I don't know if I have GAD or anxiety of if I'm over exaggerating...

[lefthandedgemini]

Hello, I'm in yr 11 at school, and in the last year or so i've been getting some symptoms of anxiety mainly at school.

These happen for example in assembley if my name gets mentioned or if I get nominated for something. I shake/tremble, feel sick, have palpatations/chest pain, and get cold sweats and clammy hands. Its really affecting me as I didnt think I was that sort of person who cared about what people think of me. I just get incredibly embarrased and feel like I'm just going to burst out crying.

I'm not a majorly shy person, I have friends and speak openly in class etc.. but this has been going on for a while, and now I;ve got a thing coming up at school where I get an award and when I found out about it I was crying, and had the usual stuff I normally get. WHAT SHOULD I DO...?

[Pennylayne]

Well first of all you're not over exaggerating ........the symptoms of anxiety you are feeling are all too real and lots of us who come to this site feel very similar symptoms.

It's not really about whether you are shy as you can be a really outgoing person and still have anxiety especially related to things in public like getting an award.

I see you are in year 11 which means that you will be doing GCSE's this school year, even if you haven't realised it this may be partly to blame for your current feelings.

It's a really stressful time with all the pressure which comes at this time ......teachers, parents etc want you to do well and you want to do your best and not let anybody down.

We don't always see that we are feeling pressure and it comes out in anxiety symptoms.

It happens when we feel that we don't really have control over certain things in our lives.

My daughter had very similar symptoms when she was your age and I'm pleased to say that they did disappear in time.

Is there a person you could speak to at your school? Do you have a nice head of year or pastoral support teacher for example? If you can it would be best to speak to them so that you are not so stressed about the award. They may be able to arrange for you to get it another time and not in front of others.

Maybe there is someone in your family that you could speak to but I know that isn't always possible.

The symptoms that you feel like feeling sick and having palpitations are caused by the stress hormones released by the body which is part of the 'fight or flight' mechanism we all have. You are feeling anxious in the same way as in the dim and distant past a person would if they were about to be eaten by a wild animal and they needed to get out of there fast.

We don't usually have to worry about wild animals now but we still have the same bodies which pump out the stress hormones when we least need them as our brains get alarm signals. Understanding that that is what is happening can sometimes help a little.

Some of us are too sensitive for our own good and that is why we get more anxious than others but there are things we can do to help us to deal with it and to overcome that panicky feeling.

You have taken the first step in posting on here and there are nice people here who can give you some good advice ........take good care

[Hidden]

Hi. I remember when I was seven years old having an Anxiety attack at assembly in the school hall. This memory is still vivid and I am 'getting on a bit' now. Then, of course, I did not know it was anxiety but it frightened the life out of me for days after. My parents were the 'pull yourself together' type so there was no joy there. If only I had the understanding that you have just read on Pennylayne's blog I could have saved half a lifetime of misery. Good luck to you. You are young enough to get over this and you WILL. Blessings and good luck. jonathan.