Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 11

Thread: Explaining anxiety and panic to your friends

  1. #1

    Explaining anxiety and panic to your friends

    How do you do it? How can you tell a good friend that by pushing you to do things they're making the actual event worse?

    I'm being pushed by my best friend to learn to drive ( maybe when I'm passed I will reflect differently?) to the point where she has rung an instructor and booked lessons for me. An instructor she heard about where as I wanted to take my time and find a lady who understands anxiety etc. Now she's pushing me daily to book theory test and expects me to be driving by sept and is planning things to do where we will both need to be driving.

    This is spiralling out of control and making my fear of failing magnify. But I'm so conscious of being nice and avoiding causing upset to others that I make myself feel worthless and unable to function rather than put some one else out.

    They will want me to go out for drinks and food (biggest fear) and arrange a babysitter saying I've no excuses :(

    how do u explain that a very irrational situation to them is very real to me?? Xxxx

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Posts
    211

    Re: Explaining anxiety and panic to your friends

    I had to tell most of my class once when I had a panic attack during a presentation - it was a bit hard to avoid at that stage! I told my friends flat out that I had anxiety disorder and that I am getting therapy for it - with regards to situations such as going out, etc I'd tell them I appreciated the offer and thoughts, but I am not feeling up to it. I told them certain situations or events are too much for me to handle and make me anxious.

  3. #3

    Re: Explaining anxiety and panic to your friends

    I didn't tell my family and friends for a long time about what I was suffering with but I found that when I did, it felt like a weight had been lifted. I felt silly and first (and still do to be honest) but the more people know, the better, I find, as they know how to be with you and are more sensitive to your problems. I am sure they will understand and be supportive, as all real friends are.x

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Posts
    1,274

    Re: Explaining anxiety and panic to your friends

    Ask her about something she really fears. Everyone has one. Then ask how she would feel if you pushed her into doing that daily. I find that by likening anxiety to their fears people tend to get it.
    __________________
    Rebuilding my life one day at a time.

  5. #5

    Re: Explaining anxiety and panic to your friends

    I think maybe she's not the friend I consider her to be. She knows I've a huge phobia of spiders for example and often plays pranks on me about this.

    On our works Xmas party I couldn't face going last minute and pulled out and within minutes all over fb little digs-let down by my best mate again etc.

    I wouldn't dream of doing this to someone let alone my best friend.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Posts
    211

    Re: Explaining anxiety and panic to your friends

    Once I told my closest friend, he slowly drifted and didn't understand it at all. We no longer talk. Some people just don't understand or deal with it poorly.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Posts
    115

    Re: Explaining anxiety and panic to your friends

    Hey Twilight

    In my mind, the definition of a best mate is someone who is there for you in times good and bad, someone to lean on when the going gets tough.

    If your friend knows that you've a spider phobia, she shouldn't be playing pranks on you about it. Your fear is real and she should, as your best friend, realise how upsetting you find this. Also, the fb thing - that's a bit low. You didn't let her down, you genuinely couldn't face going. There is a distinct difference here.

    With regard to the driving lessons, it's all very well to be encouraging and give someone a help in the right direction, but I think that she's now she's crossed the line here. When I learned to drive, I looked around for the instructor that I felt would be right for me and if you feel that way too, then that is perfectly okay. Go at your own pace and in your own time. You will do it and in a way that is right for YOU.

    You take care. xx
    __________________
    Have patience with all things, but especially yourself...

    You're not a failure if you don't make it. You're a success because you tried.

  8. #8

    Re: Explaining anxiety and panic to your friends

    pass your test, then run her over !

    lol

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Posts
    4,729

    Re: Explaining anxiety and panic to your friends

    well my main friends knows..... but she seems to think that I'm avoiding her rather than the situation, like on days I'm too anxious to meet up....
    personally i feel like she wants me to be some really super fun person when i'm not...
    your friend may be passive aggressive, winding you up on purpose.....
    i really think my friend does it at times..... even though she gets panic attacks too.
    all you can do is explain and then its up to them whether they chose to understand or not.
    i feel bad for you because i know how it feels..... xx
    __________________
    ]

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Posts
    268

    Re: Explaining anxiety and panic to your friends

    if friends have to put you down to make themselves feel better, they arent true friends!

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Explaining to your Kids!
    By jojo81182 in forum General Anxiety / Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 14-11-09, 13:34
  2. Cant Make Friends Due To Social Anxiety
    By dj9928 in forum Social Anxiety
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 18-04-09, 12:23
  3. Explaining to people about my anxiety?
    By phil06 in forum General Anxiety / Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 31-08-08, 18:07
  4. Application form - explaining absence
    By missy_c in forum Depression from Panic/Anxiety
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 21-04-08, 19:45
  5. Anxiety: Problem Making Friends
    By dinkduk in forum General Anxiety / Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 31-05-07, 19:39

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •