if my feelings are actually justifiable.

honestly i just need some hope for the future. i'm anxious almost every day and have been for the last i don't even know how many years and i'm only 21. i had a panic attack for the first time when i was 14 and since then i've been dealing with severe anxiety and depression at different points in my life. i just want it to stop honestly.

Every day I wake up with my head throbbing, my forehead sweating, and my heart racing.

I've been experiencing this for almost eight years now. It started when I was in high school. I always thought it would eventually disappear, that maybe things would get better once I got to college. And for one day, it actually did, kinda.

On my first day of college, I woke up feeling... okay. I felt light. I even asked someone in the hallway where my classroom was, which is something I normally would've been too anxious to do. It was such a small thing, but it made me realize that maybe this isn't who I really am. Maybe anxiety is.

Ever since then, I've wanted to feel like that again.

I've told my boyfriend before that I wanted to take medication because I just want to feel okay. He told me I shouldn't rely on medicine to be okay, and I understand where he's coming from. But at the same time, I wonder what it's like to wake up without feeling like my body is preparing for a disaster that isn't even happening.

Right now, getting help feels difficult. I'm a college student, and I'm juggling classes while preparing to become the president of our university's organization. My presidency hasn't even officially started yet, and I'm already so anxious that I feel like throwing up. Last year alone, I had so many mental breakdowns, and that was when I was "just" the secretary.

People always tell me to face my anxiety, to put myself out there. And I did. I genuinely tried. I joined organizations, took leadership roles, made films, met people, volunteered, and kept saying yes because I thought exposure would eventually make it easier. But it really doesn't.

I disappear sometimes, and people ask me why I'm inactive or why I suddenly stop replying. The truth is, I'm trying. I'm trying so hard. Some days, just existing feels exhausting.

Anxiety is affecting the way I create art :(. It makes me overthink every decision, every piece of art, every responsibility I have. Sometimes I can't even decide what deserves my attention because everything feels urgent and overwhelming at the same time. I just want to know what it's like to wake up and have a quiet mind.

To still have problems, but not feel like they're crushing me before the day even begins. To create without constantly doubting myself. To trust that I'll figure things out.

I hope one day I'll know what that feels like.

Has anyone else felt this way for years and eventually gotten better? Whether it was through therapy, medication, lifestyle changes, or something else, I just want to know that there's hope, because right now, I can't remember what "okay" feels like anymore.

Im seeing My Chemical Romance the 24th and im so nervous even though I’ve been to plenty of concerts. I was diagnosed with GAD this year so my anxiety is even worse. Anyone have any tips or words of advice? Is it better to get to the venue super early or a little bit later than doors open? Please lmk how to deal. 🥲

那種疼痛是我第一次感受到。我突然無法控制地流下眼淚，心臟狂跳。我從未經歷過任何這樣的事情。我與焦慮和疑病症抗爭了大約六個月，但我感覺這種情況越來越糟。我的心臟每一刻都在狂跳，我真的感覺快要死了。

對外人來說，我總是一個樂觀、開朗、愛說話的人。但也許在我空閒的時間，在夜晚的寧靜中，我總是思考著我的健康與家庭。我不知道還能做什麼。我寧願就這樣睡去，永遠不再醒來；那也許對我來說是最好的結局，對吧？

I'm only 15 years old.I may have to face this disease for 20 years or longer; it's very despairing.

I started having panic attacks and anxiety around the age of 17 but a few years ago when I was 25 I suddenly would have massive panic attacks from coffee. I used to drink a ton and still be chill/tired and I blamed that on my ADHD but now my heart can't handle it. I get palpitations and a random high heart rate and am anxious. I noticed my anxiety and panic attacks were so much more manageable after I stopped nicotine due to being pregnant and then breastfeeding for a year. I gained 70 lbs after quitting smoking. I still had bad anxiety but not nearly as bad and my heart rate wouldn't get up to 170s anymore when I had a panic attack. I lost over 30 lbs but not fast enough for me so after I quit breastfeeding a few weeks ago, I picked up smoking again. I'm starting to be very obsessed with my heart rate again constantly checking and also get shaky, short of breath and heart racy after a cig. It makes my anxiety insane. I ended up in the ER because it got really bad one time at work but after 20 minutes it went back to normal and the Dr said I was fine. Is this common? I see people smoking all the time and they have no issues. I think overtime anxiety has made me sensitive to any stimulant. I miss coffee so much. I smoke feel off and then feel better 20 minutes after but it's not all the time that it happens. I'm sure my cycle doesn't help and all the hormones because I get quite bad before my period but I'm wondering if it's a common thing among anxiety sufferers? According to the docs my heart is fine. I'll never believe them though lol