Anxiety Help :(

[ClaireBear14]

Hi Everyone,

I am new to this so am still learning how to navigate the site, read posts etc...

I'm just wondering if anyone is in the same position as me. My anxiety will flare up weekly at random points and I always think that my throat is closing up or I am allergic to something (food, smells, lotions, medicines etc...) and believe I can't breath. In that moment I honestly think I am going to drop down dead

Every time I read or hear about someone with an illness or suddenly dying I convince myself it's happening to me. Sounds stupid reall :/

I try to calm myself down, I have done breathing techniques, tapping techniques, distracting myself and nothing helps!!

Does anyone else ever feel like this or know how I can stop feeling this way. Any help would be really appreciated?

Thank you

[Jeff1943]

Hi ClaireBear14, the first thing I would suggest if you haven't already done it is to see your doctor just to make sure it's not an allergy. It all sounds like anxiety to me but you do need the reassurance from your doctor that the feeling your throat is closing up is 'just nerves'.

Yes, most of us on this forum has at some time convinced themselves they have a fatal illness often brought on by people dying who we read or hear about. Anxiety does that to you, you are not alone. It's not stupid it's your over-sensitive nervous system acting the way it always does, mimicing realorganic illness and frightening us half to death in the process.

so you're NOT about to drop down dead and you're NOT going to feel this way for the rest of your life. What worry or stress caused your nerves to become over sensitive only you know bur first it's best to address the cause of your anxiety disorder. There is no problem that cannot be solved by the application of human thought so do try to solve whatever stress started all this in the first place. Now, of course, the worry caused by your sensitised nerves has taken over from the original cause and we can find ourselves in a never-ending circle of anxiety causing symptoms which cause more anxiety which cause more symptoms and so on.

The way to break the chain is to stop worrying about all these symptoms caused by anxiety simply by accepting them for the time being. Nervous symptoms are imposters because although they mimic real illness they can't kill you, can disable you and can't drive you mad. So knowing your anxiety symptoms to be fraudulent just accept them without fear and you'll stop feeding your sensitive nerves with the fear on which they thrive.

Eventually, after practicing acceptance with persistence, your nerves will cease to be sensitive and you will recover allowing you to get on with your life.

[ClaireBear14 in reply to Jeff1943]

Hi There

I'm so sorry I didn't see this response.

Thank you so so much for your reply it really has brought me great comfort. Xxxx

[Jeff1943 in reply to ClaireBear14]

Hi ClaireBear14, I recommend everybody experiencing anxiety disorder to read a book written many years ago that has helped untold thousands to fully recover. In fact what I wrote in my post about Acceptance was based on what Claire Weekes wrote in her first book 'Self help for your nerves' available new or used on Amazon. It will set your mind at rest by explaining in very simple non-medical language why we develop anxiety and its limitations and how we can banish it from our lives. Maybe check out the reviews on Amazon.

[Taranicole31404]

It sounds like you suffer from health anxiety. I have this as well and I find it best to not look up symptoms on the internet . When this happens the breathing techniques. Can work well some times for me I feel like I can't even Faldo them . Are you on any medications.l?

[ClaireBear14 in reply to Taranicole31404]

Hi, So sorry for late reply I did not see your comment.

Thanks for offering some advice.

I am not on any medications as I am too scared to take anything due to fear of being allergic 😩 xx