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Anxiety & Panic Disorders
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Posted 12/17/2014 2:52 AM (GMT 0)
I'm getting really scared, for the last month I have been constantly getting sick and it always follow after being under a lot of stress or anxiety about something. My throat is sore, head hurts, I'm tired, on edge and just exhausted from all of this. There have been so many different variations of my sickness and no one else around me is sick! My Step-mom is getting annoyed that it is always happening during the middle of the week as if I'm trying to make it happen when I come over. But it's just the middle of the week when things start to pile up and there is so much going on, college admissions, midterms, huge projects, auditions, theater, running clubs. I feel so stressed like I'm not good enough all the time. I'm not a good enough student, daughter, worker, time manager and it just keeps getting worse. I've begun crying so often, and I'm not the same person I used to be. I feel like if I tell my parents that I think I have anxiety, they think I'm overreacting and just trying to claim some other sickness. I don't want to go to the doctors and cost them a bill and have someone blame it on allergies, because it's not. Reading some of the other posts makes me glad I'm not alone, but I just need help, advice, something :(
Posted 12/17/2014 2:59 AM (GMT 0)
Rose, you have nothing to feel guilty about, you may be a little too busy for a college student but you are
fine. Staying overloaded and feeling the way you do is going to affect your immunity, so somethings need
to change, that is your decision. You do need to see a doctor, just go to a good GP and get somethings checked, if he offers you meds dont just refuse, think about it, i only know one thing you will get better,
you will get well, life is waiting go on, Peace

Larry ***
Posted 12/17/2014 3:13 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you Larry, I'll see if I can find a way to go to a GP but the problem is I'm only 17 and even though it is legal for me to go, I am not able to without my parents knowing about it and needing their help. If I was in College this probably would be a different story as you say, probably much easier. I just don't want them to look at me with pity like I'm some sick puppy yet I still want to get better and stop being so anxious and depressed about things now. Everything seems to be going down hill for me now and all I can think of is that this is just a nightmare and I'll wake up from it soon enough.
Posted 12/17/2014 5:02 AM (GMT 0)
Roses, I know how you feel, I'm dealing with anxiety now as an adult and dealt with it throughout high school (although I didn't know it at the time). The best thing for you to do, in my opinion, is to talk to your parents, they have no reason not to be understanding of how you're feeling, ask them to help you get the help that you need. Things will get better but you need to take the first step, hang in there, we're all here for you.
Posted 12/17/2014 5:08 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you girl, I will. I really needed that. *takes a deep breath* I'll try to talk to them tomorrow. I really appreciate the simple advice, not the easiest but doable, and kind words.
Posted 12/17/2014 5:58 AM (GMT 0)
Hi R&T and welcome!

I am sorry to hear that you are dealing with so much currently. It does sound as if you have a lot on your plate!

Is there someone like your counselor that you can talk to at your school about the pressures you are feeling? Sometimes all it takes is getting things out in the open...and talking with someone sympathetic to help. There may even be a peer group that meets you may not even be aware of...check out your school resources by asking around.

For now, here are some great self-help exercises that you can try for decompressing and lessening stress, and thus symptoms of anxiety. I use these regularly, and they are effective!

Self Help sites with breathing/relaxation exercises instructions

Panic attack relief exercises:

 

http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/73076/34334/breathing-lessons/

http://www.healthyplace.com/

http://www.stress-relief-exercises.com/

http://www.ehow.com/video_4405003_breathing-exercises-panic-attacks.html

http://www.psybersquare.com/anxiety/panic_relax_I


Keep posting with us as well. We are here to listen, understand and support. That in and of itself is healing.:)

Talk to you soon,

Scaredy Cat

Posted 12/17/2014 7:02 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,
I would definitely attempt to talk to your parents and explain everything that is going on. Getting some help would be really helpful for you. I was 16 before I finally sat my parents down and told them, look, I really need some help. And, it worked. Good luck :)
Posted 12/17/2014 6:34 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the advice Princessmel and Scardy Cat. I've tried talking to my counselor but it unfortunate didn't really help. She's new as a counselor too so it's alright and I do appreciate being able to talk to her. To princessmel, I will hopefully get the courage to talk to my mom about it when she gets home and I might call my dad too. *sigh* It's just hard asking for help sometimes and having to admit to people you know that there is a problem :P. Also, I really like the quotes: "Courage is not the absence of fear, it is feeling afraid and doing it anyway!" and "Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles...it empties today of its strength." by Corrie Ten Boom. It has given me something to think about. Thank you again for the well wishes and I hope things get better.
Posted 12/17/2014 7:55 PM (GMT 0)
R&T,

I am simply amazed at how you are so young, and yet still know there is something 'not quite working right.' I'm 32 and am only starting to understand that I have "anxiety." I certainly had it at 17 though, and didn't have a clue. This leads me to believe you are one bright young lady!

It sounds like your time may be stretched a bit too thin, so that's likely why you are feeling a bit overwhelmed. I totally understand wanting to be a part of "everything," but is it possible to scale back the amount of activities you are involved in, so that you can find success in the ones you do partake in?

Just a thought, but wanted to share that I am just so glad to see you trying to make a difference in your life! :D
Posted 12/17/2014 11:20 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the smiles TMA I needed that :). I realized that what I am going through is very similar to what happened to me in 8th grade and knew that I couldn't do it alone again. This community has been an amazing source of help to me already and I wish I knew how to thank everyone. Hopefully things will die down after Midterms and college apps and decisions are done but I might also try to do a few less things too and manage my time better. Also I read something about dealing with stress in the moment and not trying to escape from it which is what I find myself doing with books then loosing all my time. SO hopefully I can work on this as well.

More with the news about going to the Doctors, my dad is going to take me after work today and I called my mom and told her. It wasn't a bad reaction but she wants me to believe that it is all just a sickness and vitamins will cure everything. While taking vitamins will definitely help and I shall start to do, I do not believe that this is the sole solution to what I am going through. So i am still hoping a trip to the doctors will help.

My fear right now is going back to school. I don't want to go back and pretend like everything is alright because I am so tired of doing that. But I don't want to sit in a corner and sulk or tell my friends and have them worry or think something is wrong with me. Taking more time off of school and running from it isn't an option either. What should I do???
Posted 12/18/2014 12:59 AM (GMT 0)
Rose, once you let the girls at school know what you are dealing with, you will be amazed at how many
other young women and men deal with the same thing, many will not handle it as well as you do, I will
Pray for your recovery and many more will also, Peace

Larry ***

Post Edited (lgm1942) : 12/17/2014 6:47:28 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/18/2014 2:16 AM (GMT 0)
R&T,

So glad to hear that you are going in to consult with your doctor today!

I am sure that you will feel better about your next step after coming up with a treatment plan.

Let us know how it went okay?

Keep up the good work...you are on your way to recovery and feeling your best!

S.C.
Posted 12/18/2014 2:31 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you lmg I will keep that in mind tomorrow it will help a lot :).

Also Thank you Scaredy Cat, I guess I spoke too soon though. We could not get an appointment and when I told my dad what I wanted to go for he was not happy about it. He said that a 17 year old should not need medicine or anti-depressants or anything of the sort to get by. This was a little crushing.

I know that there are some days when I am perfectly fine and I would wonder about the idea of some sort of medicine for me. But then there are days that I feel as if the world is going to just crush me and sometimes I wish it would. I'd really like that train of thought to stop.

Fortunately I have a very understanding mom. She explained to me when I got home that she felt the same way when she was 17 and her mom would not let her get medicine and told her to take only vitamins and this is not what she meant to tell me. She meant that Vitamins had helped her but when she left for college she went to the doctors and got medicine to help her for when she needed it the most. I was so relieved and asked if she would please take me to the doctors in the next week and she said she would (she even thought tonight at the ER if I really wanted to but it wasn't that urgent) and offered to take me to a therapist and asked if I had talked to my counselor.

All-in-all a doctors visit in back on track and things are better than they were with mom but with dad refusing to take me I don't think I'll be able to tell him about going with my mom to the Doctors and possibly getting medicine. Other than that things are looking up and tomorrow is my last day of mid-terms so I just need to make it through Thursday and hopefully I am all better by then. Thank you everyone for your suggestions and kind words they mean a lot to me :)
Posted 12/18/2014 2:38 AM (GMT 0)
Okay...good to hear that you are back on track to talk with your doctor. It is good that you are able to talk with your parents and get the help that you need...even if they differ in opinions...they want the best for you, and I am sure that you can all come to an agreement about you needing to feel better!

I do really recommend getting into therapy. If you also want to try medication, that is up to you, your doctor and your folks. Meds can be very useful, but therapy is going to be of long-term benefit that is irrefutably effective.

For now, and to help you get back to school with as little anxiety as possible...check out and try the coping skills I posted above. They are really helpful.:)

Keep us posted!

S.C.
Posted 12/18/2014 2:49 AM (GMT 0)
If we are able to I might try therapy during break because I agree that therapy would help I'm just a little apprehensive thinking about what it is going to be like. I hope they do come to a consensus too but those times are far and in between for the two of them.

Also, thank you for the best wishes I am feeling more confident little by little. Last night I looked at the coping skill and began to think them over and there are a few that I know will be really effective for me that I have been starting to try. Thank you for posting them and now that I have a clear head I will probably even go over them again. I hope tomorrow goes well :D

Roses
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