Posted 1/28/2015 4:22 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Littlewing75,
I developed an anxiety disorder, (undiagnosed), when younger. Might not really be relevant or helpful to your post, but I wanted to share it, also, you asked if anyone had, had an anxiety disorder that they had overcome.
I had a fear of eating a particular type of food in front of others, I'm not sure how long it went on for, I can't remember, I'm guessing it was somewhere between 11/12 -14/15 years old, I'm older than mid 30's now, which explains me not being sure, plus maybe I kind of didn't hang on to it anyway.
I think it wasn't that long, maybe 1-2 years, on and off.
Saying this was never diagnosed, I kind of wish it was, in a way, as it was never looked at by a professional at the time. Sometimes it was put down as attention seeking, or maybe thought of as a problem swallowing. Mum tried to analyse it and in the end, tried reverse psychology? :/
Here is my thinking on the whole thing. I think that in general, I have issues with certain things, flexibility in certain situations, like driving, I struggle with, I think I won't get there, I have problems with navigating to get to places, I am scared of big roundabouts and going the wrong way, but starting to get by a bit more. I don't seem to be able to try as much as others sometimes, and I think some of it is self belief. I think I can do it, but it's hard for me, so it takes longer and I need to give myself more time, but try not to give up.
Anyway....I deviated. I overcame the eating thing, Maybe I realised nothing bad was going to happen, when I was older (13-15), if I didn't eat it within an amount of time, and also, the meal time was switched, so I wasn't eating the food at home, but at school instead, which seemed to take the pressure off (or the new situation made it easier to start again, with no preconceptions of how it was going to be).
In a new job, later down the line, 24 yr old or older, until I left that particular place of work, I developed a fear of eating infront of others, or directly in front of others, at my desk. I think I could do the canteen, but then got uncomfortable about when I saw someone I knew come into the canteen or if they wanted to sit with me.
What happened with this, well, it wasn't that severe as sometimes I'd be more comfortable than others, and could eat in front of others, and did sometimes when I think the canteen was closed or something similar, a few times.
I left that job, and when I started the next job, I made a conscious effect to make sure I ate in front of others from the outset. New place, different surroundings. This worked! the majority of the time. When I was stressed at work or PMT, it was a little more difficult, but not a problem. I tried not to focus on it too much. I think my focus on my anxieties or self consciousness, makes it a bit worse.
I don't really have a problem now. Occassionally I panic if I'm with family, now and again, if it's a gathering and food is involved, but I really try not to focus on it too much. If I'm really not hungry or it's too much, I will just say if I've already eaten.
Anyway......that was really long and not really sure if it is related or relevant, but I wanted to talk about it.
These days, if I feel a bit anxious about something, it's usually if it is something which needs to be done in a set amount of time, so I try to allow myself more time in a lot of situations, I understand my needs more, I don't like surprises which are pressure based, eg. 'I need to drive someone to somewhere I don't know, for a specific time', so basically, I decline, or do it, if I think I can, ask someone else to help, or take another form of transport.
Hope you are ok.
HB