What Does Anxiety Feel Like For You?

[Abstract]

Hi JJh,

Anxiety can have a lot of levels before it gets to panic/anxiety attack. Maybe you will recognise those more. [DLMURL]http://www.helpguide.org/mental/anxiety_types_symptoms_treatment.htm[/DLMURL]

Just being edgy and worrying about every eventually is anxiety too. When I first managed to identify it I realised it was when I was edgy. I moved a lot and wanted to move all the time, even if just my foot tapping. There was tension in my stomach area and by breathing was shallow. It felt like there was restriction around my chest. My muscles are often aching and tight as is my head. I struggle to switch my thoughts off.

Panic attacks are just when the level of the anxiety gets so heigh that we have adrenaline poisoning and hyperventilate and can pass out as well as the other symptoms.

 

[jjh29]

Well I have the constant worrying down pat lol. So if that's anxiety oh then I have that nailed down. Thanks abstract.

 

[roaminggnome]

I go into a full mini fight or flight pattern. I want to run but there's nowhere to run with it. My whole body shakes, my heart races, I forget to breathe, and feel like I'm going to pass out also. I'm learning to breathe through it. This is awful. I feel like this now and it is a constant state. It's a horrible feeling.

 

[Neverthesame]

I have had to put a fair amount of thought into this exact topic as of late.

For me, when I am triggered. I get the shaky, hyperventilation, jumpy, want to run for the hills, incredibly unpleasant memory filling my conscious mind with a more than healthy dose of fear sort of thing.

But what found that really struck home with me lately was after I have sort of grounded myself a bit. I become very angry.

I had never really understood why this was until I had to deal my anger issues. (I also learned, it is not a very good idea to make a job, which is your sole source of income. The place you do exposure therapy...)

My anger I believe, being a very strong active sort of emotion, covers over the rather overwhelming sadness I don't know how to express, or cope with.

Sadly I still have not quite figured out what to do with that aspect of this whole thing. Which has me in the more depressed side of the emotional spectrum.

For now I am back to taking life one day at a time.

Thanks for this thread, always nice when you read something that makes you think.

Cheers,
Chris.

 

[graceandhope1241]

It starts with tightness on the left side of my chest and armpit, swirling nausea, racing thoughts, jittery spasms, crashing waves of sadness and tears, weights on my neck area, folding in half and wanting to curl into the fetal position, grasping for help at the air.

 

[nomedic1]

I generally just get this pressure all over. Then I get hyper vigilant.

 

[Zef]

At the base level, it feels like a growing and growing pressure, I'm responsible for everything. Every time someone speaks to me, it feels like a stinging punch in the middle of my head. . .and then the pressure grows some more.

My head starts to review mistakes I've made, over and over again. Everyone is a threat, everyone has some hidden motivation to take me out.

 

[Bubba]

Mine always starts with shortness of breath. I feel like I just can't breath. After a while of this, I get really tired of it and then intrusive thoughts start in OR I start to get emotional flashbacks and I just can't handle anything. I fight the urge to run and hide in a small space. Sometimes I just close my eyes - because nobody can see me if I close my eyes. I live in my head a lot and I have a problem connecting to the world and people around me.