Hey Everyone

[nicky_nicole]

Well I am really new to all of this. I work at a busy coffee shop and being a cute, 21 year old girl in a college town seems like it would be perfect, but it is not. I have general anxiety, some ocd and ptsd so I have trouble keeping my life "normal". I smile all day at work and my girlfriends have no idea what is really going on in my head. I did have a boyfriend that was my main support and my rock. I felt like I could really be me, anxiety and all but I was wrong. He said my anxiety stressed him out and he should not have to deal with it. Thanks to that comment I have my worries and fears completely locked down. I have a therapist I talk to once a week and in that one hour I can finally say how I feel. Complain about bad dreams, fear of leaving the house and fear of people.

I just wish I could have some people that I could tell that I had a flashback and could not leave my bed the rest of the day and have them say they understand how I feel and really mean it. Just some friends I could ask advice about anxiety that know how it feels to hide your worries and fears from everyone around you just so for that short time you are with them it is almost like you do not have anxiety. That is why I joined this, I need more time to be myself with anxiety. Hope some of you feel the same...

[Periwinkle]

Nicky,

Hi and welcome to the forum. I, too have anxiety/depression, low self esteem, insecurity etc. I just joined a few weeks ago and can tell you it has helped. It's nice to know you are not alone! There are many people out there in the same situation. I'm sorry that your boyfriend couldn't deal with it. My husband of 28 years still doesn't know how to deal with it, which is why I joined this forum. Here I get ideas that I wouldn't have thought of.

I can't relate to the flashbacks, but hopefully someone on the forum can and will see this. If not you may want to start a new post with flashbacks in the title to catch people's attention.

Just know you are not alone...I think more people have anxiety/depression than will admit it. At least you are trying by coming to this forum.

[nicky_nicole]

Thanks Forwells for the welcome. You know I still do not have a good way that I deal with the flashbacks. Right now I just try to remain calm and remove myself from what ever helpped make me think of it. I have spoke with my therapist about them and we have only got as far as to how to stay calm when one happens. I wish I had something better then that and I would love any ideas you have.

[nicky_nicole]

Thanks Periwinkle for your really nice words and support. The more I look around this forum the more I see that there is many similiars between me and others. It is a good feeling to know how I feel and worry is not so strange and I am not the only one feeling that. And thank you for suggesting to start a post on flashbacks. I did not think of doing that and I would love to get peoples ideas and suggestions on what I can do to make them better.

[dreamsafire]

Sounds like a good idea, I'll be looking for that post too.