Just been diagnosed, need some reassurance.

StressHead93 · ‎23-02-2016

I've just been diagnosed with anxiety and have been referred to a psychologist. I know there are others out there like me but I feel like the only person in the world who feels like this. I have acute anxiety when it comes to just about everything. Leaving the house is a struggle and the only time I leave is to go to work. Recently I have been having persistant headaches, dizziness, extreme fatigue and seizures and have had every test under the sun to find out why. All the tests have come back clear, and my doctor believes I am having these symptoms as it is easier for me to feel physical pain than emotional. I have no one to talk to about it. My parents don't believe in mental illness and have a "get over it, get on with it" attitude, but that is a lot easier said than done. My best friend who I talked to about everything died 18 months ago. I feel completely alone without her and I know I'm not coping. My parents have tried to get me out of the house to meet new people, but the anxiety that comes with doing something out of my routine is enough to send me over the edge. I need help, and I think the hardest part of all is admitting that. I'm 22 and have done nothing with my life. I have never travelled, never gone to a nightclub, never studied, never get into relationships and never thought about what I would like to do with my future because the stress and fear that comes with it is just too much. I only work part time because I constantly worry that something will go wrong at home. Is life supposed to be this hard?

music_my-life · ‎23-02-2016

hey stresshead,

look I also have anxiety and although mine is a bit different I completely get it. it is a nightmare to live with and it makes my life an absolute misery some days. I think your symptoms are more what they title your anxiety "attack" I know that whenever I feel like that, its often my attacks like today for example. btw certain things could trigger u, maybe look at when it specifically comes about and what you were recently doing/thinking cause that can help you get more directly to the source. I know that that has helped me from the past a bit.

sorry, wish I had more advice oh and as always talk to a professional

tc

Fairywings · ‎24-02-2016

Hi beautiful no life is not meant to be this hard but anxiety is very hard to deal with every day. Positive self talk really helps to ease ur fears it takes time to learn but once you are confident enough it will allow yourself to feel more positive about what ur doing with your life and will give uv the wings to fly and set yourself free and begin to enjoy life again ask God to take all ur fears and anxieties away it really does work he listens. Seeing the psychologist will be a great help for you. God bless u always happy to talk xx ☺

Neenie87 · ‎04-03-2016

I have been in a similar situation to this. Dont give up hope. With an online course im doing, psychologist, exercise and cbt im no longer house bound. You will get through this time. X

Fightress · ‎06-03-2016

Hi StressHead,

I understand you feel alone and i understand the anxiety issues. I am very similar in a lot of ways and have days where going to the mail box brings on a freak out session or even leaving my room peaks my anxiety to the point where i bring food to my room and only do what i absolutely have to do out of my room.

Meeting new people and even catching up with friends out of my comfort zone can be hard if not pretty much impossible, i do try to stay as positive as possible and have surprised myself with things i have accomplished when i have been able to go past my anxiety. Its hard and can hurt mentally but the rewards are huge.

You said you wanted to study?? I do an online course which i am so happy about, i stay at home in my comfort zone and the hours i study are my own but i am working towards something i want and the feeling of being productive still helps my anxiety too.

I study through open colleges and its very flexible and there is heaps of student support too, you also dont have to talk to anyone if you done want to, its all online and there are forums and online study groups etc. It means i can go to appoinyments and work on my mental state and study too and its ok if i miss a few days or even a month if i am having a bad time mentally.

There is so much out there to do and so much help available, i was diagnosed 12 years ago and i have come a long way and know that i still have so much more i can achieve too.

Never give up :):)

Moonstruck · ‎06-03-2016

My dear dear Stresshead - my heart goes out to you....I hope I don't say the wrong things here...just letting you know that friends and fellow anxiety sufferers on here will do their best to give you support and encouragement...you can let it all out here.. I am so sorry your parents have that attitude of "get over it, get on with it"....you won't hear that from BB... "we get you"!

it sounds like you are still grieving for the loss of your friend too.....that's terribly hard to deal with, even for those without anxiety - I understand your feeling like you "haven't done anything with your life".....there's plenty of time - let's concentrate on getting you feeling better...you don't have to do it all by yourself... baby steps now. Sending love your way (hugs too if you like them).....xx

TuneOfLove_ · ‎08-03-2016

Hi Stresshead 🙂

This quote might not make sense to you, but it is the root cause of all problems 🙂 Slowly but surely, work on living in the present , & you will see the conclusions that your mind always tries to draw from past experiences.

“The pain that you create now is always some form of nonacceptance, some form of
unconscious resistance to what is. On the level of thought, the resistance is
some form of judgement. On the emotional level, it is some form of negativity.
The intensity of the pain depends on the degree of resistance to the present
moment, and this in turn depends on how strongly you are identified with your
mind. The mind always seeks to deny the Now and to escape from it. In other
words, the more you are identified with your mind, the more you suffer. Or you
may put it like this: the more you are able to honor and accept the Now, the
more you are free of pain, of suffering - and free of the egoic mind.” ~Eckhart
Tolle~

pipsy · ‎08-03-2016

Hi StressHead. Excuse me for saying this, but what a dreadful name to call yourself. Have you been diagnosed with anything besides anxiety? You sound as though you may have a form of agrophobia. Having that will cause panic attacks because going outside scares you. Are you taking meds for the anxiety? If you have been given meds, they will take a while to start working. The attitude your parents display is typical of parents who have no idea how to help you. Get over it, get on with it makes the problem worse because you already feel alone. When you see your psychologist, tell him about your parents attitude, hopefully he will give you some coping strategies. Also discuss with him about agrophobia, I'm not saying you have it, but if you do, there are ways to help you deal with it. Life can be quite taxing at times, we all go through stages where we'd like to 'stop the world and get off'. Once you've seen your psych and he has you on meds, hopefully you will start to feel more easier. As far as your parents go, your psych should be able to help you there too. If they're still not willing to listen, there's not much you can do. You may have to look at relocating, but that's in the future. For now, see your psych.

blondguy · ‎08-03-2016

Hi Stresshead93

The feelings are dreadful..(the anxiety attacks) I remember them so well. I will keep this brief..

* With your results coming back clear...its very common anxiety attacks...

* I am sorry about your best friend...I have never gone through that before...

* I am also sad about your parents and their 'just get over it' attitude...That is tragic..

* Anxiety attacks do reduce in severity over time even with a good GP or a psychologist...

* I used to be housebound too...it was awful....BUT...It does get better over time..I now thats a pain but it will

We are here for you

Paul

StressHead93 · ‎15-03-2016

Thankyou to you all for your kind words of support and encouragement. It has been a tough few weeks, but I am starting to see a light at the end of a very long tunnel. I have had two sessions with my psychologist, and she has diagnosed me with depression and an acute panic disorder with induces pseudoseizures. She believes I have agoraphobia, which is the stem of many of my fears. I have been prescribed medicaiton to try and help me calm down and open up a bit. My parents have had a complete turnaround in their attitude from "get over it" to reading books on understanding and managing anxiety, of which I couldn't be more grateful as I can talk to them about it and they don't treat me like a crazy person anymore. I have been asked by my psychologist to keep a journal and write down everything I'm feeling. She has also been teaching me problem solving techniques to help manage my anxiety when it is becoming too much. I know I've hit rock bottom over the past couple of weeks, so the only way life can go is up.

Thankyou all for listening and being here x

Ps. Maybe StressHead93 wasn't the best choice of a code-name!