Anxiety

[MonaWare]

Ive been dealing with some anxiety problems lately (this is not about me, btw. It just inspired me to make this thread), and Ive been wondering. Many of us claim to deal with anxiety, in different ways for different reasons. And Ive been wondering, what is anxiety to you? What does it feel like, how does it affect it and what causes it with you?

It can be a few different things to me, I think. One of the big ones I get- panic attacks. Like, its hard to explain, but sometimes I get like pain in my chest and an uneasy feeling, like an urgent need to do something, even though I dont know what it is I need to do. That used to be much worse for me in the past, though certain changes Ive made in my life have really helped lately.

I also sometimes talk about social anxiety, and I wonder if what I call social anxiety is similar to others. Ive kinda realized that pretty much everyone claims this one : p I dunno if theyre talking about the same thing, though. So it would be cool to have some insight as to what others feel.

But like, with social anxiety. With me, like Ive said before, Im not always good with speech. Ive always dealt with things like making eye contact and also like being assertive and junk. And one thing I often deal with is like, especially when talking with people I dont know that well, being unable to communicate my thoughts clearly. Like I cant think of words or feel like Im making clear sense. And when that happens, I get like nervous, and I get these thoughts that like the people Im talking to think Im stupid or annoying or whatever, which causes negative feelings and all that. And then I feel like these people will avoid talking to me later on, and even sometimes worry theyll think Im some sort of creep because of how awkward I am and how difficult a time I have communicating.

I can just feel nervous in general when around people I dont know, too. Like when running register at work, if its a slow day and I only deal with a few people, I feel fine. But when the store is busy, or when dealing with people who act like they have no time for waiting and youre just to slow to bear, I can get shakey, and lose track of what Im doing, which sometimes causes me to drop things or make mistakes. I can be that way with playing music too. when alone and dealing with people I dont know, and they like push me to "prove my ability" to them, I can get nervous and shaky to the point I cant even play. And when on stage with the band, I absolutely cant talk : p Not on the mic, not even just in general : p I enjoy playing live, however, I just am afraid to talk : p

What about you? How does it feel or affect you? Is it similar to me, or is it different?

 

[Metal]

It can be a few different things to me, I think. One of the big ones I get- panic attacks. Like, its hard to explain, but sometimes I get like pain in my chest and an uneasy feeling, like an urgent need to do something, even though I dont know what it is I need to do. That used to be much worse for me in the past, though certain changes Ive made in my life have really helped lately.

I also sometimes talk about social anxiety, and I wonder if what I call social anxiety is similar to others. Ive kinda realized that pretty much everyone claims this one : p I dunno if theyre talking about the same thing, though. So it would be cool to have some insight as to what others feel.

But like, with social anxiety. With me, like Ive said before, Im not always good with speech. Ive always dealt with things like making eye contact and also like being assertive and junk.

In ways some of what you've said also happens to me when I get very frantic or well when anxiety hits. I generally don't talk to many people anyways so it's hard to really let how I feel most of the time. Panic attacks are also something I get whenever I feel it, if I for some reason or another don't feel safe or do something I find awful in public I feel it in my heart or chest and I start to breath very heavily to the point I just lock myself from anyone and don't talk to anyone.

Social anxiety as you stated is a major one for a ton of people mostly because we are afraid of the unknown it's in our nature to be cautious, though sometimes we can go overboard and end up isolating ourselves from people. A specific kind that I have is called agaraphobia which is the fear of large crowds and being with people not sure if you or anyone else experience these similar symptoms when feeling like you want to lock up instead of dealing with people.

 

[MonaWare]

In ways some of what you've said also happens to me when I get very frantic or well when anxiety hits. I generally don't talk to many people anyways so it's hard to really let how I feel most of the time. Panic attacks are also something I get whenever I feel it, if I for some reason or another don't feel safe or do something I find awful in public I feel it in my heart or chest and I start to breath very heavily to the point I just lock myself from anyone and don't talk to anyone.

Ah yeah, it may not be totally what you mean, but when I mess up in public, like lets say do something embarrassing, I can take it way too hard, and like be afraid to be around them again in the future. I can even spend days beating myself up over it, too. It was really bad when I was a kid, but when I got to about 19-20 I became better with it. But like this past year its come back up again, and Im dealing with that issue now, too.

Social anxiety as you stated is a major one for a ton of people mostly because we are afraid of the unknown it's in our nature to be cautious, though sometimes we can go overboard and end up isolating ourselves from people. A specific kind that I have is called agaraphobia which is the fear of large crowds and being with people not sure if you or anyone else experience these similar symptoms when feeling like you want to lock up instead of dealing with people.

I actually dunno if its being afraid of the unknown for me, I mean not trying to argue or be contrary or anything : p I just kinda think its more about me, maybe lacking confidence or not knowing how to communicate with people.

And I can feel that way sometimes. It may not be the same as yours, though. I have times where Im dealing with alot of negative thoughts and I lack confidence in myself and junk, Ill choose to shut myself in over deal with people. Dunno if thats what you deal with, though : p

 

[King Hehehe]

I don't really experience anxiety too much, really. I guess I'm pretty lucky in that regard. When I get anxious, I usually have to have a very good reason for it. On a usual basis, the worst I tend to experience is a mild shyness around other people, degenerating my normally well-developed language skills into rather ungraceful stammering. Even then, still usually not too bad in that regard.

 

[MonaWare]

On a usual basis, the worst I tend to experience is a mild shyness around other people, degenerating my normally well-developed language skills into rather ungraceful stammering.

Haha yeah, I think mine is kinda like that, but like maybe I lack confidence and thats what leads me to become shakey and unable to talk or something : p When that happens to me, I start to feel upset and just stop talking in general, and then even deal with negative thoughts and junk.

 

[Ninja_Cat]

I often feel like that when meeting the people for the first time. I often get used to being around people after a while though, so I'm just glad that's about that. However, there's sometimes a few people I'll feel anxious around all the time. I often avoided those few people in school. Nowadays, I'm not around people much, so I've noticed social anxiety building up again. That should change if I get accepted into college though this year.
Speaking of not being around people as much nowadays; I'm pretty sure that made me more anxious in general. I've noticed myself being more likely to get worried over silly things and it can make me feel pretty anxious sometimes. Again, I'm sure that'll change once I'm around people more often again.

 

[ThAshleyChannel]

When GlowSquid or Magma reply to messages of mine that I think will end up in some sort of argument or being mean I get real scared and my heart skips a beat. Those two can be pretty scary.

 

[Magma]

 

[Metal]

And I can feel that way sometimes. It may not be the same as yours, though. I have times where Im dealing with alot of negative thoughts and I lack confidence in myself and junk, Ill choose to shut myself in over deal with people. Dunno if thats what you deal with, though : p

That's something that hits close to home, shutting myself is also something I rather do when I feel anxious. Not just anxious but any other negative emotion as well. It's easier and in my experience feel better by just emotionally locking up doing something by myself feels better than actually going out to talk to some one.

Speaking of not being around people as much nowadays; I'm pretty sure that made me more anxious in general. I've noticed myself being more likely to get worried over silly things and it can make me feel pretty anxious sometimes. Again, I'm sure that'll change once I'm around people more often again.

I guess at times we don't realize it until it's hitting us since we're social beings. Being by ourselves would probably just make us a bit more panic-y. Haven't really felt it myself but I'm uncertain if you've also had these panic attacks by being alone, we're all a bit different when it comes to anxiety.

 

[MonaWare]

When GlowSquid or Magma reply to messages of mine that I think will end up in some sort of argument or being mean I get real scared and my heart skips a beat. Those two can be pretty scary.

You always talk like theyre so mean, but theyre like two of the coolest people on the forum : p

 

[Robin]

I usually suffer from anxiety. I actually live in anxiety. Always anxious and nervous, I sometimes can't keep my cool. I try to overcome all this with self confidence talk, like "you're good at this" or "you can do it" or even "it's nothing get over it", but I still have trouble with it, since my anxiety most likely comes from my lack of self confidence... It's like an endless cycle. But I've been able to deal with it quite nicely. The trick is, don't think twice, just do whatever you want to do, it usually goes well. And if it doesn't, it's a lesson learned...

 

[Metal]