Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia is a very complex phobia usually manifesting itself as a collection of inter-linked phobias… more
Claustrophobia
Claustrophobia is usually defined as the irrational fear of confined spaces. It can be rational to fear being trapped… more
Generalised Anxiety Disorder
This can be defined as a disorder in which the sufferer feels in a constant state of high anxiety… more
Panic attacks / Panic disorder
When panic attacks are experienced out of the blue without an apparent trigger, this is classified as panic disorder…. more
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
PTSD is an anxiety disorder which may develop following exposure to any one of a variety of traumatic events… more
Social Phobia / Social Anxiety Disorder
This disorder is often expressed as a fear of being the centre of attention, or of others noticing the sufferer’s anxious behaviour… more
Toilet Phobia
Toilet Phobia can affect anyone at any time and ranges from a mild disruption through to a significant disruption of daily life… more
Specific / Simple Phobias
A phobia is an irrational fear of an object/situation etc. that would not normally trouble most people… more
I have had panic attacks, since my early 20′s, i am now approaching 50. I have been on lots of different medications through these times, none ever worked as such. So i decided to self medicate with alcohol, and became an alcoholic. In august last year i went through detox, and have been sober now for 6mths, but the anxiety has came back, i have a cpn, and i am waiting to get cbt, to see if that will help me. People don’t realise how panic makes us feel. The way we think and feel, is totally different to the way other people think. I don’t know what caused in the first place, i am an outgoing type of person, that fears going out. Life is hell at the moment, but i will get there.
Keep up the good work. I wish you all the best.
How are things going? I had a problem with alcohol. I suffer with chronic anxiety and used alcohol to self medicate.
I have had thesd attacks since a teen I’m now 45, I didn’t realise that there was so many people with similar issues and always been afraid to ask go about it, mine issue is if in a shopping mall I have to stay on ground floor along with car parks, I will go miles to avoid going over a bridge, I get dizzy standing in queue in shop, even in flats above secound floor I get issues, anybody else with same problem thanks
I’m currently 13, but a few years ago I would randomly get panic attacks at random times. I could be reading a book or something, and I’d suddenly have trouble breathing, my chest would be tight and I’d be really scarred. I haven’t had any for a while now, but I’m scared I will get them. Alsom I believe I have social anxiety disorder too. I’m incredibly shy, absolutely HATE public speaking, and yeah. :/
After doing some research on Anxiety, I have now realized the cause of my symptoms that I have experienced since early childhood, teenage years and adulthood. I do not have specific phobias as such but emotions, situations or stress can provoke an anxiety attack which can effect me in various ways such as; stress related skin disorders, extreme weakness, fatigue, mental exhaustion, impatience, highly sensitive, mood swings….the list continues…
I have repeatedly visited my GP throughout my life having blood tests & scans trying to determine what is wrong with me all of which have been clear.
I am now 36 and although I have suffered with such symptoms, I have also managed to find ways to deal with the repercussions of my anxieties. Knowing myself, dealing with situations calmly, taking a whole new approach to life and not putting myself in situations that either stress me or make me feel uncomfortable.
I still have a long way to go and feel that a holistic and alternative therapies can help ~ working in something you enjoy, being surrounded by nature, exercising and eating well, reading and watching inspiring books / films, yoga etc.
There seems to be so many different forms of anxieties that affect everyone differently.
My Mother also has extreme anxiety and I suppose I never wanted to believe I had it also.
I wished I had realised earlier in my life, it would have made things easier but it is never too late to become self aware, seek help or an alternative therapy that you can relate to or to speak to a doctor.
I lead a happy life and like to believe that my anxiety is just a little hurdle that I have to overcome from time to time.
Hi, I can really relate! I have also suffered with anxiety my whole life I like what you said about the disorder not being who you ou are! Leave a comment for me if u want. My mom has also had it and taught me the behavior.
Hey my name is Chris, I’m 27 years old and recently I have been suffering from anxiety. I have had a few attacks over the past 4/5 years or so but they only seem to have lasted a few weeks at a time. Recently I found out that my Dad has cancer and it seemed to just tip me over the edge. I had an anxiety attack similar to what I have had before but this has lasted for about 6 weeks now. It’s been horrible, the constant fear, body pains, bad feelings and just feeling that there isn’t much hope. I have been to the hospital several times, thinking that I am dying and getting really upset because I love my Dad and Girlfriend so much. I’ve had lots of tests done, all coming back saying I am perfectly healthy. But, one small thing will set me off and make me fear for my life.
I’ve always been a fairly happy chap and not seemed to have many worries, but the few times this has happened and the past 6 weeks have been difficult. I have a friend who I have been talking too and he said it sounds like anxiety, this is what brought me here. I read the nhs website saying that you know it’s a permanent thing and there is no cure, this was fairly upsetting.
I just feel quite low at the moment and didn’t really know where to turn to be honest.
This website and peoples comments have been of some comfort, as at least I know I am not going mad! Thanks for reading.
Chris Z
Im 22 and getting the same symptoms as you, it feels as though I’m going mad… Blood tests show nothing… Slightly low on b12 so I’d recommend getting yours checked as taking 3000 mcg daily seems to have helped (could be a Placebo though!). I hate feeling like this, it’s so lonely, but these messages make me feel not so crazy! :)
Hi my name is Tara and im 22, i have pretty much been a happy person all my life until the final week of my university life i ‘in the most basic explanation “Snapped”. I began to get really upsetting thoughts about myself and my partner dying, not now but in the future. It was so sudden, one minute i was at the computer and the next minute i was having a panic attack.
i thought it was down to the university load and presumed it would go within a few days of handing in all my work, but i was wrong. almost 2 months later i still have the feeling of anxiety.
I went to the doctors after a month finally started seeing a counsellor. I know its not a quick fix, it just seems so unusual for someone that has been happy her whole life to now feel the way I do, I have my good and bad days, the thoughts however just wont go, i feel silly because im so young and don’t know why im fearing old age and death, i just wanted to know if there are people out there with the same thoughts or similar. right now i feel pretty isolated regardless of all the people around me.
thanks for reading.
Regards
Tara
Hey Tara, I can fully appreciate where you are coming from. I have recently had exactly the same thing.
What I’ve been doing which seems to help a bit. I changed my diet and I eat a lot more healthily now, try to do moderate exercise for half an hour five days a week and to just try and keep busy.
I have an almost constant dread, sometimes I feel OK and sometimes I don’t.
I hope you are feeling better soon, as it really isn’t nice.
Chris.
Hi Chris, thanks for the response.
Yeah i have changed my diet, i have cut fizzy drinks and caffinated drinks out of my diet, i go gym almost every day for at least an hour and yes your right it does seem to help. i feel like i take 1 step forward and 2 steps back though, and i know it sounds sad but i feel like crying all the time. its horrible!!
im seeing a counsellor and hope that will begin to do something, and i do find that by talking to people like you it helps, as i don’t feel so alone. If you feel like conversing some more my email address is pigletspink@hotmail.com as i don’t know how often i will remember to come to this page.
i do hope you start to feel better soon to,
regards
Tara
hi my name is amanda i have just realised that what i have is some anxiety, ive been trying for a long time to figure out what was wrong with me i also suffer with depression i some times feel like im in a bubble with everyone around me being happy and im not im in a happy relationship and have a baby on the way and im happy about both. i just some times feel numb teary and think there is no one who understands, i also think that things are a lot worse than they are and lose my temper and start shouting at my partner as i dont know how else to deal with my feelings. i would like to get out of feeling the way i do for wen my little boy comes along as i dont want to pass it on
Its always great to see more sites dedicated to all the problems us over-thinkers have. Yea if i walked around dull minded im sure i wouldn’t be nearly as anxious. Ignorance is bliss right?
Like many other people my SAD kinda crept up on me, fully surfacing in college. What i found that partially helped besides some sertraline was more of my own cbt. Exposure therapy really does work!
I got a job as a server at a restaurant and through gradual exposure to all of these crazy uncontrollable situations I developed some relaxation. It wasn’t a cure all by any means but it really did help.
Best to all of the thinkers out there ; )
Hi, i’m really bad at expressing myself, i don’t like to talk about how i feel so bare with me.
i’m really at breaking point or at least have felt like that for a long time. I had what i thought may have been depression from an early age, just something that ive grown up with, people said i’d grow out of it but by the age of 16 i was considering getting help but then a special thing happened i fell in love. was with this girl for three years before having problems she left me for another guy and broke my heart, i think this is what started the anxiety side of things. we got back together for another 5 years we had a beautiful daughter 2gether but during the pregnancy she had another affair and left me again.
i’m 26 now and had depression for years, on top of that i have what i believe is anxiety. i went to a doctor when i was about 19 and he said i had manic depression, anxiety, stress, and a problem dealing with and understanding my own emotion. He told me “thats life go deal with it”. since then i’ve been trying to deal with it.
I don’t know what to do anymore because i can’t deal with it, doesn’t matter how much i talk about it it doesn’t heal, it doesn’t go away, i’m lucky if i get 3 days in a month where i actually feel some hope in life, everynight i try and sleep there’s a tear in my eye, every morning i wake up i wish i didn’t. It’s messing up my life everythings just spiralling down. I turn up late to work nearly everyday because i’m struggling to deal with life. I’ve had to give up on good opportunities because the stress i’m finding trying to do everything i need was effecting me as a person and i started to lose frienships over it, i’m already losing touch with so many people because they don’t understand that i could ever have these problems (i come across as a really positive person) and because it makes it hard for me to confront things i’m even losing opportunities to see my own daughter.
It seems i just put myself down and beat myself up all the time, i’ve got so much going on in my head. Unfortunately i have real problems to be anxious about as well as having just general anxiety (I’m self employed in more than one business, my mums not at her best and her partner, my step dads dying of cancer, i’ve got a broken heart, a daughter i’ve hardly seen grow up, a lifestyle thats killing me slowly and plenty more!). I don’t want this to control my life. I’ve tried moving on with relationships but everytime i’ve got close with a girl i get anxious my attitude changes and i suppose i scare her off again!! All i do now is let myself fall apart bit by bit, i don’t look after myself i take stupid risks.
I’ve spoken to people about all these things in a lot of detail. it hasn’t helped, i feel i’m running out of options, i’m trying to accept how things are, i have moved on a lot i’m hoping to fall in love again mebbe thats what i need, i don’t care about money and things like that, i just don’t want to be lonely, i want someone to love so i can forget about myself, but i think i’ve had that chance and lost it.
I don’t know what else to say, i could keep typing away but it’s pointless.I’m looking for an answer thats not there
Thanks for reading x
i’m 53 and could write a book on the ups and downs of anxiety and how to and not to manage it. when we have anxiety related symptons i believe our natural instinct is to be stoic and fight the symptons but trust me this is not the way to proceed. whilst it sounds hard you must go with the symptons and let them run their natural course. you will find that the symptons have a limit to their effect and will subside. trying to fight them only increases the tension and fear and thus the fear adrenalin fear cycle intensifies the anxiety and we spiral out of control. i’ve found dr claire weeks book called self help for your nerves very reassuring. i can’t promise it’s the complete answer but it will help you realise that fighting sysmtons is not the way ahead. best wishes
Me too drank the fear away stopped drinking few weeks ago and for last few weeks panic attacks, horrible tightness in throat etc but do not want stary drinking again – its in fridge not going to tough it, know ho you feel
Hi my name is Lauren and I am 24.
Recently I have been suffering the aniexty attacks but only since meeting my new boyfriend. I constantly feel insecure, feel like I am in a box and no one can hear me scream. I know exactly why I am getting them but surely knowing why should make it go away!? Its really putting a massive strain on my relationship and is making me feel as if its not possible to allow someone into my life.
1 year ago exactly on this day, I was in love, and fell pregnant. Sadly I miscarried but during my time in hospital he was with his ex, he also slept with a ex friend of mine. I also realised he told me a string of lies.
My attacks a so random, and un called for as my new boyfriend does make me happy. I get quiet, start thinking and comparing what my current boyfriend has said and then just snap! I feel sick all the time and generally have very low self esteem.
As much as my boyfriend says he cares and understands for some reason its not enough and all I want to do is scream.
Is this something I can have help with??
Lauren
I think we should join forces as everything you have said is exactly how I feel myself.
I can’t compare the feeling you are going through as someone close to you has cancer and I am very sorry to hear this. But I have lost someone I thought I would love more than life its self so I can imagine the feeling you are going through.
How are you feeling now? I noticed that your post was 2 months ago. Any progression?
Lauren x
i had teeth out about 8 weeks ago got very bad fear of dentish since thn i had burning mouth and now i got no appertite live on cornflackes marmite sandwiches and maybe kfc of a night gone to drink not a soulition but helps dont want to really go on antidepresant but feel back up against wall cant sleep at night have a drink only sleep a couple of hrs thn awake drinking again so i can sleep help plz
Hi Diane
I am sorry to know that you are experiencing a bad time but I would suggest you to go to see your dentist if you are having a severe toothache. In addition, I would like to recommend Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Clinical Hypnotherapy to you as they can help to treat your anxiety issues. You can click this link to check out more: http://www.anxietyuk.org.uk/get-help/what-kind-of-treatment-is-best-for-me/ Alternatively, you can ring us on 08444 775 774 and speak to one of us for more details.
Best wishes
Shirley
I’m 16 at the minute, and I currently have panic attacks quite frequently.. For no reason my chest goes tight, and I want to cry because I’m scared and worried, but I don’t know what of. Other times it’s like a niggling in my chest, where I’m worried about something but I don’t know what I’m worried about… Whether it’s genuine or my head playing tricks on me.
If anyone knows how to help, please reply?
Hi Sophie
I am so sorry to hear that you are experiencing such a difficult time. Have you tried to anyone about your issues, like your parents, relatives or G.P? I would suggest you to talk to someone that you trust. Don’t be afraid or ashamed to have this problems because these are very common and a lot of people are having the same problems as you do. We have supported a lot of people to overcome their anxiety through talking therapies, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Counselling and Clinical Hypnotherapy, so maybe you can also discuss that with your supporters? If you want to try overcoming the anxious feelings by yourself, I would suggest you to read some self help books as they can teach you a lot of self help techniques – like relaxation, breathing techniques – to help you manage your problems. They can also help you to understand how anxiety works and affects your mood, bodily reactions and thoughts. Take a look here – http://www.anxietyuk.org.uk/products/book/ and see which one you feel interested. Maybe you would find the “Overcoming Anxiety” particularly relevant. Alternatively, you can ring us on 08444 775 774 and speak to one of us for advice on what materials are suitable for you.
Best wishes
Shirley