Do I have anxiety??

[kalechips]

i think i am suffering from anxiety. i keep getting panic attacks and am nervous about the most simple things, like homework or doing hpe or going to a friends house. i know i may seem a bit paranoid compared to some people who actually have serious issues so i am sorry if i appear that way. truth is, i don't really talk to my parents that much - i love them and i get along, but i just don't tell them much. i don't want to express my concerns to my friends because one of them has a serious medical condition - epilepsy - and i am scared they'll think i am trying to get attention when she actually has an issue. my friends make fun of me, without realising their impact, about me stressing about tests and assignments and homework etc., but they don't know that i am constantly scared that i will screw up, scared about... well, everything. i second guess everything i do, everything i say, everything i think.

i have always been really anxious, but last year my cousin took her own life due to depression. i hadn't spoken to her in a long time, and it was out of the blue. i drew back from my friends, i lost interest in things that used to excite me, and i got more and more anxious. i started worrying about my families safety, my safety, my mental health.... none of my friends new but one, and she was really supportive. the one day that she was away, the day after the funeral, my friends were asking a lot of questions and making stupid jokes, one relating to suicide, and i lost it and ran from the room to the nearest bathroom and cried and cried. i came back 5 minutes late, and they were worried, but they kept pressuring me so i made an excuse and left.

anyway, i am really scared i have anxiety - what do i do? who do i tell? how can i ask my parents for help? i don't sleep, i never sit still, i am always worried, i second guess everything, i am scared of being judged. i have done a lot of research and taken many online tests, as many as i can find, and all say that i have high anxiety and strong anxiety disorders etc.

i guess i am just asking for help....

- who do i trust?

- who do i tell?

- how do i know?

- how do i ask for help?

it is affecting my life, and i don't even know if i have anxiety. am i just being paranoid?

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi kalechips,

Thanks for your post.

I'm so happy that you've decided to tell your parents! I hope you know how brave you are because I get that it's a big and scary step.

I'm also really glad that I've been supportive. You're so welcome and that's what we're here for. 🙂 I also really appreciate the feedback :). I'm also really glad that you've decided to use this as a progress journal; hopefully it helps getting it off your chest too so it doesn't bottle up inside you!

[pessimist25]

Hello kalechips welcome to BB forums,

I can't say I exactly understand what you are going through but I am going through a similar situation, where I've been suffering from some extreme stress and feelings of sadness, anxiousness and panic over the past couple of months and didn't know who to turn to (out of worry and fear that I'll be judged or told its nothing or just stress people out).

I personally recommend going to a GP who has your Medicare details on file (this way you can go without your parents) and ask your GP about some information on Anxiety and/or a referral to see a psychologist or psychiatrist (I think you can be given 6 free sessions every 12 months).

And you're not being paranoid, I've been though that where I posted something at the bottom asking if I were just being paranoid as well, and you'll never know if there is something wrong 'till you seek professional help, and hopefully they will get an idea of what you are experiencing or give you a diagnosis.

[kalechips]

Hi romantic_thi3f,

I didn't exactly get a chance to tell my parents, but sorta...

Its assessment/exam week(s) and last Friday I had a science exam and my teacher is terrible!! I didn't understand anything on the revision guide and on Wednesday night I had a panic attack and two on Thursday!!!

On Thursday I asked my mum to help my learn EVERYTHING and we went over the whole topic and I thought I had it under control (this was after the first attack - she didn't know). By this stage it was 11pm and my exam was tomorrow so I went to bed to read them over before falling asleep, and I just couldn't remember one and I don't know why but I started crying and hyperventilating and I couldn't breathe and it was the worst yet and luckily my mum came in to say goodnight and saw me struggling to breathe and she just sat down on my bed and was coaching me through and calming me down which helped but it took a good 10 minutes... When I finally calmed down she asked me what happened and for how long and everything and I told her I'd had a few recently and some prior... She told me that grade 9 was most stressful for her too, more stressful than senior years, which was reassuring at first cause I knew I wasn't alone, but then I realised that she didn't see anyone (GP/psychologist) so she might think it is unnecessary for me to... I'm not really sure?! Maybe next time it happens again I ask her to see someone for help...

I am really young so I don't know if I am just overreacting or if something is actually wrong?!

Kalechips x

[kalechips]

Hi pessimist25,

Thank you so much for your response, its good to know that I am not the only one - guess that is the whole point of BB!

KC x

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi Kalechips

Thanks for your post and for checking in with us again!

It sounds like it's been really hard and I'm really sorry that you've had a panic attack! I hope that you're okay and I know they can be really scary. At the same time though I'm kind of glad you had one in front of your mum so she could see what it was like for you and start to understand where you're at. It sounds like she really listened and helped you through it and didn't dismiss you which is a great thing. Did it help to be able to finally talk to your mum about it?

I'm not sure how old your mum is but my guess is she probably didn't even have that option to see a psychologist when she was your age. A lot of people didn't and I think that's why there's a lot of stigma around it and how we should just 'deal with things ourselves'. It doesn't mean anyone is right or wrong; your mum turned out fine and just because you want some help doesn't mean you're overreacting. I see a psychologist myself and I think that they're super helpful;- there's nothing wrong with wanting to see one.

How do you think your mum would react if you said you wanted to see one? Do you think she'd be supportive of it? Of course there is still the school counsellor as an option too.