Anxiety problems-plucking up courage to do things

I've had problems with anxiety and panic attacks for years now and I've now come to the point where I really think I need to see a doctor about it. I was just wondering if anyone could share their experiences with anxiety...are you overcoming it/have you overcome it and has medication helped? I'm at uni and it's making things very difficult, so I'm wanting to address the problem and to start living my life properly without fear and panic constantly.

I know its really hard but you have to force yourself to go into that situation that scares you, until you do this you cant start to make things better. Its never easy, I know that from experience, but it will help you, trust me.

I know how you feel...I switched to drinking hot chocolate instead of alcohol...it's not quite so bad, and it seems to work. Don't know the chemistry of that

Well for me what makes me most anxious is social situations. I've thrown myself into them before and realised after about an hour of being around people that it's fine, then I leave with a positive frame of mind.

You need to try and sort this issue out before it becomes even harder. I know someone who cannot leave the house. Like its an actual condition where he just can't leave it, and this makes things very difficult for them since he has a lot of health problems which need to be seen to outside the house.

Anyway goodluck x x

Same here. The way I look at things now is 'whats the worst that can happen'? Before I was scared of making a fool or myself or embarassing myself, now I dont care. If I do, so what, its not like Im going to die or anything! I spoke to a really good hypnotherapist who taught me to understand that in reality nothing bad was going to happen to me, and even if it did its not like it would really harm me. I would get over it. (Not that anything bad did ever happen BTW but I was convinved that it would). That sounds really harsh but Im sure you understand the point Im trying to make?

Definitely go and see someone. I got agoraphobia when I was 12 and I have had relapses. I still occasionally get panic attacks but there's no way it's as bad as it was. I was actually at the stage of not leaving the house and getting home tutors. Not good for a teenager!

At least you've identified the problem, and are on the way to solving it. I've had psychiatric help, meds (Fluoxetine), hypnotherapy and CBT. Different things work for different people. The meds were really a safety net; you need to be able to learn techniques to control it so that when you come off you're okay. I personally thought hypnotherapy was v useful - I didn't think it would work but was surprised. And standard psychiaty/CBT helped a lot too.

I'm still not great; I avoid certain situations so I'm not a massive clubber (although tbh I don't think I would be anyway). However, sometimes you just have to bite your lip and push yourself. 99.999% of the time it will be ok, and if it's not at least you tried. I'm going to the club on campus tonight; I know it will be busy and I'm a bit apprehensive but I'm sure once I'm there I'll love it.

Good luck, and if you ever need to pm, I'm here! x

What does hypnotherapy involve exactly? I have had some hellish lows in my life that I know I need to talk about with someone about, I'm pretty sure that once I actually release all the tension and finally talk to someone then I will be halfway there.

Thank you for the support, that was a really helpful post.

Hypnotherapy is pretty passive, so might not be for you. Basically, you sit there and are made to relax using various techniques. Then you get told ideas. My sessions were taped, and I listened to them every night in bed to reinforce it. It's not like you're asleep, you can hear things, but you're very relaxed and the ideas take hold.

For you, psychiatric support or counselling may be an option because those are really where you talk to people.

A few months ago I went to the Doctor's because of a certain anxiety I had was taking over my life and stopping me doing so many things. The Dr sent me to see a councellor (who was lovely by the way) and I went to see her about four times. I'm going back in January but she gave me the belief in myself and distraction techniques to allow me to go it alone.

Basically, as people said, you have to try and do the things that scare you. Start small and have a friend there to begin with:things will get better.

Well for me what makes me most anxious is social situations. I've thrown myself into them before and realised after about an hour of being around people that it's fine, then I leave with a positive frame of mind. However, it's never consistent. Sometimes I get so freaked out before a social gathering that I'll avoid it altogether, even though I know it's always ok. You would have thought that each positive experience would make it easier next time but for some reason I remain convinced that it's a fluke and that next time something will go wrong.

I want to find a point where I'm relaxed enough to do things without worrying all the time. After a glass of wine I feel "normal" and this is what I imagine it must be like for people who don't have fear preying on their mind constantly, I just wish I didn't have to resort to alcohol to feel remotely ok.

sol89 has got it spot on.

Most of the reason for having these panic attacks is that you have too much time to dwell on things.
Get a job, do exercise, be active.

I'm a confident person, but I noticed after 6th form had finished and I had time to bum around, like in Uni, i got far more anxious and nervous about social situations, like it wasn't me.

There was a point when I wouldn't be nervous to walk into a fight (god bless Hull schools), never mind chat to my friends.

What's the worse that could happen?

I was semi-cured when I told my dad, and he said.

"What are you doing? This isn't you, grow up and beat it".

After that, I felt like a pussy, cos I was.

It's all about having too much time.