Intro and my issues

[cole81099]

Hey guys, just thought I'd introduce myself and my issues. I don't have much friends or people to talk to who understand Anxiety, so I thought I'd give this app a shot. My parents are the only people I feel genuinely care about me and just about the only ones I can talk to but they still don't understand anxiety completely. But just by reading a few posts I can tell I have a lot in common with you guys. I'm 18 years old, I have NO self esteem and I hardly ever leave my house because of my worrying. I sit at home thinking 24/7. I come up with the most negative outcome in every situation and convince myself that it will happen.

For example, If my parents leave the house to go grocery shopping I convince myself that they're going to get in a car crash and die and that I'm going to have to learn to live alone.

If I message someone to talk to and they don't reply I tell myself that I'm being annoying and I shouldn't message them because they don't like me, etc.

Now this stuff holds me back a lot, but my biggest issue that I cannot bear is the stomach pain I get from the anxiety. Does anyone else have bad stomach aches? When I have one I am pretty much guaranteed to have a full blown anxiety attack. The pain is unbearable. I've told my brother to call 911 before because I thought I was going to die from the pain. I've changed my diet and everything but you're always gonna have stomach aches and that makes me worry even more. That's the main reason I don't leave my house because I worry that my stomach will hurt and I'll have a panic attack and embarrass myself. I just hope that if I get rid of the anxiety the bad stomach pain will go as well.

That's the majority of the issues I have. If anyone has any tips or advice for anything I'd love to know. I'm on 2 anxiety medications right now but they're not doing as good as I'd like them to. I go to a neurologist and he says the next step for me is Psychiatry. Has Psychiatry worked for you guys? I certainly hope it'll help for me. But for now I'm just suffering. Thanks to anyone that takes the time to read this and comment any advice

[Hidden]

I think cognitive behavioral therapy might help you. You seem to have a good grasp of your thinking patterns and how they are affecting you. You will do well and recover. Don’t give up it takes time. You are on the road to recovery.

[cole81099 in reply to Hidden]

Yeah I try to make sense and understand what I'm so afraid of at different times. But thank you for the encouragement, I'll look into cognitive behavioral therapy.

[Hidden in reply to cole81099]

Write it all down so you can share it with a doctor. Being able to recognize these things is a huge step. Not everyone can do it out of the gate.

[cole81099 in reply to Hidden]

Will do, thanks again

[mstarling07]

Psychiatry definitely helps.

I am 39 and the professionals are still the only ones in my real life who can understand and explain things and that I learn from.

Today is my first day on here, and I hope to help others as well as find others who I can chat with getting through the attacks.

I was about your age when my anxiety started showing up in my life.

I thought I was going crazy.

I admitted myself to a voluntary 3 night and day clinic to actually get a diagnosis.

I will never regret it.

My hope now is to find a good therapist and a different doctor to help.

We all have our own unrealistic feelings of dread that cause the attacks, but please understand that when I say unrealistic, it is only a technical term, but compassionate to your feelings.

My own attacks also seem to come associated with food or not eating enough to keep blood-sugar levels normal, therefore causing my symptoms.

Anyways, I promise you, there is no shame in having these issues, and please get yourself an appointment and tell your doctor about your agoraphobic feelings (yourself or parents leaving the house).

I hope you are finding a lot of help here so far.

[ambron1]

Nice to meet you. You are not alone u have us... I spend much of my day the same way.. When I exercise I find that the fears are lesser. When I come here and see that I am not the only one wired this way I immediately feel comforted. This is my normal I am no longer ashamed of being different....

[ambron1]

Omg I get awful stomach pains sometimes I even throw up. I never associated that it was my anxiety. WoW thanks. That was just one more thing to worry about . Thanks for helping me...

[cole81099 in reply to ambron1]

Yeah, I read that when we constantly worry it can emit more stomach acid into our system and cause the pain. But then the pain just causes more worrying and make for one horrible experience.