Situational Anxiety--can you relate??

[SummerRae]

Hi there....

 

Wow, where do I begin? I need help... I have been suffering social anxiety (at least I think that's what it is, as I have diagnosed myself...) for about 4+ years. Only it seems to have been getting worse and worse. And strangely enough, it mostly happens at work...

 

I get all tongue-tied, feel like people are intensely critiquing me and I embarass at the drop of a hat. This anxiety is so strange for me because I have never ever had anxiety like this before. It's over-whelming and it honestly makes me feel like I'm on the outside, looking in at everyone else in the world, who have their lives together.

 

I had my first panic attach 2+ weeks ago and I cannot keep living this way.

 

I have left several messages with counsellors and am going to go back into therapy.

 

My question is: have any of you been through this? "Situational anxiety"... and if so, could you please tell me how you felt and what you know about it.

 

I really, really would love to hear your thoughts and feelings.

 

Thanks, mildly-embarassed-for-these-feelings,

Summer

[silentalways]

i was having the same issue but i discovered it was tied to not just that. i was have\ing 'overall environment anxiety' which was stemming from some bad vibes from where i was living - so i sold the abode [took 3 days - woohoo], got out with friends a few times, and then the work situation didn't seem so bad. could also be if u have been in the same job fer a while u just need a change of pace, so i applied for a transfer as well and start a new job in a week. so, sometimes its just because we need a change in our lives [home and work] because either negative things have occured or we have become stale and bored. hope this helps.

[SummerRae]

i was having the same issue but i discovered it was tied to not just that. i was have\ing 'overall environment anxiety' which was stemming from some bad vibes from where i was living - so i sold the abode [took 3 days - woohoo], got out with friends a few times, and then the work situation didn't seem so bad. could also be if u have been in the same job fer a while u just need a change of pace, so i applied for a transfer as well and start a new job in a week. so, sometimes its just because we need a change in our lives [home and work] because either negative things have occured or we have become stale and bored. hope this helps.

 

 

Thanks silentalways. I completely see what you are saying and have wondered (and attempted to avoid) making some of the necessary changes.

 

Thanks again.

[dgiirl]

First of all, do not be embarrased. Too many people feel ashamed because they suffer from a problem, yet if they truely talked about the problem, they'd realize how many other people suffer from the same problem. Anxiety affects a lot of people and I'm sure there are people in your life right now who suffer from the same problem yet are too embarrassed to acknowledge it and talk about it. When I got diagnosed with anxiety, I told my friends and 3 of them told me they went into therapy and suffered from anxiety too. They were extremely happy that I shared that with them because they never talked to ANY of their friends about it before I mentioned it. So in a way, by me admitting I needed help, it helped them too.

 

I would highly recommend getting into therapy, atleast to see if you can get a hold of the anxiety/panic attacks. Also, try to figure out if your anxiety is truely about work, or about something else going on in your life and work is simply your outlet. Also, pay attention to your internal dialogue and challenge your thoughts. Figure out if they are valid or not. A lot of times we fear something, but because we do not challenge those thoughts, we dont realize there's no truth behind the fear.

[Guest]

STRESS IS A KILLER U KNOW

 

I HAVE RESEARCHED HOW STRESS IMPACTS IBS, BIP, AND SO MANY OTHER THINGS - THAT IS WHY PEOPLE ALWAYS NEED TO HAVE OPEN COMMUNICATION AND A SAFE, STRESS FREE HOME

 

Stress is an important factor in IBS because of the close nervous system connections between the brain and the intestines.

 

Although there are certainly strong biological contributions to the course of bipolar disorder, other diseases, such as diabetes and cancer, had shown strong relationships with stress.Stress Impairs Thinking via Mania-Linked Enzyme and even mild stress can worsen cognitive symptoms, as occurs in bipolar.

[beautifulearth83]

Aside from all the medical and therapy stuff, It's your sense of self, confidence and purpose that is important.

 

I've gone through the same and there are things I think about that help.

 

One thing you can do is write down the things that were involved in your life during one of the happiest times of your life. That will help you narrow down closer to that good balance.

 

Also, perhaps you've just had too much, too fast. You've gotten further in life and now you're just taking the time to breathe, and while you do that, you see everybody else zooming by. But that's ok, we all deserve to go at our own pace. As for social interaction, it helps to be a little more reactive, or approach people with softer vocals and at a rhythm/pace that is comfortable for you. And most of all, don't think about it too much.

 

I hope some of that helps...I've been up and down with the similiar, but we've all seen it better, which means that it always can be.

 

Peace and Happy Holidays