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Oguzz07

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reddit-anxiety-dataset

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Case in point: ​ I've had a tension-like headache for two fucking weeks and none of the doctors I've seen know what's causing it. ​ Anxiety? Could be. ​ Not anxiety? Could be. ​ Brain tumor? Probably. (This is a joke, but you guys probably get it.) ​ That's just making the anxiety worse.

Oh lord yes. I have palpitations all the time. As far as I know, not actual heart disease. But maybe THIS time it is! Also don't even get me started on whether or not I really have hypertension and how bad it really is.

I live with my best friend and another roommate, and they’ve gone from being super tight to not being able to stand each other. There’s nothing I can do to fix it and I’ve accepted that, but anytime I’m in the same room as both of them I get insanely anxious and it makes me not want to be home. Home is the only place I ever really want to be, so it sucks. I’m overly empathetic to the point where it’s like I can’t be happy unless everyone around me is happy, and no one around me is ever happy at the same time lol. One of the down sides of mentally ill friend groups I guess.

You mean that defense mechanism that is prewired from years of trauma and abuse? Yes. Great tool too once you learn how to use it. O.o

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I think we just need to remember how different our experiences are from one individual to another. This is one person's experience on a certain dosage of Zoloft. Zoloft has changed my stepmom's life - she has done really well on it and that has been for years now. Sometimes it's important when we speak about this stuff - not to make it a blanket statement. Folks attribute a lot to other people's experiences and with meds, that's just not something that works! And there may be a medication that does more for you!

I can feel dizzy when walking around my house without feeling anxious. I have had anxiety and dizziness at the same time but when I’m dizzy and not anxious it scares me. I have thought maybe I’m anxious without knowing and that’s why I’m dizzy. Or maybe it’s because I have had high anxiety for almost a year and this is the after effects. I don’t really have health issues and my doctor doesn’t really think it’s necessary to do an mri on my brain because it’s very unlikely I have an issue in my brain.

Im going thru the same thing. Mine actually started around a year ago....i had my random burst of health anxiety that usually goes away after like a week or after i go get my yearly tests done....this time it didnt and then the pandemic happened....i was/am feeling off balance 24/7. Went to get tests, everything clear until i went to a ears/nose/throat dr. I first had inflamation on my inner ear, took medication but didnt really go away. Went to another dr and i now knowni have a deviated septum, something in my nose is swollen most likely from allergies apparently and my ear tubes are small, not smaller than normal just small. Dr saw how anxious i was and actually prescribed prozac along with my other medication. I couldnt get myself to take the prozac until a few days ago and im feeling....better? I know it has to be placebo effect bc its been a few days but literally is the most normal i felt in a year, the off balance feeling sensation hasnt been there all day...it comes when i think of it but im feeling good. I have a followup with my dr next week to get a ct scan of my face and see what’s up with my nose lol But just know that its apparently the most common symptom of anxiety SPECIALLY healtth anxiety. Ive been thru it somany times and yet i was filled with fear for the last year probably giving that sensation to myself just by thinking about it Im still not completely sure i wanna take the prozac but dr said it was temporary and that it wasnt addicting at all like i wont have a hard time getting off, its only 20 mg but im just taking it to see how i feel

I finally got over my anxiety of dating after a really bad relationship a few years ago and asked out a girl I had a crush on for a while and she said yes ☺.

Happy for you man. Good luck! ❤️

As the title says, I find that in really tough situations where I'm having a bad day - I instantly feel less tense when I see someone else suffering from severe anxiety. In fact, I always reach out to them (here and irl) and offer them advice which makes me feel better too. Now if only I took my own advice seriously...

It's often easier to help others with problems than try to deal with your own, since anxiety is often manifesting from an unconscious or subconscious place. But yes, this is something I've recently experienced. My sister is having emotional problems, and while I'm helping her, I get to momentarily forget about my own. Our parents fucked us up good.

He said, "When you get anxious, your amygdala is activated. You can tell yourself that you're okay and even logically understand you are okay, but your amygdala isn't catching up yet. Just remember that you are okay, and it's just your amygdala needing time to adjust." Basically he's saying that anxiety can persist because our hindbrain and forebrain aren't talking, but it takes time and it will eventually deactivate, so it's important to give ourselves some grace and remember, my amygdala is just aroused right now and it'll go away. Hope this also helps some of you out there.

This is helpful, this is also why journaling or engaging in logical reasoning can help you activate the front part of ur brain and slowly disengages the triggered part.

Fuck fuck fuxk fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck ...thank you Update: i did some physical work ..and the phase passed. Now i feel exhausted.

Same but like I hope you're okay <3

Like, to a crippling level. I want to get into writing more, but when I show someone what I wrote, if I get anything more than "nice" or "cool" then I start having bad anxiety. I understand that having your own work criticized is extremely important to grow in just about any aspect, but I am absolutely terrified of it. If I get any positive feedback, I think I didn't earn it or that I'm being patronized. If I get negative feedback in any way, shape or form, I'm extremely discouraged and get too depressed to put in more effort to fix my mistakes, which leads to worse results and therefore worse criticism, and the cycle starts again. Or even worse, I'll just straight up refuse to ask anyone for feedback and then when I finally do work up enough courage to ask, it'll be I'm an objectively inferior state than it was before. Is this like, a common thing with anxious people or should I find a therapist lmao

I struggle hard with negative feedback - I can get 95% glowing feedback and 5% negative and the couple negative ones completely overpower the good until it's all I can think about...for months, literally. It sucks all the joy and the fun out of it for me and makes me physically sick simply at the *thought* of picking up a pen. Logically, of course I know that the people who love it far outnumber those who don't, that I shouldn't care about those who don't, etc, but mental illness doesn't respond to logic.

I was what one would call a "gifted" child throughout grade school. I got straight A's, took honors and AP classes, scored highly on standardized tests, even skipped a grade. I never studied for tests or struggled with homework, I just naturally retained all the information I was taught. I loved reading, I would read at least one book each week. I never procrastinated and genuinely enjoyed going to school. All those years of performing so highly in grade school led to me and the people around me having very high expectations for my academic performance. Unfortunately for me, I found it harder and harder to meet those expectations throughout college. No matter how hard I try, I am completely unable to retain any information I learn, which frightens me because unlike grade school, this is information that will actually be pertinent to my future career. I end up procrastinating until the last minute to study or complete assignments because I am afraid of performing poorly. Whenever I try to read, it can't keep my attention. I recently took a standardized test, and I just performed "below average to average". All of those "gifted" attributes from my childhood just kind of... disappeared. Now that I am graduating, I'm really scared for my future. I want to go into the sciences, it interests me and I care about it a lot... I'm just afraid that I'm not good enough. That I'm too stupid now. That I can't keep maintaining this image of high-performance and intelligence. I'm so afraid to try new things like research because I am afraid that I am going to fail and look stupid. I feel like being raised as "gifted" has caused me to feel extremely anxious and stupid now that I am in the "real world". I'm curious if there is anyone else in this community that experienced a "gifted" childhood, or high childhood expectations, and now suffers from anxiety? How have you personally dealt with this kind of struggle? Are the people around you supportive, or do they still hold extremely high expectations for you?

I really relate to this, I also was a "gifted" kid. Everything came easily to me until college. I wasnt used to being challenged or having to actually study. On top of having had high expectations for myself, I developed anxiety and depression which fucked up my memory. Now, I feel like I cant learn anything let alone want to. I failed all of my college courses and I dropped out, because I couldnt handle the pressue. I feel like a complete failure.

I was at a party and someone was trying to get me to play a vr game. I said no so many times but he picked me up and someone else tried to put the headset on me. I was instantly in panic mode and it took the host seeing me getting upset to get him to stop and put me down. I excused myself to the bathroom because I just knew I wasn’t going to be able to hold in a breakdown. I got it together a little bit but decided to get some air. On my way out I guess I wasn’t paying enough attention and the same guy who picked me up, who was now playing the game...accidentally wacks my face. All of this was in front of like 20 people...ended up having my friend bring out my shoes and bag that I had left inside so that I could leave. I just couldn’t calm down. Still can’t get it out of my head.hated feeling so helpless in what I originally thought was a safe place.

?? Fuck that guy hes a fuckin asshole. Im sorry that happened.

Probably the thing I (24f) hate most about my anxiety is that it prevents me from getting things done (buying a new car, making appointments, going to the doctors in general). I procrastinate these basic life things until the absolute last minute. Today I overcame my fear by making an appointment with a new optometrist and I'm so relieved. It's a slow process, but I'm getting there.

I feel you! Getting a haircut is a nightmare lol but congratulations!! Baby steps :)

I cannot stop shaking and I can feel all the emotions rushing through my my body. My arms and shoulders feel weak. I never had one of these but OMG this is bad.

If it makes you feel any better, the one and only time I had one it gave my bad anxiety AND diarrhea so bad that I shit my pants on my front porch trying to get to the toilet.

I know it is a mental illness in itself but I’m talking about constantly feeling “off”.. like way less intelligent than you used to be, hard to process your thoughts in to words so they come out jumbled or silly sounding, constant headaches and just feeling like you’re on autopilot looking in to someone else’s life.. Idk I’ve been dealing with this for 2+ years and I still find it hard to believe it’s just anxiety. I’m terrified it is something else that the doctor’s are missing which I’m sure is just anxiety fueled hypochondria lol.

I have exactly this! My anxiety comes coupled with a hefty bout of insomnia as well, so I constantly forget really basic things, can't figure out simple problems, can't construct basic sentences and it takes me about twice as long as it should to get anything done. This is just speculation, but I think the amount of mental energy anxiety uses up leaves the brain tired and means you can't ever really feel like yourself. So, yeah, it really sucks. And you're not alone :-)

There’s really no point to this aside from venting. I never post much on Reddit since I tend to get really anxious about it. I posted a really nice picture of my grandparents on old school cool and it blew up. The responses were 99% positive and I got a lot of sweet messages, and there was absolutely no reason for me to even be worried. But I spent all day yesterday in a constant state of anxiety. The more traction my post got, the worst my anxiety felt. I really wish I wasn’t like this, I really hate that something so silly can trigger such a big reaction out of me. Edit: I know it’s a small thing, but I feel really understood. I don’t have many people in my life who I open up to about anxiety so it was really nice to have support even if it’s just in a Reddit post :)

Just wanted to say I 100% understand. I don't get how I can be so stressed about interacting (or not interacting) with "people" who I can't see, don't know, and don't value the opinion of. But we're doing great, keep on keeping on xx

I'm usually very shy and insecure around girls. If one makes eye contact I look down or away immediately especially if I find her cute. Today though a group of three attractive girls were walking towards me. My eyes met with one of them, I held her gaze for a second or two and she gave me the biggest most beautiful smile! It really made my day and gave me a huge confidence boost. It made me reconsider what is it that I'm being insecure about? I'm lacking confidence and I don't even know why. Amazing what a simple smile can do! EDIT: Thanks for the award stranger. I'm glad it cheered someone else up too!

no need to be shy and insecure around girls specifically! they are also human like guys are and arent some weirdos. just dont think about everyone liking you in some complicated way, be yourself, stay calm and act the way you like (be decent tho) and im sure you ll get many more smiles!

It’s a very specific kind of upset stomach that I get from my anxiety. It’s not a stomachache, or cramping, or “maybe I ate something bad”, it’s literally feeling sick with anxiety. I think out of all the anxiety symptoms I’ve experienced in my lifetime of anxiety, this is the absolute worst one and most likely the main symptom that will force me to attempt stupid therapy and medication again despite never having a good experience with either. I’ve already ruled many out other causes, and I know it’s likely only caused by my anxiety. I just don’t understand why my body and mind does this to itself. I can deal with shaky hands, or worried thoughts, or my heart racing, but feeling like your stomach is about to burst open and spill your guts everywhere makes literally EVERYTHING 1.000% harder, no matter how happy you are to do something. No matter how much you care, or how determined you are to have fun, it doesn’t change a thing. It makes social events uncomfortable, it makes work extremely hard to get through. It just makes me want to curl up into a ball in bed and never leave. I don’t even need any suggestions for how to fix this. I don’t need to be told that I need medication or therapy. I’m just so tired of constantly feeling sick and no one understanding why or how it feels. No, taking a tums isn’t going to fix it. No, I can’t just “stop worrying”, or drink some damn ginger tea. I know a lot of suggestions come from a good place, but they don’t help.

Yeah, same. My husband doesnt have anxiety and I told him I feel like I'm going down hill on a roller coaster....all the time. It's awful.

im 19 years old. I live with my family (my mum, my grandmother and my little brother). I dont have a job and i havent gone to college yet (put on hold since the pandemic). I have an intense fear of losing my family members and being left to look after my brother and myself on my own. I hate even writing this out because im scared ill “jinx” it and make it come true. I have dreams of my family members dying, i always push them to go to the doctors if they feel unwell, i try to encourage them to eat well and exercise. I understand its not my life its theirs, but this is all just coming from good intentions of keeping them well because i have such a fear of losing them. I even have nightmares of becoming homeless after they pass. Its just hit me recently that im really growing up and going to start becoming independent. Get a job, go to college, move out, do my own shopping, pay my own bills, drive my own car, start a family. I cant even walk around my neighborhood on my own.. thats how bad this is. I cant pay in shops, i need to get my mum to because im too anxious. I dont even know if i know enough to keep me going on my own. I dont know how to pay bills, how to drive. I always rely on my family if i dont know anything or unsure how to do something. Im aware that i dont learn, i just get them to show me and i move on. I think a part of this is because if i learn all these things thats the first step towards becoming my own parent and that scares the living daylight out of me. I dont want it. I want to be a kid forever and have people surrounded by me and not feel alone. I want to be my own person yes, but i dont want to be *alone*. I dont know enough to be independent, i know i dont. Im soo anxious to get a job, to drive. Its the little things.. like i have to mind the house keys and the car keys, i have to pay the bills, i have to walk up and pay for my own shopping, i have to go to the bank. Being 27 and living with your parents still is known to be “bad” or “unhealthy”. Apparently it means you arent your own person. I dont believe this because my Mum has lived with her mum all her life and she’s independent, to an extent. I want to be my own person, but i cant be independent im so scared of going into the world on my own. Does anyone have any advice on how to handle my anxiety and outlook on this? *(edit: i did not expect this to get so many attention i dont have time to reply to everybody but just know ive read all the replies and i appreciate them so much! its so comforting to know that im not the only one who feels this way <3 )*

If you end up being 27 and living with your parents then so be it. I'm 26 and live with my parents still. Have battled unemployment, depression, anxiety, and other shit but my parents still support me. You should look at it this way, enjoy having that support and family around as much as you can, because it won't always be like that. I was the same way when I was your age, all I can suggest is to push yourself but don't rush it. I didn't get my license until I was 21. It's hard to imagine yourself doing those things you said but you can do it, and I'm sure you will do most if not all of the things you mentioned.

I can't believe I am finally here. The happiest news! After months of CBT, my therapist has finally told me that I no longer need further sessions for my anxiety. I honestly wouldn't have been able to do it if it weren't for my therapist's strong and kind guidance, but she also told me to pat myself on the back for actively trying to help myself out of my situation. I went into therapy with a very strong desire to not let anxiety take over my life. I didn't hold back when telling my therapist about my anxiety attacks, every thought that bothered me, and the fears and worries that ate at my mind for hours and days on end. She was sympathetic and really helped me see through the lies my brain is telling me. I also did every homework, I took journaling to heart (and in the process found my new healthy hobby), I put in the work in trying out every cognitive restructuring exercise she suggested, from T charts to grounding techniques, really tried to determine which methods would work and which wouldn't, and also tried to get out more and connect with my friends and family. And now after putting all that work, there is silence in my mind. The storm has passed and I now find myself in the calm I've long sought. I am not *cured*, however; anxiety is part of the human condition and so cannot be completely eradicated. However, with the help of the techniques I've learned, I've been able to manage it enough for it not to bother me anymore. There is help. There is light at the end of the tunnel. There is no harm in seeking help, and you deserve all the happiness in the world. I hope everyone in this sub finds peace.

That’s fantastic! Congratulations! I hope others read this and find inspiration from your story!

My whole life, even the smallest things make me jump. Like listening to a lecture and the professor's mic crackles, or the sink faucet spurts a little bit, stuff like that. Even yesterday, I was squeezing out some toothpaste and a little bit splorked out unexpectedly and I damn near fainted. Is this an anxiety thing? Constantly feeling like you're about to be jumpscared? It's rather embarrassing, multiple friends have pointed it out and idk how to even explain it.

It's actually clinically studied, anxiety disorders make our startle response more easily triggered and more exaggerated. It's to do with the amygdala which is typically smaller and overactive in people with anxiety disorders. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?start=20&q=anxiety+disorder+startle&hl=en&as_sdt=0,5#d=gs_qabs&u=%23p%3D73yqJ3OsYzsJ https://scholar.google.com/scholar?start=0&q=anxiety+disorder+startle&hl=en&as_sdt=0,5#d=gs_qabs&u=%23p%3DBWWKfBbWZ7kJ

Like right now I’m freaking out because my arm is in a little pain and I’m at a friends house, it’s 4:00 am and I’m cold and I don’t have a blanket but I don’t wanna wake anybody up by going out of the room to find one or wake them up directly to ask for one. I’ve been pacing back and forth in the same spot for an hour and a half, all because I’m a bit cold and my arm hurts. Same thing happened when I spilled juice on a table at school. I started hyperventilating over spilled juice. And in slightly more serious situations, I feel totally numb and i disassociate. It’s like I’m not there and my life isn’t real. I had to confront my professor about a paper I didn’t turn in yet and when I was about to talk to him, I started to feel lightheaded, my vision stated closing in, my emotions disappeared and I started to disassociate. I’m sorry for this somewhat long rant/DAE question that probably doesn’t even make sense. I just hate myself for being like this and I just wanted to get me feelings out.

I freak out in certain situations. Like being out in the heat (hello from Southern US), being in crowded places and such. But if a big stressful situation arises, I can usually handle it without freaking out too bad. I don't get it.

School started today and I woke up with my heart beating like crazy. I could feel and hear the blood in my brain. Then I ate breakfast- threw it all up. On every break I had to go to the toilet (nausea, sorry if that's gross :/). I finished school- went to the shop with my mum. My heart was still beating very heavily and I felt dizzy. Additionally I got lost without a phone. The shop was huge and I was looking on the right and then to the left trying to spot my mom in the huge crowd of people. With every move of my head I felt more and more dizzy. I thought I was gonna either burst out crying or pass out. I didn't luckily. Just imagine, 17 years old man crying because he got lost in the shop- pathetic, but I was in such a bad state this day that it was really hard to keep myself at least a little bit rational. Well, I found her (yay :,)) I got back home but I am in such a bad state that I am not able to eat anything. I've tried but I feel like throwing up and my heart is still so loud. What shall I do? My mum doesn't know. I don't have any medicine.

Definitely see a professional

I've always been and anxious person, but this past year my anxiety and depression got so much worse. And now almost a year later, its still there, intrusive thoughts, always overthinking. Honestly for the last year, i don't think there was a single time I was truly at peace, just sitting on the couch and relaxing. Its literally either me being anxious/depressed or me doing my best to distract myself from my thoughts. And i've just realized how much time i've wasted. I look back this past year. and i dont think about memories i've made, fun i've had, or accomplishments, its just my anxiety taking up all my mental space. And thats energy and time i could've dedicated to learning something, or furthering my goals, or just having fun, but it was all wasted. And even now, as i realize how much i've lost from this, I still can't stop my brain from being so worked up. Its so anoying

I feel this so deeply. I don’t really remember my sons first year of life. I was an anxious mess. There’s certain times I don’t remember anything, cause again anxiety. But there’s also lots and lots of great memories. I really appreciate my anxiety free days, even more then before! Maybe time for you to change what you are doing. New meds maybe? Therapy, or a different kind of therapy or therapist if you’re already doing it. Learn some new coping skills. It’s not easy, but I think sometimes we just need shaken up a bit to get out of the funk! I’m in funk right now too. I feel hopeful with some changes I’ve very recently made. Good luck and hugs!