Recognizing Anxiety-Symptoms
Anxiety disorders develop gradually over time. As we all experience some shots of anxiety at one point of our life, it can sometimes be hard to know how much is abnormal. For ones to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, the anxiety must have a disabling impact on the person
@NVTita88
Id feels like your in a box and you cant get out, like your trapped
@helpergirl61
i can relate!
@NVTita88
people usually think that I
@Lavendersubmarine same honestly
@Lavendersubmarine
I got you on this. And most people do not understand it until they actually experience it
For me, crowds are the worst. I
@andiferlux
I react like you do but not with crowds, when I man being judged for any reason like job related or even about little and meaningless stuff.. for me is really triggering.. I had some meltdowns even here in chat rooms .. and I feel awful about it ... I just have such a hard time keeping it under control...
@Lavendersubmarine
And how are u dealing with it at the moment
My anxiety gets to the point where when im home alone at night (which is almost everynight) I feel like I wont be safe and someone will break in or sneek in when i take my dog out 20 times during the night i dont lock the door behind me.
@Compassion21
Why would u not lock the door...
@NVTita88
Because i dont have time for doing that every two hours all night long.
Thank You for posting this
@NVTita88
Thank you for this!
I agree that sometimes it's hard to tell what draws the line between normal and abnormal which can make things pretty difficult.
Anxiety just snuck up to me. It all started with a fear of public speaking, and I just thought I was scared for that (so scared that I had panic attacks but I thought it was kinda normal then, to suffer from panic attacks if you were really scared).
But then the... stuff happened. Like all the people I love and care about went through terrible phases in their lives and I couldn't do a damn thing to help them. And that's when the anxiety came I think. I just couldn't calm down anymore, I was stressed out all the time and sometimes I cried terribly when alone.
I was so ashamed. Like, why did I go crazy while other people around me where suffering?? It didn't make sense! Until I found 7Cups, and the anxiety community. And all of a sudden, things did make sense. And I realized that I deserved to take care of myself too. 
@JayTheBird14
I have the same issue, I feel so helpless and discouraged because I can't help my friends or family when they are going through something really bad. Their problems are really complex and there is not much I can personally do and that really bothers me.
@sincereFig9063
I'm so sorry that you feel the same way. Remember though, that the pain that you feel is just as vaild as the pain the people in your environment are going through. That's what someone on 7Cups told me. It doesn't matter where you pain comes from, it matters that you are hurting. And there is nothing wrong with taking care of yourself. I feel much better now that I have acknowledged that.
And if it counts for anything: I think you are a really beautiful person that you feel so strongly for your loved ones.
My anxiety has gotten worse over the years in that I feel it used to be anxiety over social events or public speaking. Now I feel anxious about anything or nothing. My heart starts racing it can get hard to breathe. And it is hard to see what is normal and what's not. I took an abnormal psychology class last year and we learned that for soemone to be diagnosed with a disorder they have to feel impairment and/or distress. That idea has helped me identify what is abnormal in my mental health.
I start the spring semester in 2 weeks and I now that is going to trigger my anxiety, so I'm trying to prepare for that. If anyone has any tips for starting a new semester please let me know! What I'm anxious about is new people, new professors, driving to school, dealing with parking, having to do an oral presentation in any of my classes, and just being on a campus with lots of people.
@lifegoesondaisy so proud of your accomplishments, try to make an appt with the dr
This thread is SO important.
Guys if you anxiety PLEASE get help. I've had anxiety all my life and now is chronic. Is a living hell... I'm getting help now but is super hard..
So please find help
@Booklover95 I'm glad you're getting help now! Thank you for encouraging others to do the same. There is no shame in asking for what you need 
@Booklover95
@NVTita88
I know I'm anxious as soon as I feel my jaw forced shut with intensity or the feeling or not being able to breath without thinking about breathing. It's weird. Sometimes I shake uncontrolably, mostly when eating in public and I just feel so self conscious that it drains me completely. The thoughts are hard for me to identify and process yet. They are the source of my anxiety and yet, the most insidious thing about it. Usually, when I'm calm again, I take some time to think what set off my symptoms. Sometimes it's in my face, sometimes I can't even figure it out.
