Anxiety- Want My Independance Back

[Ellabella44]

I'm getting really frustrated with my anxiety. I can talk to people online easily enough, but to interact face to face with most people, (even my husbands family) leaves me anxious after a while. Once I start to realize that others are focused on me and expecting me to interact, I feel like im shrinking into myself. My head gets foggy and I end up feeling more anxious because when the fog settles in. I look everywhere but at the person who is speaking to me. And I have trouble organizing my thoughts. I end up feeling stupid and worthless because at the foggy point I dont feel like im functioning.

I talked to my t yesterday about this and ended up going through all of the above. Grounding is difficult while all of this is happening. Sometimes my daughter has been with me and has had to speak for me. I know shes helping, but im really annoyed that I am having trouble doing the speaking for myself.

 

[shimmerz]

I end up feeling stupid and worthless

This is an illusion. Don't buy it. Trust that it will pass. You are doing what you can and that is good enough. PTSD feeds off of our shame imho.

 

[theotherside]

I feel the same..very hard but with work hopefully things will get better soon

 

[Friday]

I'm getting really frustrated with my anxiety. I can talk to people online easily enough, but to interact face to face with most people, (even my husbands family) leaves me anxious after a while.

Take a break. If you can get good at timing when stuff starts to come on, you can even get pretty seamless / no one will notice. Be it the bathroom, a drink, walk the dog, fix a contact lens, take a short walk, a smoke, fixing a snack, checking on the kids, going to the store for ice, take some Tylenol/paracetamol... There are 101 reasons to step away before getting overwhelmed. Get your center, and head back. Or plead a headache and go lay down if you put your break off too long and are lost in the fog.