I Have Anxiety
My anxiety seems to focus on specific stimuli, and involves a substantial amount of avoidance behaviour. For instance, since i was 13 when my form of anxiety was triggered (i am now 18), i have experienced two major stimuli. The first stimuli was an actual person, whom i was very close with and had a devastating argument with. This stimuli and its associated triggers gradually wore off as a result of the most recent stimuli emerging. The second stimuli, which became apparent when i was 17, is a specific health concern which i am paranoid that i have, but in reality do not. This second stimuli sounds quite like hypochondria, and i suppose it is in a way! I don't think people understand how powerful or exhausting the anxiety actually is because one just keeps it to themself.
Strangely i am a very outgoing, extroverted person! So no one suspects a thing. My panic attacks are the worst sensation i have ever experienced. It is a moment of terror and feels as if you have lost all control, very difficult to explain. I haven't had them often recently, but i find i am more prone to them after heavy drinking or during times of high stress/depression. It is also easy to cover up a panic attack, you just tell people you're feeling tired or feeling sick or something. Sometimes the most ridiculous, obscure things can trigger my panic attacks, especially during times of emotional unrest, for instance a friend saying they feel they're coming down with the 'flu!
I don't know if anyone else's anxiety manifests in a similar form to this, but i would love to hear from you! I haven't seen anyone about it but would really like to because it has just gotten worse since i was 13. I definitely don't have depression, as when i'm not anxious i feel OK. So i think the two are linked but not neccessarily the same.
Strangely i am a very outgoing, extroverted person! So no one suspects a thing. My panic attacks are the worst sensation i have ever experienced. It is a moment of terror and feels as if you have lost all control, very difficult to explain. I haven't had them often recently, but i find i am more prone to them after heavy drinking or during times of high stress/depression. It is also easy to cover up a panic attack, you just tell people you're feeling tired or feeling sick or something. Sometimes the most ridiculous, obscure things can trigger my panic attacks, especially during times of emotional unrest, for instance a friend saying they feel they're coming down with the 'flu!
I don't know if anyone else's anxiety manifests in a similar form to this, but i would love to hear from you! I haven't seen anyone about it but would really like to because it has just gotten worse since i was 13. I definitely don't have depression, as when i'm not anxious i feel OK. So i think the two are linked but not neccessarily the same.
By:
blyth1972
Age:
18-21
