[jakie0406]

My counselor thinks that I have anxiety problems, along with depression.
Is that true??
I mean I don't think I do, but when I took the Anxiety quiz on here, it said that I had mild Anxiety. I know that it's just supposed to give you an idea of what you might have but....
So what are some major signs that I could have it. The only one that I can think of off the top of my head is, that I'm scared of other teenagers making fun of me. Just for no apparent reason, I'm afraid that they will make fun of my clothes, or hair or something. Or i'm scared that they will think one of my baby sisters, is mine. But is that anxiety or just normal. Sorry this is so long, but if anyone has anything, like major signs, that would be awesome. Thank You!!

[Rhiannonsmoon]

((((jakie))))

That sounds very much like anxiety; I hope your t can help you with it,

Rhiannon

[ECHOES]

Everyone anxiety, it is normal to feel fear. It is the response to danger that lets you spring to action to deal with the danger, to protect yourself.

Anxiety that impacts your enjoyment of life like you describe, that make life very uncomfortable and sometimes can feel unbearable, is something to learn more about. The fears are about you, and come from within you. When you learn that someone making fun of something is about that person and not about you, you will be amazed at how different you feel if the next time it happens. You may even not notice it because it will have no impact, will not create the reactions and thoughts that it does for you now.

Anxiety provokes a 'fight of flight' response in us that is hard wired and has historically enabled survival. Fight is a way of pushing away the danger. Flight is a way of removing oneself from the danger. This can be physical or metaphorical.

Fighting, physically, is a way of pushing a dangerous other away from us and protecting ourself. Fighting can also be non-physical, like being stubbornly uncooperative.

Flight can be physically removing ourselves from the danger (real or perceived) and can also be non-physical, like avoidance- a symptom that can also include isolation, withdrawal from activities.

I think depression is very much related. What we want is to be social, to be engaged in life, to thrive. When our fears stand between what we want and our unhealthy way of self-protecting, I think deep inside we have some inkling that we are being held back and we wish for something better but don't know how to go about getting what we want. I think depression can result for this as well as many other reasons.

It would be interesting to explore this with your wise therapist, and see where this goes. I think you will learn sooo much and you will learn things that will open up your life and that will serve you all of your life. Getting help with this when you are young is quite a gift!