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untold27 said:
Is it natural to try to deny the fact that I have an anxiety problem (coming from someone who has not been diagnosed yet).
I keep telling myself that I am making it up.

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I think it's absolutely natural to deny having an anxiety problem. I denied it and pushed my way through life for 37 or 38 years. But I was STRONG. I could HANDLE this. I had a life to live, and that involved constantly having to go outside my comfort zone. And I CERTAINLY wasn't going to see a doctor about something as foolish as...ummmm.....I'm uncomfortable around people. No way....I'd always been a SURVIVOR!!!

And then, guess what happens? After denying it for long enough and continuing to place yourself in those stressful situations (but really, what's so stressful about walking down the sidewalk?? Jeepers!).....well, you tend to lose your coping skills. And then the REAL fun begins. If you thought you were anxious before, baby, you ain't seen nothing yet!!

No, you're not making it up. It's for real. But yours might be caused by hormones or your thyroid or even just that dang adrenaline that likes to surprise our heart unexpectedly. Then again, it could be a neurotransmittor.....or even family genetics that you just simply can't walk away from.

Get thee to the doctor. I know....it's humiliating. It took me until I was almost 40 years old to FINALLY awkwardly tell a doctor about my headcase! I felt humiliated. But you are the best judge of yourself.....and you really are the one to know if there is something not quite right in your world. It just takes a lot of courage to admit that to a doctor. But it's also the first step towards recovery as well. You may never get fully back to the way you once were, but believe me, you certainly can improve your quality of life.....and you'll be kicking yourself in the butt (is that possible??) that you didn't take care of this sooner when you really DID know. Admitting it is tough, although it does NOT make you a weaker person. In fact, it takes a heck of a lot of strength to admit something to a professional that you haven't even wanted to admit to yourself.

It's a process. Take it step by step. Go visit a doctor and just see what they suggest concerning your symptoms. Seriously, you really don't want it to get out of hand.....and there's a good chance that it will if you keep putting it off for another day and another day.

Good luck and God bless,
Sandy