frustrated with anxiety and panic

[teenytiny]

hey, 

im so frustrated at myself. anxiety and panic keep getting in the way of my life at times and it makes me feel really down. for example: i was going to go for a walk somewhere today and as i was driving i feel anxiety and panic start to creep in and i kept driving but then my mind was screaming saying “you’re going by yourself, you might have a heart attack and die” etc and i turned around and came home. i panicked the whole way back but once i turned into my street i was fine again (for the most part). i just don’t know anymore. i then beat myself up for it. i’m on medication and have done numerous therapies. it all started after getting a pretty bad concussion last year. 

[Lana026]

Hey teenytiny, 

I can really understand why you’d feel frustrated with yourself, especially when you actually wanted to go for the walk and anxiety took over instead. That panic voice can feel so convincing in the moment, even when another part of you knows you’re probably safe.

Try not to beat yourself up for turning around. You still got in the car, started the drive and kept going for a while, which is something in itself. Sometimes progress with anxiety is really small and messy.

Since you mentioned this all started after a pretty bad concussion, I’d definitely bring that up again with your doctor or whoever is supporting you, especially if the anxiety and panic changed after that.

I hope you can be a bit kinder to yourself about today. One hard day doesn’t mean you’ve gone backwards.