New to the forum

[apriltoxxic]

Hi everyone! My name is April, and I have struggled with severe anxiety disorder since I was born. It took me 17 years to figure out why I behaved the way I did, and felt screwed in the head my entire life. I found out through a psychology class that I had severe anxiety disorder, and that the root of my issues was neurotransmitter malfunctions. I discovered that I was the poster child for anxiety, yet no doctor, teacher, parent, or friend had ever caught on to it. My anxiety is high-functioning, yet internally paralyzing. It has ruined so many opportunities, relationships, and precious moments of my life. Every single day I strive to fight it and overcome it; I do NOT want to live this way, or allow myself to be the helpless victim of this paralyzing mental disorder. I decided to join this group so I could not only build a support system for myself but help other people through what I am facing. I want to give as well as receive support. I hope to meet many new friends here

 

[Chris]

Hello April. It’s nice to have you here, welcome. I can relate so much with what you said. Anxiety has ruined a lot in my life as well. I hate to think what I could have done in my life without this awful mental disorder!

If you don’t mind me asking what kind of anxiety do you have, GAD? Social anxiety?

 

[apriltoxxic]

Hello April. It’s nice to have you here, welcome. I can relate so much with what you said. Anxiety has ruined a lot in my life as well. I hate to think what I could have done in my life without this awful mental disorder!

If you don’t mind me asking what kind of anxiety do you have, GAD? Social anxiety?

Thank you so much Chris! I think of the same thing, but it is kind of a good thing to think about, because it makes me even more motivated to handle it so I don't waste any more time/opportunities. yes It's GAD but it can manifest itself as social anxiety at times as well. I also really struggle with relationship anxiety too to a point where relationships seem almost impossible for me. I have tried to cope by just "turning off" my emotions and going numb, but that was just putting a bandaid on a broken arm so to speak. The root of my problems isn't my emotions it's the way my anxiety makes me use them as self-destructive weapons.

 

[Rinka]

Hello April and welcome
Anxiety can be very hard to properly diagnose, because you can become very good in hiding it or avoiding situations that trigger it. The first step to tackle anxiety is to realise that it’s a problem and starting to take control over your live back. There are methods online such as mindfulness that can help or natural remedies to can help in reducing anxiety and the symptoms. I would also suggest that you talk with your doctor about it. You might be able to get therapy or an ssri to reduce the anxiety.

 

[triceps]

Hi April,

I too went 17 years just thinking I was crazy from age 12 to finally going to a neurologist as I thought I was getting "absence seizures". He explained that they weren't seizures but just times I would "space out' when my anxiety was overwhelming. Back then the go to drug was Xanax and for many years it brought me much relief and enabled me to get married which I was terribly afraid of doing. 33 years later I have a great marriage but have needed to adjust medications. My message is to quit trying to mask your anxiety and get some really good help for it. It just takes too much energy trying to mask it, too much suffering and it has helped me to be open about my GAD.