What does anxiety mean to you?

My panic/anxiety attacks keep me from being able to work consistantly. I get an overwhelming fear of having too much work too do and not having enough help to get it done. I'm a postal worker as far as my vocation, and right now they are in the process of placing a new parcel-sorting machine into the facility---which is eliminating a lot of jobs, creating new ones and reposting current ones with new hours and off-days, and causing a lot of stress with my coworkers. As far as I'm concerned, I'm putting my trust in the Lord to work things out. He knows I have panic disorder and He knows I will need a job that least aggravates the condition. Bascially, my workplace sets off my panic attacks. I have good days and then I have a panic attack day, which I've been having to work through at work to keep enough money coming in. Guess what? You're not crazy. Your brain is just lacking in serotonin and GABA, among some other things and your doctor or psychiatrist has to work to find out what you need. If you're not on medication, maybe now is the time to look into it. It helps me a lot or I wouldn't be able to work AT ALL. Take care and know that you are never, never alone and we are all pulling for you. We're just a text away.
Love, Camylou

I agree that anxiety is something that interferes with your day to day functioning. It can be so many different things to different people. I would worry incessantly about where my life is going. I should have a better job. Why am I working three part-time jobs and unable to make ends meet? Why can't I get one good job? Why did I go to school for all those years (I have a masters) and now I don't want to stay in the same field? Did I waste all that time? How am I going to pay for food next month? Can I make rent? Why am I still single? What if I don't meet someone? What if/when I do meet someone we're too old to have children? Every second I wasn't actively doing something else I was worrying about things like this (in the shower, at breakfast, in the car, lying in bed at night, going to the bathroom, etc). I never gave myself a break and never acknowledged what I had been able to accomplish. I only ever focused on what's wrong with me, what's wrong with my life, where I should be in life. I keep putting these highly unrealistic expectations on myself and then attack myself when I can't live up to them. I'm my own worst critic. I know other people don't judge me as harshly as I judge myself, but I can't seem to stop. And even though I know they're not as harsh as me I still feel judged by others.

Even when I'm not having a panic attack my anxiety often shows up physically. My arm will hurt, or my chest will feel tight. I might have a "piercing" pain that feels like it's going through my heart. Other times it feels like my hand is falling asleep.

However it plays out for you, it's a process Savannah and over time you'll learn how your specific anxiety plays itself out. Hang in there!

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We often waste way too much of our time and energy focusing on what we don't like, what we're worried about, or what we think needs to be fixed, changed, or enhanced.

There are great things happening in your life and around you all the time.

Celebrate the good stuff around you , in others, and in yourself.

There's a book called Quarterlife Crisis that I once read. I didn't think the book itself was that great, but I really liked the concept. It's the idea that things are different today (historically speaking) and there are challenges faced by 20 and 30-somethings that didn't exist in prior generations that are very prevalent now. For instance, a high school degree used to be the "norm" and a college degree essentially guaranteed a job. Now it seems that a college degree is the new norm. Then you come out of college with no work experience and a huge debt; often unable to find work. Many 20/30 yr olds are moving back in with their parents because they can't afford to live on their own. That affects the adult child as well as the parents. It's hard to "discover yourself" as a young adult when you're living back home and it's hard for the parents as well.

One of my best friends in college never completed her degree because she became more focused on finding a relationship (and some serious medical issues). I took the opposite approach. I got so involved in my academics that I missed out on getting into a real relationship. Today we're both in our early 30s. She's married and still trying to go back to school. I have an advanced degree and wonder if I'll ever get married.

Life is tough and it's hard not to focus on the negatives at times. But focusing on the positives no matter how small they may be is sooo important. I'm trying to remind myself of what I do have and what I have accomplished. I take a walk each day and if I go one extra block I congratulate myself. If I make a phone call I was dreading I do the same. I try to "talk myself up". It feels weird at first because I usually just criticize myself. Also it's easy to "be positive" for a day or two, but the bigger challenge is acknowledging the little things over time.

I think we need to do both. We need some "worry time", but we also need some "self affirming time". Morrie Schwartz from Tuesdays with Morrie once said that when you're upset you should allow yourself to get really mad and get it all out of your system. Go all out for 10 minutes. But after ten minutes - stop. You're life is too important to allow something (anything) to ruin the rest of your day. I think we can replace being upset with other emotions such as fear and worry. It's OK to worry, but limit how much worrying you do and make sure to balance it with something positive.

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Wow, kinda bizzare, but my therapist recommended I go see the play "Tuesdays withe Morrie" once awhile back that was in my city.

I just wanted to say that I do sometimes feel like you when I am out in public. One thing that has helped me to get over that is to realize that everyone is wrapped up in their own lives. Everyone has their own issues. People are not paying attention to you. They are thinking about what they need to get at the store or what to make for dinner, etc. Even if they do pick up on your nervousness, so what? You will probably never see these people again anyways, right? I hate anxiety! I hate that it sometimes limits me and I hate the way it physically makes me feel.

What paniccu makes perfect sense and I know you are right.  However, I still can't think that way when I'm in situations that are uncomfortable.  I wish I could just be comfortable in my own skin but I can't seem to.  The counselor I've been talking to gave me an assigment to write down 10 things I like about myself.  Well, it's been a week and I've only came up with one thing and of course, had to attach something negative to that.  It's hard to see any positives right now.  I'm frustrated with myself that I can't just be like other people.  My life is controlled by worry about so many different things.

Here's a start:

1. You're seeing a counselor and are on this website. That proves that you feel that you're worth living a better life and you're actively doing something about it.
2. You care about other people. If you're worrying about what others think (although not in the healthiest of ways) it shows that you care about others. Otherwise you'd be completely indifferent.
3. For the same reason, you are clearly sensitive.
4. You want to go back to college and again improve yourself. You see a better future for your life. You have hope.


I'm sure if I knew you I'd easily be able to come up with a lot more.