In need of help or tips for SEVERE anxiety.

[Blasttyrant]

Hello everyone. I'm new to this but I'm experiencing terrible anxiety. Especially in social situations. It literally paralyzes me and makes me feel so terrible i wanna die. I can't look people in the face because when I do it feels as if I'm gonna pass out. It's absolutely horrifying. Can someone please give me a place to start with the he'll I'm living in?!

[Hidden]

Go to the doctors and get some help? Meds and/or counselling should be able to help especially the latter. x

[Blasttyrant in reply to Hidden]

I've been going to counseling for years and nothing helps. I have to watch what meds I'm on because I was an addict. The only meds that help are benzos but I can't take them anymore.

[Hidden in reply to Blasttyrant]

Well counselling isn't an easy, quick, will fix you option. The idea of it is to let you talk through your issues and find new ways of dealing with them. Or realising you can get rid of some of it too. You have to work very hard as well.

Why do you find counselling isn't helping? That does surprise me. x

[Blasttyrant in reply to Hidden]

Because I've been suffering from bad anxiety for years. CBT does nothing for me and neither does meditation. Maybe I'm beyond human aid??

[57nola in reply to Blasttyrant]

They are saying yoga helps . I walk and it helps some . They also say to do volunteer work . I am not working because of Menieres . ( bad vertigo and balance issues ) .

Good luck to you .

[Blasttyrant in reply to 57nola]

Thank you very much. I've tried yoga and meditation and while it does relax me, the relaxation doesn't stay long and as soon as I'm out in the real world my anxiety is as strong as ever. At this point I feel like I'm just hoping for a miracle. Thanks again and have a great day.

[Hidden]

No one is beyond human aid! Maybe CBT is not for you? It doesn't help everyone. There are lots of different types of counselling so have a google and see if you think any others might help.

I don't know what country you are in but if the UK you might be able to get other types of counselling on the NHS or with a charity etc. Otherwise you might have to pay.

Also have a look at the self help methods such as mindfullness, meditation, yoga etc. x

[Blasttyrant in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much, I will be looking into the alternatives. Thanks again!!!

[Hidden]

Hi start by asking yourself some questions. What goes through your head when faced with other people? Try and list things in order of when they happen. Do you hate being looked at and why? Do you feel you are ugly or something? Are you worried others will judge you and think you are stupid or something? Does it matter if they do? x

[Fishmonster]

If you have been going to therapy for years and it has not been working, maybe you need to change doctor.

Do you have coping mechanisms that work?

What about your diet? There are foods that can really make anxiety worse

I have really bad anxiety and slowly getting a handle on it

[Blasttyrant in reply to Fishmonster]

I believe you're correct when you say I need a new doctor. I'm doing therapy but to be honest they're not really giving me any coping mechanisms. Do you have any suggestions as to things I can try?? And thanks for taking the time to comment.

[Fishmonster]

I'm happy to be able to help

There's a book you can get

10 Best-Ever Anxiety Management Techniques : Understanding How Your Brain Makes You Anxious and What You can do to change it.

A few things you can try

-create yourself a happy safe place in your head that you can close your eyes and focus on

-do breathing exercises inhale through your noses slowly exhale through your mouth

-give yourself a timeout even for a minute or two

-talk to yourself reassuring yourself you can do it

What about your diet? Caffeine or sugar are no good

[Blasttyrant in reply to Fishmonster]

I can't thank you enough, I'm gonna get that book today!! As far as my diet, well it definitely needs to change. I used to drink a lot of coffee and energy drinks to keep me going all day but all that did was make my anxiety terrible. I have stopped with those and I'm working on cutting out ALL caffeine. As for sugar, I'm not into sweets so I do pretty good in that area. I'm gonna use the breathing like you said and see if maybe a little at a time I can cut down on my anxiety. Thanks again my friend!!

[Hannah712 in reply to Fishmonster]

Stay away from diet sodas, especially dark sodas, and artificial sweeteners, they make things worse ! Processed foods will make things worse too . Cut out these things for 2 weeks and see if it makes any difference, it may

[Fishmonster]

It makes me feel great that I can help you

I hope you start to feel better

I thank god for my challenges I went through so I can help others in need

[Starrlight]

Since it’s been a while, wondering how you are doing.best to you!

[Kevin160]

Sometimes you have to just face your fears , i was like that , i had severe stage fright and social anxiety , just thinking about it would terrify me , im a musician so performing was essential at school or other activities , at one point at a concert for 500 i threw so many times from panic , was almost parakyzed with fear , but take it from someone who went through this and now performs on concerts without a hesitation or slightest fear when i have to play for people , i just realized that my fear are so unlikely to happen and realized that we always underestimate ourselves, we always think we will fail and we wont do well or we will mess up everything and will panic and pass out or die or something , but we are actually not as fragile , our mind takes over and makes you think that because its on survival mood and thinks u r weak, but we are much stronger and when we face our problems regardless how they go we will learn from our problems , trust me u will feel terrible once u try to fave ur fears , but will feel so much better when u see that fears are just a way of your body trying to tell u something , if u ever need to talk i can share with u stories that will help , goodbye