I'm only 15..

.. but I feel that I may have an anxiety disorder? I can't pinpoint which because GAD, SAD, panic disorder and so on are all linked and symptoms are similar.

Gosh, I know I sound like a whiny teenager who self diagnoses herself because of what a wikipedia article says, but this isn't a case of "oh hey i feel sick so anxious lol xoxoxox <3"

I literally just.. When I'm at school and I'm put on the spot in front of lots of people, even if they are my friends, I tense up, my muscles 'creek' or ache, my mouth becomes dry and I feel like I'm choking, I get tears in my eyes, all the colour in my face drains, I get either cold shivers in my spine or a hot sweat, there are muscle twitches and spasms, my heart beat and breathing quicken, I fidget and there's this horrible abdominal pain welling in my stomach.

I've been told "everyone feels like this" but, urgh, this isn't normal.

I'm beating myself up at school about it - My grades are falling! ):

Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can have a proper diagnosis or get 'round my parents.

I get so nervous talking to my mother about it I just cry and she says I'm pathetic.

do you have a teacher or school counselor you can talk to? it's been so long since I've been in school so I don't know how it works, but there must be an adult at your school you can talk to, especially if your grades are suffering. I think schools are much more sensitive to issues nowadays so you have that in your favour.

btw, you're not pathetic. it sounds like your mom has no coping skills and she'd rather just shut down the conversation with an insult rather than dealing with the real issue.

please keep us posted with what you figure out!

If you are feeling anxious and that something is wrong that needs to be recognised - you are not pathetic at all! We all know for ourselves what is 'normal' for us and when we need help. I'm sorry you have heard that from your mother. She probably means no harm by this but is unsure on how to handle the situation herself.

I agree with Suki - if you can try to talk to any adult you trust whether that be a teacher, counselor, parents, or your doctor. Let them know how you are feeling and what you want/need them to do to help.

If you don't feel that you can talk to them in person you can also try writing a letter or email. It is a good way to say everything that you want to say without having to worry about getting all the information and your feelings right all at once in front of the person. You can come back to it a few times until it is what you need to say before giving it to the person. It might also be a way to talk to your mother about this when you are ready.

I don't think you can be too young to have any of those anxiety related problems. Looking back I can pinpoint times when I was very young (like well under 10) that could have been a red flag for gad. I agree that you should talk to your school counselor. I was too shy, and not aware enough to take that step and always believed I would eventually get over it if I could just suck it up.

i have GAD and i just turned 15 and i have had it for a long time so if you need to talk i am here

Okay, wow. I wasn't expecting such a turn-out of advice. Thanks for all the replies!

do you have a teacher or school counselor you can talk to?

I don't really know. I have a head of year who always drifts about the school saying "Come to me if you have a problem!" but I'm pretty sure she only sorts out issues with wanting to switch classes or exam courses. Even if she is the person to go to I'm worried about telling her anything - She's an English teacher, and my current English teacher is the person I've had the most problems with on the anxiety front;

Basically my teacher told us we had to do a short performance as part of our English Literature course, and I just 'freaked' out. During the day she told us about the drama piece, I had about three panic attacks - Whilst walking home, right by the side of the road.

That was four months ago and since then my sleeping pattern has been awful. Grades have dipped (I'm supposed to be an A grade student for all my subjects. I've been gradually sliding down towards Cs and even got a D for French, which I now have to retake next week!) and I get so stressed about everything now.

I keep reading up on anxiety disorders and every time I look at the symptoms I burst into tears.

If you don't feel that you can talk to them in person you can also try writing a letter or email.

Writing a letter would result in a letter in return, and if my parents found it they would definitely open it. I'm seeing my doctor about my skin next month, and I'm always having my 'top-up' jabs so my parents would open the letter thinking it's about that or something..

I don't have the email or the address for the doctor's office or the hospital. If they called me in I'd have to tell my parents, which equals = "You're only 15! Anxiety is just a figment of your imagination. You'll get over it eventually."

Looking back I can pinpoint times when I was very young (like well under 10) that could have been a red flag for gad.

I was a shy kid who cried a lot? I didn't feel sick or light-headed back then. I put off sleep a lot when I was worried and had a tendency to get really angry or spiteful when under pressure, but I didn't talk very much. I sat in the corner and never spoke my opinion, which resulted in working in groups with people I didn't like or know.. WHICH THEN meant I cried as soon as I got home. Oh sheesh.

i have GAD and i just turned 15 and i have had it for a long time so if you need to talk i am here

Thanks! I feel like I have no-one of a similar age to talk to about this.

tl&dr; Thanks everyone. I've been considering making a blog so I keep track of how I'm dealing with anxiety. If anyone believes this is a good idea then please say, so because I'm only dithering with the idea for now.