Hello :-)

[Milla]

Hi to everyone. I’m a Finn living abroad. Found this community forum a week ago when I was searching online for writings about social anxiety. Since youth I’ve had problems with depression, anxiety, and panic attacks. I’ve partly wrestled them down but still experience social anxiety, for example in the moment when I leave my home and go outside. I’ve had more encounters with physical violence and its threat during the last years. I think that’s connected with my fear of going outside as I never had this fear before moving here. Anyway, this is my latest connection with anxiety and fear. The one that’s on the surface right now. I’m a fearful person and am scared many times a day, “reasons” differ.

I’m looking forward to reading about how others experience anxiety and to find people to chat with occasionally. Though I have to say that I find it challenging to write to an online forum, due to the social anxiety, hah, so we’ll see how active a member I’m gonna be. For example, I know I’m probably making all kinds of language-related mistakes, as English is not my native language. As it’s nice to finish with a positive thing: I love comedy and during covid I’ve been listening to podcasts like My Favorite Murder and Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend.

 

[Cuchculan]

Welcome to the forum. We all suffer from various kinds of anxiety. For years I stayed in the house. But slowly began to push myself back outside again. It all takes time. Be it therapy or medication. Bit of both maybe. Lot of hard work by us. When you go out you see things all around as a danger. It will be trying to not see any danger at all. The danger is never really there. Just how the mind works. Live that way for a few years and it becomes your life. So undoing it can be hard. But it can be done. Never give up hope.

 

[ThankfulJen]

Hello and welcome. I can understand you perfectly. Your grammar is better than mine and English is my first language so don't worry there! Anxiety is a difficult thing to live with. I have found comfort in this forum and being amongst other sufferers,if that makes sense. I hope you will, too!

 

[cheer_mom]

Welcome to the group! I hope you find it as helpful as I do!!

 

[james81]

Hello... James..age 81...a bit presumptious of me to be welcoming you ...as I just joined the group myself...But I find the people nice and very willing to help.....I believe that we all (even the "healthy" ones ..experience anxiety in the same way...its the triggers that set it off...and the intensity with which the anxiety hits....And I too am interested in people to chat with on occassion...Anyway....stay safe...I mean there may be reason to fear leaving home ...not just imagined....and stay calm...a bit harder but we all try....

 

[8888]

Welcome!

 

[Afid]

Hi everybody, i just created my account few minutes ago, so im sorry if i shouldnt be writing my comment here. Im 30 years old and i recently discovered that what ive been dealing with during part of my life is called anxiety, never beleived in such a thing before ( i know that might sound weird). Anxiety first hit me with the begening of this year, it was after i heard some really shocking informations about the health of a friend ( it was directly from the person), suddenly thousands of thoughtd were racing in my mind and i just couldnt help it and i fainted. Never ever imagined this could happen to me one day. Since that day im having different anxiety symptoms like difficulty swallowing food or saliva, and others which make me feel panicked. Im here seeking for positive ideas and to learn from other people's experience on how they cope with anxiety (or such a situation as the fear of fainting).
Thank you.

 

[ThankfulJen]

Welcome, Afid. You are among friends! It doesn't sound weird at all not believing anxiety is a thing. It isn't pleasant to think one can have little control over their own thought process, reactions to certain situations, etc. Acknowledging that it definitely does exist is a great first step. Seeking the advice and fellowship of other sufferers is a great step, too. I do hope you find some comfort and knowledge here that can help you on your journey

 

[Milla]

Thank you so much for all the kind replies and words of welcome! I feel honored and moved that you wrote here.

As you say, Cuchculan, the danger is not there… I guess my mind and body are stuck in the past during the moments of fear and anxiety, as I leave the apartment. When I’m aware of existing in the here and now, instead of remembering the past or worrying about future, I feel at peace. Exactly as you say, I’ve practiced living this way and now it’s my life. But like you, I am un-doing it… Thank you for your words. It’s nice to hear of someone who also had this problem and overcame it. I don’t plan on giving up hope and you have given me even more of it.

Thank you, for your kind words, ThankfulJen, also concerning my grammar! It’s nice to feel understood. Makes perfect sense that you've found comfort in this forum as it has already given me hope and comfort though I just arrived here.

Hi, cheer_mom and thank you for the kind welcome! I do already find the group helpful!

Hello, james81. Your message is extremely kind, and I felt moved that you came to welcome me even though you just joined the group yourself. Thank you! As you say, feelings such as anxiety actually bond people together, as they are something we all share. As you say, the triggers set it off. I’m trying to learn to accept and recognize my reaction to the trigger and to stop for a while and breathe through it. I think I’ve had a problem with trying to shut the fear out, which makes it even stronger. I’ve had some good experiences lately with stopping to consciously accept the fear and anxiety. You make a good point that of course we should try to stay safe. Thank you. I wish you stay safe also. Meaning that I for example didn’t just imagine the physical violence done to me previously. It did happen. But just so that you know: I don’t have an active reason to suppose that violence would be outside waiting for me. I don’t have a stalker or anything. The people that did violence to me in the past don’t live near me anymore, since I moved. It’s just that my mind and body are kind of stuck in the past, instead of being in the present. It would be nice to chat sometimes! I just have to figure out, how chat work in this forum. I’m not often here but when I am, I would be happy to chat.

Thank you, 8888!

Hi, Afid. I’m happy that you decided to comment here! As ThankfulJen already said, it doesn’t sound weird at all that you started believing in anxiety just this year. And acknowledgement is the first step towards feeling better, I also believe. Sounds like hearing the bad news from your friend was a traumatic experience for you, and understandably the meaning this news has for you doesn’t just go away. Difficulty swallowing is familiar to me, among other symptoms. I guess we’ll be seeking and sharing positive problem-solving ideas together here!