[Jbebo]

Hi everyone, I really need some help dealing with my anxiety. I've struggled with it for years but it seems to be getting worse. I get really shaky and nervous during certain situations. I'm terrible at making decisions because I overthink everything. Some days it even leads to panic attacks which are really embarrassing for me. My family all just get annoyed when it happens and think I'm just acting up, the few times any of them are ever around that is.

Here's my current situation: I just started senior year a few weeks ago. I have pretty easy classes but school is miserable for me right now. I hate being around everyone there. I get really uncomfortable and panic alot in the crowded halls. Lately I've become more seclusive too, so I don't really talk to many of my friends as much as i used to. I also can't ever seem to concentrate in class. I keep getting yelled at by teachers for spacing out and tapping my pencil too much and getting up out of my seat. I also have RLS (restless leg syndrome). It's a real thing, yes, and it gets painful at times and can make my panic attacks worse.
Anyways, i'm dreading this weekend. I have school tomorrow (Thursday) and then I have Friday through Monday off. My mom went to Mexico on Tuesday with her boyfriend and she won't be back till Sunday, and my dad is going to Hawaii with some girl tomorrow and won't be back till Tuesday. My younger brother is going to stay with a friend somewhere tomorrow for the whole weekend, and my other little siblings are going to be staying with one of my mom's friends. I have work at Yogurtland on Saturday from 4-11 pm with no way of getting home that late, and work on Sunday from 2:30 pm- 6:30 pm. I just started working there and I'm still in training and because I really don't like talking to strangers and being under pressure, it's been really hard. Also, some lady is going to be checking on us or something a few times and maybe driving us around and there are apparently things my dad is gunna have me do over the weekend that I wasn't aware of until now and it's all just crazy.
I used to smoke cigarettes a lot and at one point I couldn't live without weed. I haven't touched weed since last year, but I'm craving it so bad. I'm having panic attacks almost every day now. I used to go to therapy, but because my mom forced me. And it wasn't even for anxiety, it was for helping me deal with my parents' divorce a few years ago. I kind of wish I could go back and just have someone to talk to, but I already know it would just be a real inconvenience to my parents to have to take me to that every week and pay for it. So that's why I want to go back to weed, but I'm still waiting on my drug test for Yogurtland. I honestly feel like I've been losing my mind lately, losing all control. I can't get a grip on what's real sometimes. I tend to think a lot about things in the past. My abusive ex boyfriends, my friends I've lost to suicide, other things I won't mention, etc. I just feel like the walls are falling down around me and i don't know what to do anymore. Any advice is appreciated, thank you
-Jessica

[CANDC]

Hi Jbebo. Welcome to Psych Central. Sorry you are suffering so much from your parent's divorce, and other challenges. A therapist is a much better alternative than self medicating with recreational drugs. If you need meds, then prescribed meds are easier to monitor and make sure they are keeping you emotionally stable.

Too bad both your parents will be away. Do they communicate at all on their schedules so someone is around? That puts a lot of pressure on you. I would make a list of all options you have to get to and from work including a cab, relatives, friends and even your manager. Maybe the supervisor for that shift could take you home.

There is a resource where you can submit a question and volunteer therapists answer as their time allows. Ask the Therapist

Many people here at PC find they can share these feelings and what they are going through with the confidence that people go through similar things and can empathize. So many forums are offered as well as Chatrooms (after you have 5 posts or comments on others posts). Anxiety (including social anxiety) is at 8PM EST Wednesday.

You can also be an active member in other ways like supporting others in their questions, reading articles and posts http://forums.psychcentral.com that are applicable to your area of concern.

Please feel free to private message me or any of the Community Liaisons by left clicking on the name in blue to the left of their post) for questions or just to share.

You might want to omit details like the city you live in and the place you work to protect your privacy. Have a moderator delete these details if you want to protect your privacy.

You also can edit your profile. Some people say US or the state they live in.

Originally Posted by Jbebo

Hi everyone, I really need some help dealing with my anxiety. I've struggled with it for years but it seems to be getting worse. I get really shaky and nervous during certain situations. I'm terrible at making decisions because I overthink everything. Some days it even leads to panic attacks which are really embarrassing for me. My family all just get annoyed when it happens and think I'm just acting up, the few times any of them are ever around that is.

Here's my current situation: I just started senior year a few weeks ago. I have pretty easy classes but school is miserable for me right now. I hate being around everyone there. I get really uncomfortable and panic alot in the crowded halls. Lately I've become more seclusive too, so I don't really talk to many of my friends as much as i used to. I also can't ever seem to concentrate in class. I keep getting yelled at by teachers for spacing out and tapping my pencil too much and getting up out of my seat. I also have RLS (restless leg syndrome). It's a real thing, yes, and it gets painful at times and can make my panic attacks worse.
Anyways, i'm dreading this weekend. I have school tomorrow (Thursday) and then I have Friday through Monday off. My mom went to Mexico on Tuesday with her boyfriend and she won't be back till Sunday, and my dad is going to Hawaii with some girl tomorrow and won't be back till Tuesday. My younger brother is going to stay with a friend somewhere tomorrow for the whole weekend, and my other little siblings are going to be staying with one of my mom's friends. I have work at Yogurtland on Saturday from 4-11 pm with no way of getting home that late, and work on Sunday from 2:30 pm- 6:30 pm. I just started working there and I'm still in training and because I really don't like talking to strangers and being under pressure, it's been really hard. Also, some lady is going to be checking on us or something a few times and maybe driving us around and there are apparently things my dad is gunna have me do over the weekend that I wasn't aware of until now and it's all just crazy.
I used to smoke cigarettes a lot and at one point I couldn't live without weed. I haven't touched weed since last year, but I'm craving it so bad. I'm having panic attacks almost every day now. I used to go to therapy, but because my mom forced me. And it wasn't even for anxiety, it was for helping me deal with my parents' divorce a few years ago. I kind of wish I could go back and just have someone to talk to, but I already know it would just be a real inconvenience to my parents to have to take me to that every week and pay for it. So that's why I want to go back to weed, but I'm still waiting on my drug test for Yogurtland. I honestly feel like I've been losing my mind lately, losing all control. I can't get a grip on what's real sometimes. I tend to think a lot about things in the past. My abusive ex boyfriends, my friends I've lost to suicide, other things I won't mention, etc. I just feel like the walls are falling down around me and i don't know what to do anymore. Any advice is appreciated, thank you
-Jessica

i hope you find a lot of support on this forum.

lots of nice people here who can help you

[E_Hyde]

Hi there,

I'm new to this forum myself and wanted to chime in.

First of all, I'm sorry for what you're going through. Life can be very overwhelming at times, and high school in particular can be so tough.

Have you considered seeking out your school's guidance counselor, or someone similar you trust from school, such as a trusted teacher? A guidance counselor or reliable teacher might be able to connect you with some resources to help deal with your situation, including free ones.

CANDC gave some very good advice, too; AskATherapist sounds like a great resource. And the advice about medication is also solid, it's way better to deal with prescribed medications you can monitor than self-medicating.

I just want to say, too, how much I respect you for being able to get a job despite what you're going through. I have social anxiety and have never been able to hold down a "regular" job where I have to deal with people, so much respect to you for being able to accomplish that.

All the best to you.