A "real" anxiety problem? Please help me.

[shrinkingviolet]

I am becoming more and more aware that mentally there is something "wrong" with me.

I have always been shy, enjoy being more isolated, and have startled easily and have had many irrational fears and behaviors.

For instance,
Upon entering any building I have a process. First, I must identify three things immediately: an exit, a bathroom, and a place to hide in case of an emergency.

I cannot look anyone in the eye. And standing or sitting up straight causes me to panic.

When I am under stress, I urinate at least once every hour.

My eating pattern is what worries me most. I will go weeks without eating hardly anything, then I will go through weeks gorging on everything.

Sometimes I can get extremely irritable.

I also "space out." Sometimes for several minutes at a time. I can sit and tell myself in my head "Finish doing what you're doing, you're just sitting here spacing out." But I just continue sitting, or standing, and staring into space. My body won't respond.

I get dizzy and faint throughout the day. Sometimes I wake up in cold sweats.

My stomach is constantly upset.

Someone please suggest something.

My stomach problems have been so bad over the years that I am always going to a doctor for the problem. But I am scared to bring up the anxiety problem until I think someone else things this is my problem.

[The Morrigan]

Hi there, I'm sorry you're feeling so anxious and I understand that you're scared to bring this up with someone but I think if your anxiety is this bad talking to a doctor my be the best option for you.

Also, I'm going to move this to the anxiety forum since I feel you'll get better replies there, take care.

[Madeleine.Claire]

I do think that it sounds like anxiety. The eating thing worries me a lot, because I know how anxiety can make you either undereat or overeat.

There are a lot of things that could probably help you here, medication would be one because if it is anxiety (which it sounds like) then it could help to make your eating more normal and help you're stress in public places or entering a new place.

I'm not a doctor obviously, this is all from what I've experienced.

Good luck and if you wanna talk you can PM me anytime.

<3

[bayhorse321]

I have everything you mentioned up there exactly down to the last word. Nice to know I am not alone. I was told it was anxiety but it was by a friend not a doctor so I guess it's not much help... sorry

[bayhorse321]

Sorry also forgot to mention that I can't sleep like at all barely... Do you feel like this too?

[shrinkingviolet]

The only problem I seem to have in regards to sleeping is my fear of the dark and what could be hiding in my closet or under my bed.

I feel like a child. I lay there so scared that a hand is going to come out from under my bed and grab me. because of this, I sleep right next to the wall with my dog laying on the other side of me.

Also, like I mentioned above, I sometimes wake up due to cold sweats.

I just feel like if I bring this up with a professional that I'm not going to be able to voice how severe this really is, and they won't take me seriously.

Also, can I go to my medical doctor for this? Or do I need to go to a psychiatrist?

[Madeleine.Claire]

You can go to your medical doctor to get prescribed medication.

If you would rather go talk to a professional then that would be good too. I don't know how old you are..so I'm not sure if you'll have to talk to your parents about this or not?

I think if you try your best to explain to a professional what this is like for you, they will be able to help you, and they will always take you seriously.

<3

[shrinkingviolet]

I am 19. I've had this problem for as long as I can remember.

Without going into big details, I wasn't born into the most promising family. The short story is, physically abusive dad and a grandmother that loved to tell me how much she loathed me.

I never thought about how it affected me as a child, but I can see now that it does have a lot to do with my anxiety.

But I live with my mom, and she has a severe dislike of psychologists which is why I'm scared to have this problem.

[Madeleine.Claire]

Oh I'm sorry...

You could tell her that you'd just like to go to a regular doctor, you could tell him how you've felt and see what he thinks. Sometimes they will say they would think it best to go talk to someone on a regular basis and he'll probably tell you if he/she thinks medication would be good too.

<3

[shrinkingviolet]

Thank you for your help!