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Do I have anxiety? looking for perspective

Posted , 4 users are following.

jake1989
jake1989

Hi,

Reason for posting is that I really dont think I can talk about this elsewhere and I hope to get some objective answers to something I have been wrestling for a year or so and not definitively answered myself.

I really don't know if I have some kind of anxiety problem. Initially I dismissed it out of hand but gradually started writing a couple of things down that I thought pointed to a potential condition.

This argument is still raging constantly in my head, half the time I feel I really need to talk to somebody about this the other half I'm shouting at myself because people really suffer from anxiety I shouldnt just throw the term about.

So if you have any experience of this or a view point on it, please see below a list I made last night of things that concern me; (I'am a 27 year old male)

Non Enjoyment

·       Seem to really struggle to enjoy anything, even things I do like doing

·       Can’t remember last feeling excited or really happy

 

Constant fear

·       Have huge dislike of anything that removes me from my comfort zone

·       I have to have an escape route or I feel trapped (when visiting friends who live away I have booked a hotel 2 minutes away so I can leave whenever I want, even though I’ve been invited to stay at their house)

·       E.g. stopped going running from fear of being attacked while running

 

Pessimism

·       Scared to enjoy anything as I feel as soon as I do, something will go wrong

·       Constantly fear the worst – e.g. missed call from family – assume someone is hurt

 

Mild OCD tendencies

·       Particularly with door locking – will go back several times even when I know it is locked

·       Others – taps, hob, fire

·       If I do nothing, even when I know the thing is already sorted, I can’t relax

 

Relationships

·       Struggle to make new friends/ keep current ones

·       I want to socialise and then when it comes around I do my best to avoid it

·       Get nowhere near any kind of romantic relationship because;

o   Don’t think anyone could really like me

o   Terrified of rejection

 

Physiological

·       Frequent heartburn and indigestion – no particular pattern in terms of what I eat

·       Many aches in muscles  

·       Maybe? Panic attacks – really don’t know if I have ever had one, but on a few instances when I’ve got myself worked up I’ve felt as if I have an enormous weight on my chest and feel really tight in my chest - don't really know if this is a panic attack or not

Thanks. Any comments/ help appreciated.

0 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • chelsey1992x
    chelsey1992x jake1989

    Posted

    I personally think the first step to help you feel better is accepting that you may have anxiety, in my opinion it sounds as though that's what it is. I can relate to a few of your points listed.

    Have you spoke to a doctor regarding this? I honestly think that will help you and you can maybe be referred for CBT which I've heard helps a lot of people (I'm still waiting for my sessions to start) but that first phone call is a weight lifted just knowing that you're not alone and so many people go through this. I'm currently learning to manage my symptoms and a lot of the time I get them even when I'm not feeling anxious, don't be afraid of accepting it x

    • jake1989
      jake1989 chelsey1992x

      Posted

      Thanks for taking the time to reply.

      I've convinced myself for a long time that I'm just a very introverted person and this was the reason for all of the above.

      I've never realistically considered going to the doctors for a couple of reasons which may sound ridiculous;

      1. I feel as if people have worse problems than me and I dont want to take up/ waste a doctors time

      2.I feel it gives whatever this is validity and if I've got by to date then I'll just carry on as I am

      3. I fear going incase it affects my current life in some way, such as them stopping me driving or somehow letting my place of work know

  • wendywilts
    wendywilts jake1989

    Posted

    Hi Jake, yes it does sound like anxiety, coupled with what I think is low self esteem,

    You really do need to talk to someone about how you are feeling. Most of the things you have mentioned are anxiety related, you maybe need now to accept it and start to find ways that will help you.

    Your first port of call is the doctors, take your list with you, perhaps get counciling, find out when and why this has begun, and has there been a trigger to et off the anxiety, or was it always there only not so much so, maybe was bearable, now is not, so look at it try to see when things began to escalate.

    There are lots of people willing to help you, you just have to reach out and ask. Go see your gp, get some therapy, meditate, dont keep things bottled up, talk to a friend or family member about it, amazing how theraputic just talking can be. But remember your not alone, especially now you have joined this forum, alwsys someone ready to listen and help

    • jake1989
      jake1989 wendywilts

      Posted

      (by the way I have copied and pasted some of the below from other replies, but I am answering everybody individually)

      Thanks for taking the time to reply.

      I've convinced myself for a long time that I'm just a very introverted person and this was the reason for all of the above.

      I've never realistically considered going to the doctors for a couple of reasons which may sound ridiculous;

      1. I feel as if people have worse problems than me and I dont want to take up/ waste a doctors time

      2.I feel it gives whatever this is validity and if I've got by to date then I'll just carry on as I am

      3. I fear going incase it affects my current life in some way, such as them stopping me driving or somehow letting my place of work know

      In terms of talking to a friend/ family, I really dont want to worry my family (which they would if I said anything) and Ive never talked to anyone else about it, probably through fear of being judged or seen differently from that point on (the old once youve let the genie out of the bottle thing)

       

  • gill21655
    gill21655 jake1989

    Posted

    Hi Jake,

    Firstly im sorry your struggling with this. 

    Yes all you describe are common symptoms of anxiety and this can also lead to low mood.I have gone through all of the above at some point.. And it is common you are not alone.

    I wä the same as you and felt i couldnt talk to anyone about it, especially because i work in the health profession.

    However in desperation last Sept i went to my GP who knew me through work... so that was a big move for me to make....

    But i am glad i did ... i started CBT a six session course and that really helped me understand exactly what was going on in my mind and bodyband was able to work through it.

    I also did tonnes of research and it was a real eye opener.

    From the research i discovéred from studies that mindful meditation was proven to reduce the anxiety and low moods by 50% over 8 weeks.

    I looked at both UCLA on mental health ( found videos on you tube) and oxford university studies on mental health and mindfulness again found on you tube.

    I started doing the mindful meditations  am and pm before getting up and after going to bed... supposed to do it in a chair so you dont fall asleep.. but i concentrated more lay down..

    Bite the bullet .. go and see your doctor and in the mean time try the mindful meditation..... It really does improve your quality of life... and on your road to recovery .

    Stay positive and rememeber there is help out there but you have to take that first step... Anxiety is rubbish and you shouldnt have to struggle alone xxxx

    • jake1989
      jake1989 gill21655

      Posted

      (by the way I have copied and pasted some of the below from other replies, but I am answering everybody individually)

      Thanks for taking the time to reply and for your concern.

      I've convinced myself for a long time that I'm just a very introverted person and this was the reason for all of the above.

      I've never realistically considered going to the doctors for a couple of reasons which may sound ridiculous;

      1. I feel as if people have worse problems than me and I dont want to take up/ waste a doctors time

      2.I feel it gives whatever this is validity and if I've got by to date then I'll just carry on as I am

      3. I fear going incase it affects my current life in some way, such as them stopping me driving or somehow letting my place of work know

      I've never heard of mindful meditation before but I will look it up!

  • lisalisa67
    lisalisa67 jake1989

    Posted

    Yes. I would guess anxiety with shades of depression. Why dont you go and get assessed with a psychologist. They dont give meds.  You wrote that out very well and can bring it. Digestion is important to correct as that is where seratonin is made. Ninety percent for the body so that needs to be corrected. Cbt is helpful, but you need to talk all this out and figure out what is going on as well. It is silly and useless to ignore it all, it doesnt pass on its own best to get assessed, diagnosed and have a plan of action on treatment so you can manage it all and embrace life instead of just existing.
    • jake1989
      jake1989 lisalisa67

      Posted

      (by the way I have copied and pasted some of the below from other replies, but I am answering everybody individually)

      Thanks for taking the time to reply.

      I've convinced myself for a long time that I'm just a very introverted person and this was the reason for all of the above.

      I've never realistically considered going to the doctors for a couple of reasons which may sound ridiculous;

      1. I feel as if people have worse problems than me and I dont want to take up/ waste a doctors time

      2.I feel it gives whatever this is validity and if I've got by to date then I'll just carry on as I am

      3. I fear going incase it affects my current life in some way, such as them stopping me driving or somehow letting my place of work know

      Getting assessed by a psychologist, completely outside of a doctors surgery is an option I'll think about. Where would I find this? I live in the UK by the way? but I wouldnt know where to start for someone to go to for that kind of assessment?

    • lisalisa67
      lisalisa67 jake1989

      Posted

      You have options. One through your gp. Waiting list im sure but you waited this long so maybe that will be ok. Or going privately. Noone is contacting your employer or removing your license. This is not that type of problem. I am unfamiliar if there is some kind of shortcut to be assessed otherwise. You can not go through life in how someone else is doing or what issues someone else has in comparison to your own. Acquiring validity is Potent Game changer my friend.  Knowledge changes the whole spectrum on managing this. You are a Person and well deserving of Joy filled life.

      There is someone on here named Bob if he sees this im sure he will respond as he will know more about the sessment stuff.

    • lisalisa67
      lisalisa67

      Posted

      Typically, a 50-minute one-to-one session can range from £40 to £100.

  • chelsey1992x
    chelsey1992x jake1989

    Posted

    You're definitely not wasting anyone's time by getting a bit of help from your GP, you shouldn't have to just "get by" because you have for so long already. Anxiety disorder is essentially an illness and there's help out there for you, you've only got one life so don't let this take over when it really doesn't need to x

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