will someone please explain anxiety to me..

[ricecakes]

Obviously I know what it is, I was just at the doctors today and she said I seemed really anxious and stressed.. I just wanted to know what it meant to anyone who suffers from it? How they deal with it? Etc.. Thank you x

[paperstars]

Well when I'm anxious my legs move uncontrollably and I can't think properly. Sometimes they develop into panic attacks and they feel quite frightening. I've had anxiety from a very young age so I don't really know what it's like without it. Sorry I'm not that good with advice. :s

[EmilismsGalore]

In CBT (cognitive behaviour therapy) they explain it by breaking it down into thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Thoughts are negative, you usually anticipate something bad happening. Sometimes you lose concentration. There are also loads of physical feelings like a racing heart, dizziness, nausea, shakiness, ect. As for behaviours most people avoid the things that make them anxious (if possible).

The more important thing here is how do you feel about it? Do you think you have an anxiety disorder? If you are anxious/stressed/worried a lot you might.

To cope with anxiety they tell you to do thought records. If you're interested I could explain in more detail but basically thought records get you to challenge your thoughts in a logical way. Doing deep breathing can be helpful. I've been in CBT for nearly 8 months and I've learnt so many techniques of coping and stuff. If you have any questions or would like to know more please feel free to PM me.

[Thoughtmirror]

For me, anxiety is the feeling that something is going to get me and lord knows what it will do with me. I started to get anxiety coming home from the store today. I felt like everyone was watching me, judging me, and I tried to not make eye contact with anyone and I rushed home. My apartment is my haven. I hate anxiety, it makes me feel like I'm crazy.

[ricecakes]

I've always felt people were watching, laughing at and judging me. Or talking about me and bitching. I've felt so paranoid about everything from a very young age, and I hate it. I can never look people in the eye, even my parents.
This is probably more paranoia that anxiety, but since the doctor suggested I may be anxious I've felt more and more stressed out, or maybe she's just given a name to how I've been feeling.

I do get stuck in routines, and my friends are up visitng me at uni right now and I'm soo stressed out with them here all the time, I feel like screaming haha.