Do I have an anxiety disorder? please help!!!?!
Question: i am 20. and up til about 6 months ago, i was active and loved going out. but since 6 months ago, i have become pretty anti social, i dont like going out to clubs or bars (only movies and restaurants). and i dont wanna be recognized and here is the biggie...
if i go to a concert, or football game, or one of the mardi gras parades, i start to get really anxious after an hour or so. i get moody and feel like getting out the crowd, and have my quietness and space. I dont like being around big crowds of people, it makes me very nervous. what is wrong with me?
Answers: i am 20. and up til about 6 months ago, i was active and loved going out. but since 6 months ago, i have become pretty anti social, i dont like going out to clubs or bars (only movies and restaurants). and i dont wanna be recognized and here is the biggie...
if i go to a concert, or football game, or one of the mardi gras parades, i start to get really anxious after an hour or so. i get moody and feel like getting out the crowd, and have my quietness and space. I dont like being around big crowds of people, it makes me very nervous. what is wrong with me?
What you are describing is consistent with an anxiety disorder with agoraphobia (literally "fear of the marketplace," meaning fear of being away from a personal "safe zone"). While no longer wanting to be as social may just be a "phase" as previously mentioned, having anxiety while in public may be a sign of a pathology.
While, as well-intentioned as we may be on here, ONLY a qualified professional can make a diagnosis. I recommend talking to your family doctor about your symptoms first. (S)he can then perform a differential diagnosis to rule out any other possible physical problems (ie thyroid, adrenal, etc.).
Anxiety disorders and agoraphobia are fairly common, and treatable. Their onset isn't restricted to certain demographics, you can begin to experience them at any age. It is best to seek treatment early on when having these symptoms, otherwise you can begin habits that actually strengthen them.
In the meantime, try to force yourself to do "normal" activities. When you experience anxiety, override it cognitively by saying "this is just anxiety, it's an emotion, it's not going to hurt me."
I wish you the best.
yeah i think so
i used to be like that, and now i can't stay with myself for more than a day...i just have to go out and do something.
I take paxil for my anxiety and I think it helps alot but you can't drink alchohol if you take it.
My guess is that you are just going through a phase. A disorder would've shown up when you were much younger.
Try this: next time you have some time off, go someplace where no one knows you. Spend time in the woods or on a deserted beach until you can't take the solitude anymore.
Then you'll be as right as rain.
It sounds like you are becoming people phobic. I used to be outgoing in Middle School, but once I hit high school, I dropped into myself. The only thing that I can suggest is to talk to someone about it. I'm self-diagnosed, lol, I don't have insurance to pay for me to talk to someone about it, and I'm not going to pay out money when I have a 17 month old. Just remember that it's also natural to go through phases where you just want to be alone. Make sure it's not this before you waste your time! Take care!
i've had anxiety since i was 18. That's when the panic attacks started anyway.
So for 19yrs i dealed with it myself. I just recently started taking meds which worked great, but had too many side effects.
Seek a doctor-psychiatrist or psychologist who can help you with behavior therapy before trying drugs.
I am now weaning off the Paxil and it is pure hell-makes my anxiety worse.
I started Lexapro at the end of the wean and I am finally feeling a little better.
Good Luck.
it could be anxiety disorder which can be part of depression.
Talk to your doctor. If you have a chemical imbalance it can be treated and there is also ways of behavoral modification. Learning to breath and relax yourself - thus learning how to be in crowds and any other place that makes you nervous.
Take good care of yourself.
Get exercise, plenty of sleep. Eat healthy food.
Don't anticipate problems unless they happen.
My personal opinion is...that you don't have a thing to worry about.
At your age, you are re-defining your personality. You are keeping
the things that are comfortable to you and you are letting go of the things that you feel are frivolous, or make you uncomfortable and uneasy.
You are just growing up. The bars and clubs have lost their
appeal because you see the phoniness and games that go on there (maybe).
Concerts, sports,mardi gras, are
all high volume, crowded, fanatic
and super-hyper activities.
I don't know your family background, but I bet your mom
was or is, a settled, thoughtful,caring, quiet type that did not like the noise and frantic activity of the previous (types of) pursuits.
Please don't start looking for problems where there are none,
or you might make some. If you
told a doctor this, he would probably fill you full of unnecessary
pills. You don't need them.
Just go the way your intuition and
inner feelings are telling you and
see what happens. If you go too
far the other way (like never wanting to leave the house.) then
is the time to seek therapy.
I think you are just moving from
being a wild child to a settled
woman.
Im 51 years old have had anxiety for years.I tried medfcating myself with alcohol bacame a alcoholic .Bout died over a year ago.Go to a good doc thats known you or you no them.. I take anti depressents and it helps alot,still like to be alone,shopping bugs me especialy real busy places. Talk to somone profeshanal and get help Please..
Take care YOU CAN DO IT
Good luck
Karl g
wow..you sound EXACTLY like me.
i'm 19 and this happened to me, almost about 6 months ago as well.
i dont exactly know what happened, but i've become fearful of huge crowds and i had an irrational fear of tripping in front of people in my schools cafeteria so i refused to eat there.
i stopped making eye contact with people and did whatever i could to avoid being with large groups of people, but i didnt want to be completely alone.
i know exactly what youre going through.
when youre out in public, just breathe deep and tell yourself its okay. there's nothing there thats gonna hurt you. you may wanna start out by going to places that dont have as MANY people as most places..like a restaurant or something. just ease into being around people and make sure you have the friends and family with you that make you feel most comfortable because that helps A LOT.
just relax and take it slow.