[psisci]

What is anxiety in your opinion?

the inability to stop worrying about any and everything and impending doom thoughts.

[mssumom]

For me it is a persistent feeling of being inadequate at my job, relating to other people or disappointing them. The feelings of there being only one way to stop the bad thoughts and feelings.

[southernyankee]

I'ts this awful feeling in the middle of my gut that gets worse over different issues or just seems to pop up out of no where. At it's worse I start to hyperventilate and the tears won't stop. It's a struggle to breath. All I can do is hang on to something until it's over.

[Perna]

lack of centeredness and quiet within; being emotionally out of kilter (like the cartoons where a character gets hit over the head with a frying pan and their whole body quivers)

an internal reaction to a jarring external event(s)

Thanks Dr Wylie!

Feeiing doom, as if everything is on the brink of collapse.

Having to pace to burn off adrenaline/energy.

Not being able to breathe well because of muscle constrictuion causing shallow breathing.

Not being able to relax!

Inability to focus and concentrate for very long. (I miss reading like I used to!)

Insomnia or interrupted sleep.

Not being comfortable around other people because of not being able to relax; not feeling like I can be myself.

Isolation.

Too much seriousness and lack of spontaneity; difficulty being 'in the moment'.

Either not much appetite or shovelling it in.

Worry. Trying to 'guess' what people are thinking and what will happen. (as if I could know either). Lots of time spent/wasted worrying about the future or things out of my control. .. sigh.. knowing that but still getting caught up in it. (working on it!)

Fears. Lots of fears. About losing people, making someone angry, not being able to get better, losing my job, losing everything, of new people and new situations, of success.

Seems it is trying to 'know' (control?) the future, others, situations as well as irrational fears and thinking.

Fear of the unknown seems to be the theme.

ECHOES

edited by ECHOES to add "Fear of the unknown".

Everything going fast.

[sabby]

It's when everything is going per usual and all of a sudden my heart palpitates, I begin sweating profusely (no it's not menopause LOL) breathing is difficult and I have the feeling of wanting to crawl out of my skin.

There is no "one" thing that gives me an anxiety attack per se. They just happen, whenever and wherever. I can travel overseas alone and never have an anxiety attack, but I can go the grocery store and never park my car and shop, I just turn around and go home. Go figure!

[pegasus]

Don't you know the answer Doc?

Fear

[untold27]

like what everyone said. constant worrying. inadequacy. feeling trapped in your own mind. the constant doubt. a need for reassurance. the inability to do anything that might result badly. having to have someone hold your hand on anything that you do.

and then there is the physical affects.. shortness of breath, tension, edginess, iritability, rapid heartrate,

....its like you can never rest.

and it really sucks.

[Juliana]

IMO, anxiety is a frantic feeling of impending doom.

[psisci]

Good answers. Any thoughts on why people feel normal anxiety as opposed to disordered anxiety?

[Reesie]

Poor coping skills?

[Calm]

Anxiety, for me, is living with apprehension, apprehension, apprehension!!!

[Reesie]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
psisci said:
Good answers. Any thoughts on why people feel normal anxiety as opposed to disordered anxiety?

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

the 10 common cognitive distortions, listed at beginning of psychotherapy forum?

[Calm]

I believe that if I ever experienced normal anxiety then at some point due to enough negative and traumatizing experiences it developed into disordered anxiety.

[Reesie]

. . .uncontrollable "what if" or "what will I do if . ?" thinking - but why?

[drunksunflower]

Isn't it 'normal' to feel apprehensive about certain situations - ones that are a bit scary or very important etc?

It is a natural and even adaptive response - 'nerves' give many people a bit of an edge in performance in many areas because you are that bit sharper and more aware.

'Disordered' is when the feelings are less rational, things are catastrophised, it occurs over small things instead of something important like say a job interview, and the anxiety interferes with everyday functioning and ability to complete work, family, social tasks etc?

worrying about the speechless terror that will take over my life in a heart beat... knowing that IT is coming so that I can't stop worrying or IT will most assurdly come..worrying keeps the speechless terror away.. so the worry, worry, worry, worry creates the overhelming feeling I call "anxiety"

So by having "anxiety" I am safer from the worse feeling of "speechless terror"

for people that experience disordered anxiety - knowing how really awlful things can be, and wanting to anything subconsiously to never ever have trigger a situation to cause something like it... not being able to process noises, situations, people correctly because that part of your brain has been "damaged"

[chichi]

well I have a anxiety disorder and I wouldn't go that far and say my brain is damaged. It is however something I have to learn how to cope with and know that it is a chemical imbalance which is being treated by meds and lifestyle changes. I am a sensitive person and am a little hyper and am prone to anxiety like someone who is prone to cancer, it can happen to anyone....I keep trying to be positive about how I will get better with time or at least learn how to cope and live a "normal life"....with saying all that today has not been a good day my disorder comes with alot of phyisical symptoms like shortness of breath which comes so involuntarily it leaves me with a very sore chest that aches.

[radio_flyer]

Ok. got my attention here.. ummm "part of your bring has been damaged? Lost me on this one.. Curious as to where you got that info..

Dang... I have anxiety, not sure it would be an anxiety disorder, (I tend to score high on anxiety tests) but if that part of my brain is damaged and the depression, which I don't think I have, but I also tend to score high on depression tests, anyway then depression with a chemical imbalance, I am truly shy or missing a few screws..

Lordy me

depends on when the abuse happened and to what degree ......in my case prior to 2 yrs old... continued on... and on and on and on... so my brain never got a chance to ever process or learn how to process information correctly...

Fear for me was being locked in closets with no light, things like that prior to 2 years old ... so very unexpected things that I could not predict... that along with other things did not allow my brain to develop as other's

being sodimized.... not knowing how to process the pain...
brain damange manner of opinion.... the brain having a chance to learn to process info correctly YES.... that I would say was damaged.

I was given a book by a T once about re-wriing the brain... she had done research to the effect of what I am talking about...

something that another T swore could not be done... re-wiring of the brain..

so there are many different opinions even amoung the professionals.

was not calling other people brain damaged

was calling myself that - cause of the multi layers of abuse that I suffered and the way in which I learned to process...emotions, information stimulia....

so SORRY!!!!!!!!!!!

no one person has the answer - not even the professionals..... so I was speaking from MY point of view...

Of WHICH... I am sorry that I did...,.

freewill(((((((((((((gentle hugs))))))))))))))

please reply to my pm. i feel your pain and i am so sorry you had to go through this. i am here for you always, please speak to me, love you x millions

jinnyann xoxoxoxo

[radio_flyer]

Please don't be sorry... I just never heard before anxiety being related to brain damage..And I was curious as to where you got your info...

I am sooo sorry you experienced such awful things as a child. (((((( freewill)))))))

Sometimes what I want to say comes out all wrong. Please, always say what you need to say. I was more or less poken fun at myself, thinking so that explains it, why I am the way I am... because I am a mess, at times.. more often than not.

Please never be sorry for expressing your opinions or feelings or experiences...

I have never been abused so I was prob careless with my response. I, again, am sorry. Tend to always stick my foot in my mouth.. smacks me head with a soft pillow