The word stress is usually used to describe the feelings that people experience when the demands made on them are greater than their ability to cope. At such times people can often feel overloaded, under tremendous pressure and very tense or emotional. Stress affects everyone, young and old and is a completely normal reaction that all human beings will experience from time to time when faced with situations that they feel under pressure in.
Stress can be looked at in terms of external and internal stressors. External stressors are sources of stress that we are aware of around us, these can include traumas, life experiences or simply daily hassles. Internal stressors are the sources of stress that are inside us and are often the most common sources of stress. They are the thoughts and feelings that pop into your head and cause you to feel unease, these can include unrealistic expectations, uncertainties, low self esteem and apprehensions.
The work place is also known to be a key factor in stress. A study conducted by the International Stress Management Association found that more than half of people in work had suffered from stress over a period of a year. Also, statistics have shown that a quarter of working people had taken time off sick due to stress and that stress is the leading cause of sick leave. Common causes of stress at work include; workloads, long hours, responsibilities, role expectations, bullying or harassment, lack of job security, poor working environment, the organisational structure, career development and lack of support.
Stress can manifest itself as many different symptoms, ranging from physical to psychological and behavioural, and people may experience these to varying degrees. Physical symptoms can include; increased heart rate, sweaty palms, muscle tension, sleep disturbance, fatigue, vomiting, change in breathing patterns, dry mouth, headaches, nausea or dizziness, indigestion or heartburn and sudden weight loss or gain. Psychological symptoms can include anxious thoughts, irritability, low self esteem and confidence, inability to concentrate, feeling fearful, feeling unable to cope, difficulty making decisions, feeling negative and lack of interest in life, feeling alone, loss of creativity, withdrawal, frustration and confusion. Behavioural symptoms can include altered sleep patterns, use of drugs or alcohol, changes in appetite, avoiding situations, changing habits, nail biting, teeth grinding, neglect of physical appearance, lack of communication, putting off difficult jobs and giving excuses.
Identifying what makes you feel stressed and the physical, psychological and behavioural symptoms associated with these stressful events is the first step in helping to manage the stress that you experience. There are many suggested methods of dealing with stress, including looking into using relaxation and breathing exercises. Sleep and diet are also important factors when dealing with stress and steps can be taken to improve these. Some people also find practising stopping unwanted thoughts and taking steps to distract themselves can help reduce some of the symptoms of stress. Similarly practicing skills such as being assertive and prioritising activities can also be useful
Therapy can also be an option to help reduce stress and cognitive behavioural therapy, counselling, hypnotherapy and neuro-linguistic processing have all been used to treat stress.
DIY self diagnosis
If you can answer yes to 5 or more of these symptoms then you may be suffering with stress.
- Obesity and Over-eating
- Increased or excessive drinking of alcohol
- Loss of appetite
- If you smoke – you’ll smoke more
- Increased coffee consumption
- Excessive and continuing irritability with other people
- Substance Abuse
- You can’t make decisions, large or small.
- Unable to concentrate – (common symptom of stress)
- Increased and suppressed anger
- Not be able to cope with life, feeling out of control
- Jump from one job to another without finishing things
- Excessive emotion & crying at small irritations
- Lack of interest in anything other than work
- Permanently tired even after sleep – (another very common symptom of stress)
- Decreased sex drive / libido
- Stress can cause Nail biting
Anxiety UK strongly advises that people seek further information and guidance from their GP who will be able to make a formal diagnosis.
Want to know more?
The Anxiety UK site has information on a range of products to provide more detailed information and help with stress.
Overcoming Stress was written by Lee Brosan and Gillian Todd and is part of the highly successful ‘Overcoming series’. In this CBT based self help guide the authors help you to recognise what happens when under stress and how to change how you think, feel and act so that you learn to retain a balanced outlook on life and manage it more effectively too. You can purchase Overcoming Stress from the Anxiety UK shop by clicking here.
Perfectionism can be healthy but when it becomes unhealthy and turns into “clinical perfectionism” (sometimes referred to as “dysfunctional perfectionism”) it can cause serious problems. Those suffering from clinical perfectionism tend to judge themselves predominantly in terms of the pursuit and attainment of personally demanding standards and often feel unable to be flexible and change their goals, despite the significant negative impact that the pursuit of perfectionism may have on their quality of life.
The book covers how clinical perfectionism manifests itself and suggests effective coping strategies with invaluable guidance on how to avoid future relapse. You can purchase Overcoming Perfectionism from the Anxiety UK shop by clicking here.
How we can help
Anxiety UK is a user-led charity with more than forty years experience in supporting those living with anxiety. By becoming a member of Anxiety UK, you will have access to a rage of benefits, including:
- Access to reduced cost therapy within two weeks of submitting your therapy request
- Access to our helpline (available Monday-Friday, 9:30 am – 5:30 pm) staffed by volunteers with personal experience of anxiety
- Receipt of four issues of Anxious Times, our quarterly members” magazine
- Access to the members only section of our website, featuring regular support surgeries facilitated by anxiety experts
- Access to specialist helplines, including the psychiatric pharmacy helpline and the psychology information helpline
And many, many other benefits that will help you manage your anxiety long term. To become a member of Anxiety UK click here or ring 08444 775 774 today.
Helpful link
The organisation StressingOut.org has a helpful e-book for coping with stress. You can download it on their website by clicking here.
Personal experiences
Do you suffer from stress and want to share your experience with other people? Post your personal experience in the comments box below where it will be sent to our moderator for approval. Many people find this part of the site very useful when trying to understand their disorder so your comments really do make a difference. Please note, all comments submitted to the Anxiety UK website may be used by Anxiety UK for (but not limited to) publicity and promotional material.
I have suffered with stress related problems throughout my life. I always thought that there were only external triggers but this site has helped to understand that I have also been suffering from internal triggers, worrying about life, work, social pressures etc.
Stress causes me anxiety in many different forms and over the years it has been hard for both my GP and myself to diagnose what has been wrong! All my tests and scans always came back clear!
I am easily tired by everyday life, mentally exhausted at times, if I hear of any bad news from family or friends my body goes in to a sense of shock and I can sleep for 24 hours! I’ve suffered with panic attacks, temperature convulsions, stress related skin disorders, a sense of my whole body throbbing, tingling of the tongue…..it all sounds strange when you actually write it down but the list is exhaustive……. Now I finally know that its all stress / anxiety related I can try to work on myself, seek alternative types of therapy and attempt to deal with both the triggers and the effects.
What were the scans for? did you think there was something else wrong with you? I am having a terrible time at the moment but dont know if it is stress/anxiety. My GP has been treating me for vertigo.
I am writing this nearly in tears as I didn’t know what was wrong with me, until my wonderful wife told me (after looking on the net) it could be stress/anxiety attacks. All the symptoms fell into place at once. It also made me feel much better at once knowing what was wrong. This truly is a dibilitating illness and if it wasn’t for my fantastic caring wife I’d prob lost my mind. Please get help otherwise you won’t sort it. P.S look up the word ‘catastrophization’ it all made sense after.
I have been suffering from anxiety for much longer than I realised. Mine seems to manifest itself into what feels like real physical pain like on my tongue like one of the previous comments. I feel frightened alot and very lonely. It has really helped reading the posts though. It really helps to talk to about it as I feel less isolated.
i work for my mother in laws sister and a few months ago they fell out with each other over something big. sinse then my boss has treated me like crap and i cant cope anymore. she pulls me up in the workplace telling me my work is unacceptable and raises her voise to me all the time. i dont want to work anymore i feel like eveything i do now is checked up on by heri cant even go on facebook. i cry all the time i cant sleep. i cant think and its making me ill i feel so depressed all the time i cant cope
i feel the same sophie ,ive been pushed from pillow to post and put all the hard work and hours in to a buisness , i.e done three other peoples jobs for 12 months and its exhausted me , then one day last month a job position came up which i no i would enjoy ,and that i was doing already with my other jobs , and they gave it to someone with no experience , i got no thanks , im now being bullied to do other jobs that i dont no nothing about , and also been asked to train the new person, i dont no where to turn, i have patches of hair falling out , on my beard ,head and chest hair ,i feel really down
hi, im really struggling with anxiety mainly physical symptoms. excessive saliva and mucus, dysphagia, feeling faint, stomach problems, shaking, vomiting bile and feeling sick. irritable and want to spend all day on my own. i cant go out hardly neither or do anything because of the saliva/mucus i decided to get help today.
Hi,
i am struggling with knotted stomach, heart racing, and alot of worry on my mind with huge debt, a very demanding job and i am the only one who can work in the house as my partner has a series of illnesses. I suffer in silence because i have no friends to share my burden, when i am out walking my dog i can cry in peace to her who doesnt judge me, burt wags her tail and licks my face, i dont answwer my phone or read the letters that come because im scared cos i cant pay them. I feel sorry for you all and God bless you, i just hope that each day will get better for me and my family and for all of you too.
i think it would be a good idea if you go to your doctors and get checked out as i suffer from a high amount of stress due to things that have gone on in my life from the past but i think all your symptoms could mean something more serious that you may need medication for but this is only a thought. I think it would be good to think about it. There is no harm in just going to the doctors to have a checkout. There may ot be something wrong but if it was me I would prefer to play it safe and get checked out by a doctor. Take care.
I ‘crashed and burned’ last January. I knew life was not good, but didn’t see the crash coming. 5 months off work while I started on medication and (eventually after 7 weeks waiting) saw a Cognitive therapist. It took a lot of mental and physical effort to get out and see her as part of my difficulties had manifested as a sort of agoraphobia. She told me perhaps I should get another job (I’m 60!) and when I told her that I can’t stand being touched she suggested it was because I have not yet met the right person (I’ve been married, fairly happily, for 38 years.) I tried to stick with it, but after 6 sessions of her ‘just not getting me and my life’ I have continued to work on myself alone. Made some progress, returned (with difficulty) to work and went back to G.P who came up with Changing Minds. I now see there is NOTHING in my local vicinity to help. Courses are fully booked. I now feel more isolated than ever. What now?
Get support locally.
Wud like some support of others that I can trust in myself really
Hi Sean
Sorry to hear you are having a bad time. What is bothering you at moment? Please speak to one of our helpline volunteers on our helpline 08444 775 774 from Monday to Friday 9:30am to 5:30pm.
Andy
Trust in yourself? I guess it is a good thing to be on a forum with others who suffer from anxiety. They can share stories and you can perhaps relate to them. It is a relief to know that there are other people out there who suffer from anxiety. You are not alone.
Hi Jessica
Indeed, it is always goof to know you are not alone fighting against anxiety. We do receive alot of phone calls and emails from people who suffered from anxiety each day. However, getting the right support can help you manage the anxiety. Talking therapy is one of the most effecitve treatments for treating anxiety and you can either ask for a referral from your GPs or get it thorught Anxiety UK with a small fee. Please take a look at our Get Help sessiona dn find out the help and support available to you.
Andy
Thanks. Andy. I am a therapist.
HELP NEEDED:
Hi, i was hoping someone could shed some light on my problem. I have suffered with Anxiety for a few years now, and lately much worse (i have GAD). About a month ago i had left arm pain and felt breathless and dizzy with an irregular heart beat (fast, slow, fast, slow etc) so went to A&E. i was given a 7 day heart rate monitor by my GP. I was off for a week due to sever worry and anxiety at the same time so relaxed at home. The results came back ok, but i still have the same symptoms that concern me on a monitor i and many people use at a gym i work at shows my heart rate going from 65 – 80 – 110 – 120 – 90 -75 – 90 – 85 etc (all over the place). My question is a) has anyone else had something similar and most importantly b) if this is what i am worried about can anxiety really cause my heart rate to fluctuate in this way??
Thanks in advance….
Hi Adam,
I have the same symptons – Its adrenaline from the anxiety in your system going to your heart and making it race – I have seen a cardioligist and have been given Beta Blockers – They do help.
Hi Sue, was it just anxiety then or anything serious. Part of me trusts the doctors and i know the mind can do crazy things, its just so hard to beleive all this is only anxiety as i thought anxiety made it high not up and down up and down in second.
I guess im just looking for reassurance – my doctor and others have become fed up with me they say they have done the 7 day heart rate monitor and im fine!
Thanks,
Adam
Hi
The cardiologist says there is nothing wrong with my heart – it’s the anxiety that makes it race – the beta blockers calm it down by stopping the adrenaline. As I learn to calm down I will come off the beta blockers and only use them during stressful times. Hope this helps xx
I have been struggling with anxiety for over 6 years, when I first got the symtoms of anxiety of course I didn’t know it was anxiety symtoms and I thought I was dying literally until one of my friends told me i had anxiety as he has it himself but a couple of years before that I was told I had ptsd (post traumatic stress disorder) so i guess thats all added in with my anxiety I am always trying to fight it and live through it but I have gotten to a point where I do go out anywhere the only plave I go is round the block to walk my dog even thats a quick walk as I just get lightheaded and weak at the knees and feel that i cannot breathe properly so i automatically rush home and I live on my own so ive kinda combined myself to my flat I want to get out but when it comes to it I can’t! I’m so scared of this now I’m always looking for answers on the internet at the moment I havent got a good appetite either and when i wake up in the morning I do not feel refreshed I’m sick of it now i just want to go back to the life i used to have going out all the time and enjoying life can anyone give me any advice?? my doctor always does my blood pressure and it comes back perfectly fine iv’e had blood tests and all that came out of that was the fact that i had an overactive thyroid and nothing else but im on medication for that anyway my friend keeps telling me to tell myself that its all in my head i am not going to pass out or fall down, or die, or anything its just in my head but everyday when i wake up the anxiety starts please help thank you for reading
hi i realised after i had posted my comment that i had made a mistake very early into the comment i said ive got to the point where i do go out anywhere what that was meant to say is i dont go out anywhere
Hi Leah,
I went through exactly the same thing about a month ago, and it was the worst moment of my life. I think the word anxiety is such an understatement and people who have never had it will never understand that you literally feel like you’re dying. I’ve since realised that I’ve had anxiety since I was very young, albeit mildly. I think my last attack was a combination of losing my job after 20 years, moving house, and delayed reaction to my Dad passing away. I was very lucky an old client of my previous employer wanted me to make some furniture for her. Anyway to cut a long story short after agreeing I changed my mind during my anxiety attack as I just couldn’t go through with it and didn’t have the confidence, I offered them their money back. I can’t tell you how relieved I was, they were so understanding and told me there was no rush. It turned out that one of them was a councillor and knew exactly what I was going through. It made all the difference in the world. And the best bit of advice she gave me was never to touch medication to deal with it (even though my doctor offered me them after 10 minutes of seeing him!). The best advice I can give you is try talking to someone it really helped me, and try coming to terms that you have anxiety and that you can control it rather than it controlling you. Your friend is right it is all in the mind. I never thought my last attack would end I would wake up and just want to stay in bed all day, but that would make me feel worse, knotted stomach, nausea, feelings of dread etc. However I got through it and you will too just be strong and take control. Hope this has helped and take care of yourself.
John x
with me it all started as a child i grew up without a father and had to put up with abuse from my mothers boyfirend i then went into school feeling very pent up what happend then is i was continuously from start of school right up to the last course at college singled out by teachers and pupils alike im not a bad person infact i have hade people mention how polite and nice natured i am. I mite also add i was a grade a student at school but because of my reactions i failed to fit in at all luckily at the time i was strong enuf to put up with the sress peole were throwing at me and make a few firends even though i feel they didnt really like me, there is a history of personality dissorders in my family and from what i know it is the same personality dissorder as raul mote.
i have been struggling with myself for years now becoming agrafobic i have tried seeing a psychologist but again he seems to have no understanding about whats going on with me i have no energy i also only realised this after reading this forum but i also have skin problems tingling stinging tongue but when i start feel anxiety i pulses through my whole body and i could only compare the feeling to been set on fire i have started waking up in the afternoon with my heart racing anxiety pulsing through me right from the word go and i say the afternoon because whn i try to sleep it usually takes me between 2 and 4 hours to get to sleep i have also had similar problems with relationships so now i dont know what to do every time i try doing what i am supposed i.e get a job have a relationship i find myself been overcome with anxiety and the resistance i had to use as a defence to been attacked at school has now followed me into the workplace as soon as someone has a go i get very defencive but it has made it impossible for me to work. I dont know what i can do any more i dont really have any real firends and spend most of my time alone not leaving the house not talking to anyone im really lost dom
I have just started my first week at college, it has been stressful beyond belief, i just want to cry all the time, i feel like i’m nothing, any positive thoughts are rapidly turned into the negative thoughts which make me feel worthless, alone and frustrated. I suffered from many anxiety attacks when i went into year 9, eventually i over came them, but now being in a new environment with negativity everywhere i look, it’s coming back. I have lost the strength to be happy. I just want to speak to my friends, i want them to try and support me as i do with them 24/7. But i NEVER get anything in return just painful words that they call the “truth”, i’m only 16 and i feel like my life is over and worthless and i do not want to feel like this, i want to enjoy every moment of college, But how can i? There is nothing in my life to be happy for, mainly my life is depression and my body is weak and heavy.
May i please just ask everyone again if they too have had or know someone thats heart rate fluctuates, not only fast but normal then fast, normal then fast, up and down, up and down within seconds all the time, espesially when im standing it fluctuates higher.
(I have been told i have GAD)
Thanks in advance,
Adam
Hi Adam, I had the very same problem as you. It just started suddenly on Sunday, didnt know what was happening ended up in A&E for 6 hours. They couldnt figure it out as at times my heart rate was 80 but would then spike to 140 yet my rhythm was ok. They’ve attributed it to stress/anxiety. I’ve bought myself a heart rate monitor watch and have been keeping an eye on it and it does fluctuate. Yesterday I felt anxious first thing and it was up to 110 bpm. Had to do some breathing techniques and managed to bring it back down. Which only goes to prove that its anxiety/stress. So yes anxiety can cause the fluctuations as im experiencing a similar thing as you.
Anna
Hi everyone. You all have my immense respect and deepest sympathy regarding your varying symptoms of which are undoubtedly anxiety related. I suffered with the same for several years until as a last resort after more or less being told to go away by my doctor, as I’d had all the tests and medically there was nothing wrong with me but that didn’t stop the tears, vomiting, headaches, bodily pains, etc. etc. you all know the story I’m sure, – Well there is hope if you have an open mind with regards Hypnotherapy. I had a total of six hypnotherapy sessions and have never looked back since. My life is back on track, my family life is fun again and I feel truly happy in myself.
What have you got to lose? Why not give hypnotherapy a chance to help you. Or at least think about it.
J.
Hi everyone,
I feel so much better knowing I am not alone in this…I have just finished my postgraduate studies and my panic attacks came back the day after school finished!! Amazing! I think it was such a stressful year and after it finished I finally relaxed…and they are back!
For me the worst is the feeling that I am losing my mind, that I am going mad…That tension in my body and mind…makes me feel frightened and sad.
I have lots of fears; fear of flying and travelling abroad, always concerned where is the nearest hospital, what if something happens?? But now I think I can congratulate myself; yes, they came back but I managed to spend one year abroad, studying hard, flying with air plane 10 times in 9 months…if that’s not victory, then I don’t know what is :))
So, I don’t know, sometimes I feel about this panic attack as a positive thing; teaching me that I do not have to be perfect, that I mustn’t worry about things that didn’t even happen, that I can’t please everyone, that I have to have self-respect and just accept myself the way I am. At least this is my story.
I just discovered this site and I really find it useful and comforting…
M.
Adam……yes, your heart rate can fluctuate quite significantly, especially when you are over sensitive to any irregularities. I have suffered with anxiety off and on since I was 13 or 14 years old. I am 51 now. I noticed that under periods of increased stress and anxiety, all sorts of strange heart rhythms and patterns occurred. However, it has more to do with your state of mind than anything else. Anxiety is not a weakness. It is a state of mind in which you become over sensitive to what is going on around you. Exercise can help enormously. Cognitive therapy can also help. Your anxiety about your heart beat may just be an irrational fear of dying. I know this sounds hard to believe, but the heart is so central to the functioning of our body, any irregularities can be very frightening. Sometimes, over-stimulation can affect the electrical activity of your heart beat.
Try to relax more, by taking regular exercise and by eating a balanced diet. Go back to your GP, if your are worried, of course, but don’t develop obsessive thoughts about this.
ADVICE NEEDED!
Hi, I have after having chest pain and an iregular heart beat felt in my pulse by a doctor i had a 7 day heart rate monitor on. All came back ok and i have been diagnosed with Anxiety (GAD).
I am 26 with no other health issues that i know of. I have exercised for over 5 years and go to the gym 3-5 times per week. Since i was worried about my heart and then diagnosed with GAD my resting heart rate seems to have incresed a lot (or i have just noticed). My resting heart rate can vary between 80 – 120 (the doctor tells me this is anxiety – even when i am at 120 and feel fine all day). When i exercise my heart rate can jump and stall up at 175 and i still feel like i can do more! After exercise it only sometimes drops to about 110-120 all day. I am on 20mg citaliprame now since 4 weeks ago.
My questions are:
A) Has anyone had this?
B) if you are anxious about your resting heart rate can this increase it all day?
C) If i am anxious when i exercise is this what can make it go as high as 175 e.g. if i did the same exercise but wasnt anxious would be lower?
D) When im anxious is this why my recovery time after exercise is so bad?
E) The doctor says im ok and just anxiety but should i request further tests?
Thank you….
Alan
Hi Alan
Anxiety and stress can cause all sort of physical symptoms including increased heart rate. When we’re under lot of stress and/or serious threat, our bodies react in certain ways, and this is called “Fight or Flight responses”. You can look this up on Wikipedia. Anxiety is caused by irrational thoughts/beliefs and negative thinking in our mind, and these are what causing the physical symptoms. Obviously, you’ve been thinking and focusing alot on your heart rate and your health lately, and thinking there is something with you. Our minds control our bodies !! Try to distract yourself from focusing on all these worrying and negative thinking and the symptoms should disappear. You can always ask for more tests but this is only short-term reassurance because soon you ask for one and it comes back fine, you will always ask for a different one. This will only lead you into having health anxiety instead. I would strongly recommend clinical hypnotherapy to you.
Andy
Hi, I am experiencing the similar kind of symptoms and went to a&e twice did the blood tests, blood pressure everything seems ok apart from low iron in blood.
Can somebody suggest please how to treat the problem of anxiety ,panic attacks , negativity to control over it. I am not interested in the medication and it seems talking is not helping. Please help me as I don’t want to die yet as my kids are small and they need me.
Hi Sud
Anxiety is often the result of irrational thoughts/beliefs/fears and negative thinking we have in our minds. These thoughts trigger our bodies to react and hence we get all sort physical symptoms. We then tend to develop or adapt new coping behavior and try to cope with them. Distract yourself from all these negative thoughts would ease the symptoms and reduce the anxiety level. I do believe speaking to a professional, i.e. a therapist who is specialised in treating anxiety, would help you alot. When you say talking didn’t seem to help, does that mean you’ve tried therapy? Cognitive behavioural therapy is very effective in treating anxiety and it involves more than just talking. I would also recommend the “Overcoming Anxiety, Stress and Panic by Dr Chris Williams” which can be found at our Shop. Understanding how anxiety works will help you a great deal and this book is full of explanation and self-help techniques. Worth a read.
Andy
Hi everyone i have same symptoms and I know it’s stress as have heart palpitations, feeling dizzy, sick, no sleep and loads of bad headaches, also no energy and want to sleep constantly, also my hair is falling out alot more than normal.
I know deep down need to go out and get some help, but like what someone else has said before I just feel more calmer being indoors and not going out and more and more often try and avoid going out as much as i can and meeting people! I hope it don’t escalate into where i don’t want to go out at all as i wouldn’t want that to happen. Haven’t had any work for ages cause can’t keep a job cause the way i feel and family don’t understand me and they think i’m lazy and don’t want to get a job but really i don’t think they understand me and putting more pressure on me by going on at me which isn’t helping. Plus when i get low seem to spend more on my credit card which I know isn’t good thing but now I’m in a bit of debt and need to get job to pay it all off. I do want to find work but i know if i get stressed at all at work i will get depressed and anxiety again have time off work and will lose my job and I can’t keep on going through same cycle all the time. It’s just trying to get the motivation and confidence to go and ask for help but i keep putting it off so i’m probably my own worst enemy. After reading what everyone else has gone through feel like I’m not the only one going through this, And I hope that everyone will combat the stress and all get better soon. K
Hi K
Sorry to hear you are having a difficult time. Anxiety is caused by irrational thoughts and negative thinking. These thoughts then trigger the body to react and lead to behavioural changes. Therefore, distract yourself from these negative thinking can ease the symptoms and anxiety and stress. Do you exercise alot? Exercise can reduce both stress and anxiety, and also good distraction from all these negative thinking and physical symptoms. You need to motivate yourself and stay more positive. Be more active and starting for works or things to do. Things that keep you busy and distract you from the symptoms and negative thinking.
Andy
Hi K
You are not alone…I have the same problem as you,and it just started about year ago..I find that the afternoons are the worst for me….anxiety and stress can make the smallest problem turn into giant mountain,and it comes and goes….It does not help when people around you do not understand a persons problem with anxiety….But it does help to talk to someone who does understand and has the same problem…I get stressed out just driving on the freeway,it never bothered me as bad as it does now.
to be honest Ive been though I lot of stress anyways and it gets bad when ur older nearly mean I’m like 20yrs old but I maybe in i’ll in the futor like me I will do
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