Greetings from Sweden

[KLund]

Hey all!

From experience I know that writing is very helpful, so I'm just going to write my story and maybe someone can relate? I think I always been anxious but I just haven't realized it until now. It all started about 6 months ago when I moved from home to a new city in the South of Sweden. I got my own apartment and everything was fine. Then I got the news that my American niece had suddenly passed away. In a city with no friends or family I felt lonely and depressed. Then things started to get better before a while before they got worse. I started to feel my heart beating really hard and fast, I felt dizzy, tired, I didn't feel like eating and wasn't motivated to study or do anything productive.

My heart really freaked me out and I thought it was something wrong with it, but everyone and talked to said it was anxiety. Since then I felt random muscle pains and sometime twitches. I can also get extremely nervous and feel it's hard to breathe. I also find it hard to sleep because I of all the negative thoughts in my head. I also fear it's getting worse, the other day I felt anxiety walking to a place I haven't been to before, I've also felt anxious when I was going shopping - I just had this strong belief that whatever food I picked it would be wrong.

I'm worry that it's getting and that it will hinder me from for example get my driver's license, pursue relationships or getting jobs in the future. Are the fears I'm feeling anything anyone can relate? Also I haven't really been officially diagnosed by someone, I just feel that after what I've read anxiety seems to match up with my symptoms. Am I right to think that? I do have friends here I just don't know if I can share this with them yet, I'm scared I will scare them away or something.

From a friend in Sweden

[Zena]

Hello and welcome, KLund. I'm very sorry to hear about your niece. If anxiety is the issue, you're not alone at all there. Also, if I can manage to get my driver's license, you certainly can - trust me. Sounds like you're growing in self-awareness. That's progress in itself. There are kind people on this forum and I think you could benefit from some support. Again, welcome.