[gon3withth3wend]

I always overthink things. I worry that the worst will happen and I always have. My nerves keep me from getting important things done and from doing my best on tasks. Uncontrollable shaking, crying, and just a sickening fear that I feel in the pit of my stomach accompanies a lot of daily tasks for me. My therapist at college says that I might have an anxiety issue. I don't quite understand anxiety. I don't have what I'd consider to be panic attacks. My therapist wants me to get on a medication that would treat my depression and anxiety. My mom doesn't think I need medication. My pediatrician told me to talk through it in therapy. I agree I shouldn't go on medication, and I'm not sure if I actually have anxiety? My best friend told me "Everyone has anxiety, it's normal." I always get into rants. What does anxiety feel like for you? What is anxiety?

You've described anxiety quite precisely, as I understand it. For me there's all that...also a sense of dread....angst...fear (terrible) of things that are nothing to be afraid of (a piece of furniture, or going into a certain store). I also am bipolar, though, so some of my spinny-dreading feelings and thoughts might be due to hypomania.

Anyone else...?

I'd describe it as extreme uneasiness. As though everything is super important and if you happen to do something the wrong way way there will be (unspecified) consequences, yet there is no reward for getting it right.

Even things that shouldn't register at all in your mind feel like a test that you're failing. Stupid things like walking across a parking lot. Inside my head I'm thinking "Are my arms remaining still when I walk? Are people noticing? What do I do with my hands? A car is coming, should I hurry or let them pass? Oh no they stopped for me, now I have to walk in front of them. Did I go too slow? I look stupid jogging" etc etc.

I think all the things my brain should filter out and not have me worry about are instead shoved to the forefront as if they demand my immediate attention. As I try to avoid screwing up in one area it will distract me from another, which then builds the anxiety up. That leads to extreme nervousness, fidgeting, difficulty finding words and speaking properly, shakiness, difficulty breathing...

Even as I'm typing this I went through and changed some words when I noticed I'd used them too many times, because "Oh no, what if someone reads it and I said 'as though' too many times!" It's ridiculous, but it happens whenever I'm in an environment that creates anxiety, which is any time I'm interacting with people.

Good posts. Anxiety has so many forms and faces. The worst for me are just generalized feelings.
The feeling that something is terribly terribly wrong but I'm not sure what. Agitated misery.
The feeling that I've done something awful but I don't know what.
A feeling like unease about going out... but it goes way beyond uneasiness. I'm not sure I have a word for it. Dread but not quite.
I think you def have an anxiety problem. The absolute worst thing about anxiety is its ability to feed on itself and grow.
I think you should try something... just begin and see where it leads. Use meds as a last resort.

"My nerves keep me from getting important things done and from doing my best on tasks."

That sentence alone indicates to me that you would probably feel tremendous relief on a medication. Why not live your best life?

[anxteach]

Originally Posted by Trebyn

I'd describe it as extreme uneasiness. As though everything is super important and if you happen to do something the wrong way way there will be (unspecified) consequences, yet there is no reward for getting it right.

Even things that shouldn't register at all in your mind feel like a test that you're failing. Stupid things like walking across a parking lot. Inside my head I'm thinking "Are my arms remaining still when I walk? Are people noticing? What do I do with my hands? A car is coming, should I hurry or let them pass? Oh no they stopped for me, now I have to walk in front of them. Did I go too slow? I look stupid jogging" etc etc.

I think all the things my brain should filter out and not have me worry about are instead shoved to the forefront as if they demand my immediate attention. As I try to avoid screwing up in one area it will distract me from another, which then builds the anxiety up. That leads to extreme nervousness, fidgeting, difficulty finding words and speaking properly, shakiness, difficulty breathing...

Even as I'm typing this I went through and changed some words when I noticed I'd used them too many times, because "Oh no, what if someone reads it and I said 'as though' too many times!" It's ridiculous, but it happens whenever I'm in an environment that creates anxiety, which is any time I'm interacting with people.

Oh my goodness, your first sentence is a perfect description! That's how I feel too. Thanks for putting it into words!

[GSFarm]

I am an over thinker. I think about EVERYTHING and it makes me very uneasy. Everything from what I have to get done in a day to deeply religious or "existential" things that get my nerves really going.

I get panic attacks too which kind of set off my anxiety. I fear that I am losing my mind and am "crazy."

I go to school three hours from a tiny home town I grew up in and the transition has been awful but I find that when I go home it gets a lot better.

[JustTvTroping]

A shockwave that hits me out of nowhere. A dreadful surprise that comes with "mini gifts." I shiver, my hearts beats hard, I breathe fast and heavily, and I can't think straight. If it gets bad enough, it ends in a panic attack (luckily these are rare). I cringe at the sensations that have been felt during such a process (especially when they happen while I'm driving). Maybe that's why some people thought they were dying when having a panic attack...

[BlessedRhiannon]

Well - there's anxiety and then there's ANXIETY!!!!!

Yes, everyone experiences anxiety in their lives. Folks stress about jobs, money, family, all kinds of stuff. But, it's typically a focused worry and it's not all consuming. It's hard for people that experience "normal" anxiety to really understand what it's like to suffer from an anxiety disorder.

Then, there's ANXIETY!!!! That's where you worry about things to the point of it affecting your daily life. You have concrete physical symptoms - shaking, nausea, sweating, dissociating, feeling a desire to flee, difficulty breathing, racing heart, etc. That's when it's time to seek treatment of some kind. I've worked for years with a therapist, but didn't see really marked improvement until I also got on medication. The combination of medication and therapy has helped me tremendously.

In direct response to your question - for me, anxiety is constant, repetitive thoughts and motions. It's a terror that seizes me for no obvious reason, and causes me to either freeze or have a strong urge to just escape. I get an upset stomach, my hands shake, my pulse races, I struggle to breathe. My brain shuts down and I'm stuck in an axiety loop, where higher thought is nearly impossible. Then, I start to dissociate...it feels like my body isn't even connected to me and I mentally just check out.

I think this little comic does a great job explaining anxiety! Apologies for the terrible image quality - I?m...

[Hellion]

That actually does sound a lot like a possible anxiety issue. I have to say though your friend is a bit misinformed, yes everyone feels anxious sometimes but not everyone has an anxiety disorder that interferes with their daily life...it does sound like you could though.

What you describe is by no means normal anxiety that everyone experiences...I can't tell you what to do but an anxiety medication could be helpful but its really up to you it is nice to have some relief though.

[pisces22]

Originally Posted by GSFarm

I am an over thinker. I think about EVERYTHING and it makes me very uneasy. Everything from what I have to get done in a day to deeply religious or "existential" things that get my nerves really going.

I get panic attacks too which kind of set off my anxiety. I fear that I am losing my mind and am "crazy."

I go to school three hours from a tiny home town I grew up in and the transition has been awful but I find that when I go home it gets a lot better.

This is exactly what I'm going through. The religion, existential things, panic attacks, losing my mind, going crazy plus death and depression. Nothing helps, I've been feeling like this for almost a week. I can barely eat. I take zzz quil to sleep and that's basically my only remedy, sleep. I feel like this at work, at the store, at home, everywhere. How are you dealing with this? If you are dealing with it. Tomorrow is my last day of work and I'm planning on making an appointment with a therapist. I want to know if therapy or medication is working? If you are getting any therapy.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[floatingurboat]

Anxiety for me is being fearful of things that I know logically I have no need to be afraid of. Panic attacks constantly sometimes with triggers (loud-sudden noises, stressful conversations etc) And constantly worrying about the worst thing that could happen. I leave my house and I obsess over whether or not it will burn down and my dog will be trapped inside. I'm just constantly turning over different awful scenarios in my head.

[brainhi]

A lot of us learned anxiety at an early age - like me...sometimes it feels more comfortable to be anxious..I know I am in trouble when I feel frozen in anxiety..cannot sleep - (even w/meds). I get mad.. I cry at the drop of a hat. I feel no hope...cannot eat....if this lasts more than a couple weeks - time for me to see the pdoc. I recently went through this - with career issues. They adjusted my meds - some talk therapy... and I feel better - the problems are still there but my brain is coping better - not saying meds are for everyone - you have to learn tools for coping!!!!

[IchbinkeinTeufel]

Originally Posted by gon3withth3wend

I always overthink things. I worry that the worst will happen and I always have. My nerves keep me from getting important things done and from doing my best on tasks. Uncontrollable shaking, crying, and just a sickening fear that I feel in the pit of my stomach accompanies a lot of daily tasks for me. My therapist at college says that I might have an anxiety issue. I don't quite understand anxiety. I don't have what I'd consider to be panic attacks. My therapist wants me to get on a medication that would treat my depression and anxiety. My mom doesn't think I need medication. My pediatrician told me to talk through it in therapy. I agree I shouldn't go on medication, and I'm not sure if I actually have anxiety? My best friend told me "Everyone has anxiety, it's normal." I always get into rants. What does anxiety feel like for you? What is anxiety?

Your friend is right, but for some people, certain levels of anxiety are not normal and a significant problem.

For me, to put it simply, anxiety is a life-stealer. Anxiety has taken away hopes, dreams, screwed with relationships, screwed with friendships, probably had a hand in times I've lost my temper, and God knows what else.

I'm getting better, or, ... learning to manage it better, I guess. Hasn't been easy. I still stay at home, most of the time, ... fearful of going out and doing big things in-case I go through a s**t-ton of anxiety.

[lizzyjb]

For me, anxiety is a lack of control of my mind, always thinking, your mind never stop. And you think and fear the worst is going to happened. You jump from one bad think to another.
It is giving more importance to the problems. Being afraid to do things. Every thing.
Always fearing the worst. Expecting the next bad issue.
It is believing that you're useless, you're a bad person, you do not know how to deal with what happens to you in your every day living. Thinking you deserve the worst thinks tha happenned to you.
And then one panic attack, scream, cry, shaking, unable to breathe, head spinning, sweating, needing a hug. Praying for die or disssapear in this moment, wanted to die while panic to die takes over your mind an your body. feeling alone because you know that people arround you don´t understand why you are in this way.
Anxiety for me is seeing my husbad looking for me as an stranger while i look myself as an stranger i can't understand.

[brainhi]

It's SMART to get help with understanding what is going on with you at a young age. As far as medication - A therapist may be able to figure out if you needs meds. A psychiatrist would be the one to give you a prescription. I would not advise having a regular Dr. put you on medication.

Anxiety to me???? It is a demon. A sick, twisted demon. A prison sentence. A monster that attack you and will not relent. And eventually - my demise.

[gon3withth3wend]

My therapist told me I should see a psychiatrist but it would be up to me. My doctor told me to work through my anxiety in therapy. (My therapist is at my out of state school and my doctor have me some references for behavioral therapists here). Because my mom doesn't think I should go on meds I'm not planning to see a psychiatrist. The more I learn about anxiety the more I realize how much I've discounted my feelings as normal, perhaps? Idk. My mom thinks that I should stop speaking things like anxiety and depression into existence, and she thinks talking about those things in therapy make me self pity myself. When I talk about the things that make me the most nervous, everyone seems to have a simple solution. "Put yourself first" or "Practice more" or "You're smarter than that, speak up for yourself" I don't understand why that isn't easy for me.

[CountingSheep]

Ugh. For me, anxiety manifests itself in the form for obsessive thoughts. Whenever Im stressing about something it plays over and over again in my mind sometimes for hours. No matter how much I'd rather not think about whatever it is. Sometimes i can distract myself with other things, but the problem is always lurking in the back of my mind. It fades eventually, but before I get to the point where i can put it behind me my mind makes sure I've gone over it from every angle.

I also have a tendency towards catastrophic thinking. Always assuming that something isnt going to go positively for whatever reason.

[Calm]

I'm probably speaking out of turn here but sounds like your mom isn't really hearing you. Only you know how you really feel and how the anxiety is causing problems for you. Don't discount how you feel just because there are others who say "this or that" will solve your problem. It may solve their problems but they're not you. If you believe the anxiety is much more than passing anxiety like before taking school exams, then please seek professional help.

Anxiety at its worst can cause extreme distress. I cope with it, and it's a living hell each day.

I hope for your sake your mother will take the time to become more informed about anxiety disorders and realize you're reaching out and be supportive with whatever course you decide to take. It's your life you have to live, and I hope with the proper help you'll live it very well. Take gentle care of you.

[lizzyjb]

Originally Posted by CountingSheep

Ugh. For me, anxiety manifests itself in the form for obsessive thoughts. Whenever Im stressing about something it plays over and over again in my mind sometimes for hours. No matter how much I'd rather not think about whatever it is. Sometimes i can distract myself with other things, but the problem is always lurking in the back of my mind. It fades eventually, but before I get to the point where i can put it behind me my mind makes sure I've gone over it from every angle.

I also have a tendency towards catastrophic thinking. Always assuming that something isnt going to go positively for whatever reason.

That it exactly what I feel!

[The_little_didgee]

My anxiety is very tiring. When, it is really bad, I feel very burnt out. Recovering from it involves sleeping 12 hours and avoiding people. Headaches and backaches occur regularly. Indigestion and/or nausea occur almost daily, which makes dealing with anxiety very difficult. Sometimes, I get a tremor.

Physical pain, germs, overwhelming sensory experiences (my senses are acute), changes in routine and socializing make me anxious. If, I am very overwhelmed, a panic attack can occur.

[brainhi]

Originally Posted by Calm

I'm probably speaking out of turn here but sounds like your mom isn't really hearing you. Only you know how you really feel and how the anxiety is causing problems for you. Don't discount how you feel just because there are others who say "this or that" will solve your problem. It may solve their problems but they're not you. If you believe the anxiety is much more than passing anxiety like before taking school exams, then please seek professional help.

Anxiety at its worst can cause extreme distress. I cope with it, and it's a living hell each day.

I hope for your sake your mother will take the time to become more informed about anxiety disorders and realize you're reaching out and be supportive with whatever course you decide to take. It's your life you have to live, and I hope with the proper help you'll live it very well. Take gentle care of you.

gon3.... - this is a good support site - but see if you can find a support group that meets face to face...it's a great way to understand yourself and learn how others have learned to cope.

"The other thing is that if you rely solely on medication to manage depression or anxiety, for example, you have done nothing to train the mind, so that when you come off the medication, you are just as vulnerable to a relapse as though you had never taken the medication." Daniel Goleman

[gon3withth3wend]

Originally Posted by BlessedRhiannon

Well - there's anxiety and then there's ANXIETY!!!!!

Yes, everyone experiences anxiety in their lives. Folks stress about jobs, money, family, all kinds of stuff. But, it's typically a focused worry and it's not all consuming. It's hard for people that experience "normal" anxiety to really understand what it's like to suffer from an anxiety disorder.

Then, there's ANXIETY!!!! That's where you worry about things to the point of it affecting your daily life. You have concrete physical symptoms - shaking, nausea, sweating, dissociating, feeling a desire to flee, difficulty breathing, racing heart, etc. That's when it's time to seek treatment of some kind. I've worked for years with a therapist, but didn't see really marked improvement until I also got on medication. The combination of medication and therapy has helped me tremendously.

In direct response to your question - for me, anxiety is constant, repetitive thoughts and motions. It's a terror that seizes me for no obvious reason, and causes me to either freeze or have a strong urge to just escape. I get an upset stomach, my hands shake, my pulse races, I struggle to breathe. My brain shuts down and I'm stuck in an axiety loop, where higher thought is nearly impossible. Then, I start to dissociate...it feels like my body isn't even connected to me and I mentally just check out.

I think this little comic does a great job explaining anxiety! Apologies for the terrible image quality - I?m...

That comic explains exactly how I feel except I've never gotten the supportive part!

[makayla55]

Anxiety to me comes in many shapes and forms. There's normal anxiety that everyone has experience in their lives, such as worrying about an upcoming event, like a test at school, or meeting someone for the first time, or worried about how you're gonna perform next week reading a speech in front of the whole class, etc, or even worrying about not being able to pay the bills and dreading over an eviction...I am so familiar with this one.

My anxiety goes further and deeper than that though. I have several anxiety disorders that ruins my life everyday and makes my depression worst because I just can't get rid of the repetitive thoughts I have to deal with all day everyday. Most of it is not logical and I know there's no reason to dread and be fearful.

Forgive me if I spelled some words wrong ...