Pleasure to be a part of the new community

[nickom]

Hello,

My name is Nick. I'm 26 years old and live in San Diego, CA. I have suffered from anxiety since my adolescence. However, it has never been as severe as it is now. I experience anxiety on a daily basis. I fear I am going to have a panic attack at any moment. My panic attacks are a form of depersonalization, where I literally feel like I am going crazy, like I am detached from my body trying to find my way back. It's very scary where I've called the ambulance on myself a few times.

At this point, not much is helping. I'm glad I found a community that may be experiencing some of the same things I'm going through.

Thanks so much,
Nick

[jeremydoyle]

Hello and welcome Nick

The good news with anxiety is that it's highly treatable and many people recover from it. I hope you find some relief here and let me know how I can help.

-Jeremy

[tucker12]

Hi Nick, I am going through the same thing, I actually make myself think that I am going insane and that I should be in a hospital. But dont worry you are not going crazy, its just the anxiety trying to get to you. I find that walking really helps, I have been taking evening walks with my dog and i find it really helps. I hope everything works out with you, but please believe that you are not going crazy!

[rchippex]

Tucker is spot on. Exercise is a major release of adrenaline and can reduce your symptoms dramatically. I will paste what I have just written on someone elses thread as I believe it is especially relevant in your case.

"I used to have very similar issues to yourself especially when going out and one of the most useful things I ever read and that worked for me was this: 'No matter how you feel about something do not fight it. Let yourself just be'. Accept the thoughts and let them in. Only then can you see that they are only thoughts. If you try to over analyze everything you are only feeding the anxiety more by tiring your mind and over thinking things. Try it. Honestly it works. You will be amazed at the difference it makes. The very next time you get the feeling of dread just tell yourself in your head that it is only a feeling. A feeling cant hurt you. Accept it and carry on with what you were doing regardless of how it makes you feel at the time. It sounds like backwards logic but it really works. The majority of anxiety in my case was self perpetuating because of fear. I would get anxious and then fear the anxiety and worry about the thoughts and cause myself even more worrying thoughts. I promise you this works Leon. Do not try to tackle the problem head on as such but accept it.

After a month or so of letting yourself JUST BE you will get to the end of a day and be like. Hey, I just had a good day. That one good day then gives you the fuel to dismiss the feelings even more and before you know it the good days will become more and more frequent. I suffered for 2 years before I used this technique and it was the turning point of my life. I used to freak out and work and feel like running out of the office but all those feelings are gone. I have been trying to pass this message on as much as possible to others who have these problems as it really did turn my life around. I am not selling any book and there is no profit in it for me. I want to help as I was helped and if I can only improve one persons life I would consider my attempts successful. We all have the power to change our lives. Your brain is like a computer and you can reprogram it. Something changed to make you start feeling like this and now you can change it back.

Do not fear your thoughts. Embrace them and everytime you feel bad tell yourself to just be. I mean literally tell yourself the following in your head. 'So what, I am just going to be how I am going to be'.

You can be anxiety free. I know it and deep down you will too. You just have to believe. "

I do hope reading these forums will help you and make you realise that you are NOT going crazy and you are certainly not wierd. You would be surprised by how relatively normal you actually are. Talking to people who have been through or are still going through the same feelings and thoughts as yourself is the first step to recovery. It is a long and sometimes frustrating road and you will have setbacks but YOU CAN and WILL get there if you decide now is the time for change. Do not fear your feelings Nick. Embrace them and tell yourself that no matter how you feel, you are not alone and a thought is only a thought. Anxiety is a vicious circle and it needs to be broken. Once you learn to accept your feelings they will gain less and less power over you. I really do hope you take on board the things fellow sufferers and recovering sufferers tell you as only we truly know what is is to have anxiety. And remember. Just be. Live your life and just feel how you are going to feel on any given day. You are the one that is in the driving seat and you can do it.