General Anxiety Sufferer

[Anxieteer]

Hey. I joined this site because I don't know what else to do. I have an appointment to see a therapist in a couple of weeks, but I can't wait that long to do something.

I'm 24 and have suffered from anxiety and depression for years. They crept up on me. I let these problems get really bad before finally seeking treatment. After seeing several professionals and trying several medications, I'm tempted to give up -- on treatment, on life. But I have just a little bit of hope, so here I am.

My anxiety affects every aspect of my life. It's this sense of dread, this sick feeling I carry with me most of the time. I can't relax, I can't sit still, I can't concentrate. I worry about so many things. I feel incompetent and dumb. I'm afraid to look for a better job because I know I get confused easily and make mistakes, and I'm afraid that they will be mean to me because of it. I worry about what others will think of me or say about me. All the time I can hear this internal critic saying, "Toughen up! It's not that bad! You must do better!" Most of the people around me have been very kind about it, but they don't fully understand.

[keybee24]

Hi there.............I just joined this already worried that it is a scam cause I am scared of everything too. I am 26 and always feel like I am never good enough. I am always afraid that noone likes me, that I am doing the wrong thing, that everyone is talking about me.........my mind never stops. I feel like it is me........i know it is me.............everywhere I go there is one person that makes me know that I am going to have a hard time and that I might have a problem with something.

As soon as I think it might be a good day.....it immediatly ends with something that gets me nervous..........

[Anxieteer]

Keybee, I often have the same thoughts about people talking about me or disapproving of me. A strategy I have used with some success is to go ahead and assume that my fear is well founded, that people really are criticizing me. And then ask, so what? Does that mean I'm a horrible person? Does it even mean they THINK I'm a horrible person? Hardly. It just means I've done something they don't like. If they were asked, "Do you hate that person?" I bet they would say something like, "No, I don't HATE him, I just don't like what he does." It's still a negative situation, but I can live with it.

Unfortunately this rational alternative has not been completely internalized. I find it takes a long time and a lot of effort to change your beliefs even after you realize they are not well supported. So I slip into automatic thoughts such as, "They are criticizing me, and that means I'm a horrible, worthless person!"