Anxiety & Panic Community

I defiantly know what everyone is going through. I've suffered from an anxiety disorder and panic attacks since I hit puberty at 9 years old. middle school and high school was rough for me so i got my GED when i was only 16 and started college. anxiety has always been on and off for me. i feel like theres a switch in my brain that's constantly turned ON and it makes me fear everything, and i have uncontrollable thoughts. not to mention that i am a huge hypochondriac, everytime i get sick i feel like i have some dreaded disease and i google all my symptoms which make it worse. there are many times where i've just completely isolated myself which makes things so much worse. its one thing having a panic attack that lasts temporarily and constantly being in a state of worry and fear. it can be trigged by the smallest things and once something sets it off, you feel like you are going crazy! anxiety can make you feel awful, and it make you feel physically sick. it can also make you feel like your going crazy, you can't stop worrying and you have obsessive thoughts. medicines like ativan and xanax do help temporarily but they are way too addicting to be on for more than a week or two. i've researched anxiety, ive read alot of books about it, i know what it is and i know the symptoms but sometimes its just difficult telling yourself that its just your mind, sometimes you just cant stop those thoughts. im so glad to know that there are so many people who are going through the same exact thing that i am. it makes me feel like im not crazy! anxiety and panic are a terrible thing to have to live with, it makes living day to day seem impossible. being an anxious person though does have its benefits, i think that it makes you a stronger person, and you are more aware of yourself and your surroundings, whenever i get over a panic attack or an anxiety episode it makes me a stronger person and it defiantly makes me appreciate life so much more! i love to help people with their anxiety and reassure people that they are not alone.. even though myself right now am going through a very intense episode of anxiety, i want to be able to help people also, we can all help each other!

my recommendations for getting through anxiety are:

1) get out of the house. staying at home and worrying about your symptoms and what your feeling always makes it worse.

2) get your mind off of whatever your feeling. do something to take your mind off of it. being bored is an anxious persons worse enemy.

3) don't be afraid to talk to others. talk with a friend or a family member. don't hold everything inside.

4) when your sick, DO NOT google your symptoms. there is so much crap on the internet that will only make you feel worse. if you think something is wrong with you, GO TO THE DOCTOR, please dont go on the internet looking for answers, personal experience, it will make you feel so much worse.

5) go to your doctor and get on medicine and seek therapy or a therapist to talk to. that's the first step to really getting better.

6) don't be afraid to go on medicine. medicine can REALLY help. some side effects might be scary, but its worth it if it can make a difference. some anxiety is caused by a chemical imbalance in your brian and medicine will help that.

**be careful when you are prescribed xanax, ativan or any other short term anxiety medicine. it is VERY addicting, but it can be very helpful when you use it as needed**

7) have faith that you will get better. millions of people have anxiety and you are not alone. what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger!

i hope this helped. email me if you would like to talk, id love to talk to anyone

kateybabey92@yahoo.com