Boards
School’s a source for anxiety of all types – it’s hard to concentrate on already-difficult work if people are gossiping. | Source: Shutterstock
Anxiety can be felt both emotionally and physically. Some of us say it feels like butterflies in our stomachs. some of us get sweaty palms, feel our hearts pounding, our fingers tremble, we can’t sit still, we even want to cry or yell. Generally, we have the anxiety for a short period of time, and although it’s annoying, we get through it and move on–it’s a normal part of life. But sometimes anxiety isn’t such a small thing.
Facts about anxiety:
* Symptoms of anxiety that are beyond what the typical person experiences can include: constantly feeling anxious for no reason, worrying about everyday things, panic to a degree where you can’t get through normal events (like a test, completing homework, or even a peaceful family dinner), or a general feeling of doom.
* When anxiety gets to a really high point, some people get panic attacks, which is a situation in which anxiety becomes so overwhelming that it temporarily, and completely, takes control. Panic attacks can be really scary, so much so that some people who experience them become afraid to go out, period. It’s most common to begin experiencing panic attacks between the ages of 15-19.
* Girls are twice as likely to experience anxiety than boys. Studies show it may be because of cultural stressors like body image and the expectation to people-please. One study revealed that of high school seniors, nearly 4 out of 10 girls (compared to fewer than 2 in 10 boys) reported being “frequently overwhelmed.” Among college students seeking mental health services on campus, 60 percent are female.
* Most of us experience social anxiety at some point – like going to a party where you barely know anyone and feel shy or awkward – but some people are so fearful of doing something embarrassing in front of others that they aren’t comfortable in public or with strangers, period. This is called Social Anxiety Disorder, and can isolate people with it because they feel too self-conscious to interact.
* Sometimes anxiety affects our bodies as well as our minds. Common physical problems stemming from anxiety include chest pain, headaches, tiredness, tight muscles, stomachaches, or vomiting. Using drugs, alcohol, or tobacco can worsen this.
* While short-term anxiety can be caused by everyday events like homework or an upcoming date, some people suffer from long-term anxiety caused by trauma in their past, like an assault, a natural disaster, or having someone important die. This anxiety, called Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, can last years if not dealt with.
Supportive friends can make an enormous difference in lessening anxiety. | Source: Shutterstock
* If you think you might have a serious problem with anxiety, TELL SOMEONE. A parent or other relative, teacher, coach, or religious figure may be able to help. See a doctor to check if the anxiety may be related to a health problem, and make sure you’re eating healthily and getting enough sleep. If using relaxation skills like the ones above don’t help, consider talking to a therapist who specializes in anxiety.
Do you ever have anxiety? When do you feel most anxious, and what do you do to calm yourself down? Tell me in the comments!
Can You Trust Him?
I completely agree anxiety sucks. I have a really hard time at school and get togethers. I either bite my nails or my leg bounces faster thumper’s after drinking a ton of caffeine. I really do like people and i want to have a good relationship someday but I cant bring myself to speak up and I feel really faint if I don’t get out of the room quickly become distracted. My social life is suffering and I want to stop myself from going into a really dark area of life agan after working so hard to get better :/
I had anxiety in 2nd-6th grade. People would tease me about it and my own mom would call me “psyco” sometimes. Eventually, the teasing became so bad that my parents made me change schools without even a say in what school it was. (If I have to change schools, I should choose which one.) Also, my doctor signed me up 4 therapy, or counseling, as my family refers 2 it as. After a year of therapy, I finally feel like I have a better control over my emotions, and I’ve made all new friends at my new school, while keeping the one friend from my last school my mom approved of. My life has been so much easier.
Anxiety?Talk about it.Lived with anxiety for a pretty long time now,it got worse during the time I was diagnosed with diabetes in the summer.When I go out to places,I hate seeing someone out of the blue and tend to get out as quick as possible.However,Im doing a lot better now…haven’t been anxious in a while except for when I have upcoming tests or for some valid reason .
I’m currently suffering from anxiety. It sucks that being only 16 my whole entire life is practically on hold right now. I’m missing the exciting years of being a teen, and yet knowing this, I can’t seem to change it.
It got really bad once I hit puberty and every year since it progressed until now. I can hardly believe the simple things I could do last year that cause me to freak out now. I rarely leave the house, I obsess about how much food I consume, I sometimes get anxious even talking online and I took up home schooling when going to public school became too stressful and terrifying. I have completely lost contact with every single friend I had, moved thirty minutes away from them all and practically wiped myself off the face of the earth.
For awhile I’d sneak onto my Facebook to see what my old friends were doing and sometimes a message like, “Hey! Miss you. How have you been at your new place?” would be left on my wall. But eventually even those stopped.
It makes me sad that I do this to myself yet I don’t know a way out. Despite my therapist, youth worker who works with me by taking my out and testing my limits and even my clinician, I feel as though I’m not really making progress. In the last three years my anxiety has completely taken over my life.
It’s shattering to hear some of my unsupportive family members (Including my father) accuse me of doing this for some form of attention, or as a way to act out. I’d think someone looking for some sort of attention would make sure they had people around to see their act-outs, not shut themselves in their room for three years with no contact of peers or anyone outside their family and support-group.
I just hope that before I’m done highschool I’m in a better place so that I’m mentally and emotionally able to go onto college like I’ve always planned. I want to be a healthy adult and be able to have friends again, go outside just to go and even explore in relationships.
It felt good writing this out. I’m proud of myself for even doing this.
I have social anxiety. I can be in a store and be alright, but then I can almost feel like I look anxious. My face looks grim, and sometimes it even scares kids.
It gets harder to breath because of tensed chest muscles and I’m miserable. I never really knew what started my anxiety, but it sucks. I feel like I’m not safe in public anymore.
Ugh I know how anxiety feels. But during summer I just say in my room 24/7 by myself and it’s the best thing ever. I don’t actually know if i have it o.O but it feels like it x_x
I have really bad anxiety. Around family, when im home alone, if im going to go hang out with a friend. All the time. I shake, sometimes hyperventilate, and i sweat a lot. One time i hid behind the fridge for hours because family came over. And i was thinking out loud one time and my friend said i was over reacting. It hurt.