Matthew82
19-09-09, 22:39
Hi,
My name's Matt, and I've been a member here for a few weeks without posting anything. I'm 26, and for a long long time, certainly well over ten years, I've suffered from underlying anxiety, with occasional spikes of panic, which become more or less frequent depending on a number of factors.
This has caused me to leave various courses and universities in the past (three times now) because the panic gets so intense that I feel like I can't cope, and I have what feels like a breakdown, although probably isn't.
I'm about to go off to university again, to do a PhD, and since my last attempt, I've had some therapy and started a new (for me) medication, which seems to help. I'm hoping these will take the edge off, and allow me to settle.
However, I hate the feeling that I get when I'm anxious and panicking, that I'm the only person who feels like this, when I'm clearly not. I suppose I have a view that people who feel like this are generally strange or unusual, but from reading posts here, it's clear that all kinds of people sugger from anxiety and panic. I guess it's just that people generally don't talk publicly about it because it's seen as weak or weird in some way.
The worst symptom I get is sweating, which is exacerbated by my meds. I often have a dripping face, which I worry will look very strange, worsening my anxiety. I also get knots in my stomach and a racing, pounding heart (breathing fast is less common for me).
I'm hoping to meet some nice people on here, and perhaps some coping hints and tips too :)
Matt
My name's Matt, and I've been a member here for a few weeks without posting anything. I'm 26, and for a long long time, certainly well over ten years, I've suffered from underlying anxiety, with occasional spikes of panic, which become more or less frequent depending on a number of factors.
This has caused me to leave various courses and universities in the past (three times now) because the panic gets so intense that I feel like I can't cope, and I have what feels like a breakdown, although probably isn't.
I'm about to go off to university again, to do a PhD, and since my last attempt, I've had some therapy and started a new (for me) medication, which seems to help. I'm hoping these will take the edge off, and allow me to settle.
However, I hate the feeling that I get when I'm anxious and panicking, that I'm the only person who feels like this, when I'm clearly not. I suppose I have a view that people who feel like this are generally strange or unusual, but from reading posts here, it's clear that all kinds of people sugger from anxiety and panic. I guess it's just that people generally don't talk publicly about it because it's seen as weak or weird in some way.
The worst symptom I get is sweating, which is exacerbated by my meds. I often have a dripping face, which I worry will look very strange, worsening my anxiety. I also get knots in my stomach and a racing, pounding heart (breathing fast is less common for me).
I'm hoping to meet some nice people on here, and perhaps some coping hints and tips too :)
Matt