Does Anyone Else Mask Their Anxiety?

[dreesieblues]

I have this same thing too. People always, tell me I have such a "calming presence", and I...

Yes! Apparently I appear to be extremely calm and relaxed, but in all actuality I feel like I am about to faint, seizure, diarrhea, God knows what! My imagination plays a chaotic scene of foaming at the mouth and Emergency responders, all while I am just standing there, smiling and nodding. It is somewhat of a comfort knowing that how I feel on the inside, is not all how it looks on the outside. I also get the separation anxiety you experience. I now, miraculously, am living alone, but if I feel that a friend or family member is not a phone call, or short drive away, I go into complete melt downs. I am also learning from family members that this has been a problem of mine since I was young, which I was not aware of. Something else I’ll have to figure out in therapy! I too have been seeing a cardiologist for palpitations. They tend to come on with hormonal fluctuations and food allergies, but doctors automatically assume they are stress and anxiety related. I would be cautious with the diazepam though! I was taking it for a short time while weening off of another medication that sent me into panic attacks, and grew dependent on a small amount. That little bit, for that short of time, sent my body and mind through the worst hell I could ever have imagined. The anxiety and depression was severe, and entirely uncontrollable. It will be a difficult time adjusting without diazepam, but it’s not something a person should take for years.

 

[Kolten]

I felt exactly like this yesterday. I had severe anxiety and it started when I woke up and I had a T appt in the midst of it. She asked how high my anxiety was because I am imagining she could sense it and knows me well enuf to know when i have it and when i don't. She helped by talking to me and to boot I was doing exposure therapy so i imagine that was causing me issues knowing that I was going at all. That type of therapy is hard. Anyway if i was u I would tell him because he can help u work thru it and get the level down. Talking to people helps me. Knowing I'm not alone. I say keep doing that as well. Don't stop talking on here at least and maybe a friend or family member u could confide in and talk to? Good luck :)

 

[8888]

I sometimes hold back panic attacks. For me talking about anxiety with a therapist has been helpful. Anxiety is not something to be ashamed of.