Anxiety Success

That's great @KfindingSpeaceK! And always keep that in mind now whenever you have phone conversations... you've done it once, it went really well, you can do it again.

I had a similar problem and have also suffered from social anxiety in the past as I used to be bullied at school. Since my first panic attack in front of my classmates at school 7 years ago, when I had a speaking and listening test to do (where you have to read three pages of your written work to the class) I have always struggled to do any presentations or anything in front of people and my anxiety has left me scared to meet new people. In the last couple of years that has completely changed. I have become more confident, speak confidently in front of people which is a massive improvement from the panic attacks I would have upon hearing 'In 7 weeks, you are going to have to do a 15 minute presentation in front of the class about a particular topic'.

I once used to have this job that was good enough, I was earning a bit of money etc. Anyways, my boss was horrible to me; always expecting me to do a whole days work in a 3 hour shift. When I didn't complete all the work she wanted me too, she would go off at me. One night when I was folding clothes (department store) so it was neat and perfect, I realised that I had barely done anything she asked me to. I got so stressed and anxious, and ended up having my first panic attack on the floor next to a pile of messy clothes. I was shaking and actually cried a little bit - but the worst part was the hyperventilating. It was my first one so I didn't know what to do or what was even going on, I thought I was dying. Anyways, one day my grandpa passed away and I had to go to his funeral. I put in a form to get time off work - my boss approved. So I went and everything was all good. But as I came back home, there was a letter for me saying that if I didn't explain why I wasn't at work then I was taking my employment into their hands. I knew from this moment on, that I couldn't deal with my boss or the shops working atmosphere. So I quickly wrote a letter of resignation. I wanted to just post it to the shop, but my Dad made me take it in and see her. So I did. I said I was quitting immediately. That was June 2014 and is haven't even stepped foot back in the shop since. My mum was so angry that I quit, saying how that job would have allowed me to transfer to a different store in a different city when I moved. No matter how hard I tried to explain that I was extremely unhappy there, she didn't get it. So basically, I overcame my anxiety to actually quit. I had to tell her face to face that I was quitting - the lady who basically mentally abused me through work load. The feeling of relief afterwards was indescribable; pretty sure I slept for basically all of the next day! PS: Sorry for writing so much, I get carried away ahah..

Sometime last year I was incredibly anxious about breaking up with my first boyfriend. It ended up being a very emotionally abusive relationship and I was terrified of being alone, which is why it took me a long while to actually break up with him since we had been together for almost four years. it caused me so much anxiety and fear, but when I eventually did break up with him, I was so relieved, free from his manipulations and complaints that I needed to change things about myself, condition myself for him. It was a big achievement for me.

I'm so proud of all of you, these are great achievements and things to be proud of you. You've overcome fears to do something you need to do.

Aww that is so great!! I am so happy to hear that <3

Today I went to the library and read for a while, then wandered around the shops, and went to a busy little cafe for lunch by myself. It might just sound like a normal day, but last year I couldn't even leave the house because my anxiety was so bad, I would never have been able to do everything I did today, especially not alone. It's an amazing feeling to realise that I'm slowly conquering the anxiety that's held me back for so long! :)

A couple months ago I had such bad social anxiety that I began to think others treated me different, I started to shut down, withdrawl, and even get panic attacks around my family. Today I can now have a conversation with my family without a panic attack, and I'm not afraid of being myself anymore. I still get a little anxious & bit quiet but I'm working on that. I can finally make a phone call without without feeling like I'm dying. And I can finally go to stores, or any public place without horrible anxiety attacks.