I think I'm getting worse and can't cope anymore...

[JohnS]

I've been suffering from anxiety for a while now and I feel like it's getting worse all the time. :( I can't even think back to what caused it. All of a sudden I just ended up becoming a bit shaky then it got worse and worse.

At first I was just a bit shaky every now and then. Now I can't eat, drink or do anything in front of people. I don't ever go out anywhere by myself, and if I go somewhere it'll be because I've got to go. I've got a job but I've been thinking of quitting and either finding a new job where I won't have to work with a lot of people, or just not work at all.

I'm really jumpy, my head shakes badly, I start sweating and I get asked if I'm ok. It really has started to bother me a lot more now and I've thought about just ending my life altogether because I can't cope anymore and feel like I'll never get rid of it.. So really there's no benefits of me being around... that's the way I've started to feel.

I've always wanted to either be in the army or airforce but because of the way I am, I'll never be able to do that... :( I can't work with people or do anything infront of people. I left college for the same reason, I was just too anxious all the time whenever I tried to do things infront of people, talk, show things on the computer, presentations etc.

I have a counsellor and I've explained to her this week that I just can't cope anymore and she's going to speak to my doctor. She's explained that I should try some medication and it'll give me a bit of a break for a while.

Does anyone have some tips or anything for me? :( I'm so sick of it.

Thank you for taking your time to read, I really do appreciate it.

[domino]

John, your life is worth living, pls do,nt say that it is,nt. My p. a,s came out of the blue, and yes i wish i was as i used to be, fearless, but i,m not and would not dream of ending my life that would be the esay way. i, m not going to let this beat me, sometimes you have to tell yourself this and sometimes except what is happening to you,you are not alone with your feelings, feel free to p.m. me , you will get though this , we are all here to help.

[Tom_M]

Hi John

How old are you john, are you still in your teens? You don't say if you have any friends or not?
I'm just asking because I was like you when I was a teenager, and maybe I can help in some way.

[decca]

Yea my son was the same , he had a couple of car crashes,then got attacked a couple of times in town. He was a afraid to go outside the door,hardly ate anything and lost several jobs.
Now he's a very successful mobile DJ and entertainer, he still get's anx and PA's and cant eat with other people ( I guess that runs in the family ) but he's found his niche I guess.
Best wishes
Decca

[JohnS]

Hi,

Thank you all for your fast replies. I'm 20 and have been suffering from anxiety since I was about 17. I didn't know what it was at first and decided to see a doctor about it to find out what was wrong with me, that's when I found out I was having panic problems.

After a while I was referred to see a counsellor that has been very helpful.

I have friends but to be really honest, I haven't went anywhere with my friends in over a year. I do see them every now and then when I'm at work but whenever I'm asked either over msn, phone or at work if I'll go somewhere, I make up excuses. I would love to go places with them like on holiday, out in the town etc but with me feeling really shaky and everything else, I tend to just make up an excuse.

[domino]

Sorry to have to say this but, [read my signature} regarding going out with your friends.

[groovygranny]

Hello John,

Sorry you're so down.

I think your counsellor is very wise in referring you back to your doc. I was always against taking medication, but in the end I had no alternative. I really don't regret it at all - and only had to be on Citalopram for 6 mnths, some here have been on it (or similar) for longer. And seeing a counsellor at the same time helped me greatly too.

Taking meds is not a cop out, it's as your counsellor says - just a temporary respite from the main debilitating symptoms of your anxiety in order to help you address your issues.

When I first went to my doc it was for something completely different - and no one was more surprised than me when he said I had anxiety and depression!!

I would take the advice of your counsellor and see what the doctor suggests ok?

Here's a hug

[Tom_M]

Hi John

If I where you I'd first get your general anxiety state sorted out. If you feel anxious most of the time, then it does sound like general anxiety. Antidepressants work wonders but they do take some time to work. You could - and I don't know why most people don't - ask your doctor for three weeks supply of tranquilizers to offset the side effects antidepressants, and to help with the anxiety. I used to ask my doctor to do this, and apart from a little moan about how tranquilizers can be addictive, she use to give me them.

[JohnS]

Hiya groovygranny,

I'll be taking the advice of my doctor and counsellor

Hope this doesn't sound stupid but did the meds make you feel any different? I'm that used to feeling real anxious so I'm guessing I'd feel weird not being like that... Guess it would help to get used to bein a bit normal again tho..

ty for the hug

Tom, yes I wasn't really sure where to post this but thought this was possibly the best place for it since it's normally while around people and I'm fine on my own.

I didn't really know about tranquilizers until now but I'll give them a mention and see what she says. Thank you for your support.

[Richie]

Hi John
sorry all this is happening to you just when you want to be looking forward to the future.
Sounds definately like you have a social phobia/anxiety and 20 is generally the age where it raises it's ugly head !!!
It would be good for you to see someone really as quickly as possible, certainly a specialist who deals with phobias. Don't know where you live but the Maudsly Hospital Denmark Hill London is the best place in the uk for CBT and phobia specialists. You could give them a ring and see if they will put you through to the right department. Sometimes they will take people outside their area
Please don't give up love Richie xxxxx