Aa
Help me please, I don't know what's happening to me!
Hey!
I am from Greece so sorry for my english!
I am 21 years old, female. I have been over-thinking things since I was 3 years old. I've always had fears and obsessions: when I was a child (from 3 to 12 years old) I was afraid that burglars would break into our house at night, I was terrified about dying, I was afraid that my parents wouldn't pick me up from the kindergarten or that they would leave me forever, once I've also suspected that they wanted to poison me, that the devil would kill me, etc. I don't remember any similar fears/obsessions during middle school and high school years, but since the 12th grade I have been tortured by anxiety, hypochondria (which is my main issue -I'm occasionally afraid that I have cancer, hiv, leukemia and mental diseases) and doubts about reality (whether the world we are living in is real, if there is life after death, if I believe that the world is real but I am crazy and the real world is completely different than what I see)...I had been ok for some months but last week, my boyfriend's best friend was diagnosed with schizophrenia and since then I have been wondering all day and night If I have it or if I'm going to have it too! While trying to figure out if I'm sane or not I have recalled some moments of my life where my behavior was kinda weird e.g. many times that something unexpectedly good/weird/not normal happens to my life I question whether it really happened and I need to somehow confirm it...and another one: on our first date with my boyfriend, while we were kissing I was seeing/imagining patterns and colours like i was dreaming/like when you close your eyes after smoking pot (the only logical explanation I can give is that his kisses relaxed me so much that I was in a state between sleep and being awake).
I have discussed some of those issues with my parents but they say I'm perfectly fine, cause everybody makes these thoughts/questions his sanity now and then and especially intelligent people, so it is something completely normal. They also say that people who don't have hobbies and do pretty much nothing in their everyday lives, have plenty of time to think about these things, while others that have more important problems/things to do don't (they are kinda right cause I don't have a hobby or do anything special during the day except going out with friends and boyfriend, eating, sleeping and spending time on the internet) and that the fact that I find some things surreal is a result of me sitting on the computer for hours and I don't live real life. +they believe that I am perfectly sane just because I doubt my sanity (they say that insane people have no idea about their problem and they think that the people around them are crazy and that nothing is wrong about themselves). After that talk I felt better for a few hours, but I couldn't sleep, I woke up in the middle of the night with my heartbeat really fast and today, I woke up feeling mentally worse than yesterday.
What I would like to know is: Are there other people who feel the same way as I do? Is it my anxiety and hypochondria that causes all these questions and fears or do I have indeed a serious problem (in other words: am I having an anxiety breakdown or am I really losing my mind?) ? Do I need to go to a psychologist/psychiatrist or just having a more full everyday life would help to erase those thoughts?
Thank you so much for your time :)
I am from Greece so sorry for my english!
I am 21 years old, female. I have been over-thinking things since I was 3 years old. I've always had fears and obsessions: when I was a child (from 3 to 12 years old) I was afraid that burglars would break into our house at night, I was terrified about dying, I was afraid that my parents wouldn't pick me up from the kindergarten or that they would leave me forever, once I've also suspected that they wanted to poison me, that the devil would kill me, etc. I don't remember any similar fears/obsessions during middle school and high school years, but since the 12th grade I have been tortured by anxiety, hypochondria (which is my main issue -I'm occasionally afraid that I have cancer, hiv, leukemia and mental diseases) and doubts about reality (whether the world we are living in is real, if there is life after death, if I believe that the world is real but I am crazy and the real world is completely different than what I see)...I had been ok for some months but last week, my boyfriend's best friend was diagnosed with schizophrenia and since then I have been wondering all day and night If I have it or if I'm going to have it too! While trying to figure out if I'm sane or not I have recalled some moments of my life where my behavior was kinda weird e.g. many times that something unexpectedly good/weird/not normal happens to my life I question whether it really happened and I need to somehow confirm it...and another one: on our first date with my boyfriend, while we were kissing I was seeing/imagining patterns and colours like i was dreaming/like when you close your eyes after smoking pot (the only logical explanation I can give is that his kisses relaxed me so much that I was in a state between sleep and being awake).
I have discussed some of those issues with my parents but they say I'm perfectly fine, cause everybody makes these thoughts/questions his sanity now and then and especially intelligent people, so it is something completely normal. They also say that people who don't have hobbies and do pretty much nothing in their everyday lives, have plenty of time to think about these things, while others that have more important problems/things to do don't (they are kinda right cause I don't have a hobby or do anything special during the day except going out with friends and boyfriend, eating, sleeping and spending time on the internet) and that the fact that I find some things surreal is a result of me sitting on the computer for hours and I don't live real life. +they believe that I am perfectly sane just because I doubt my sanity (they say that insane people have no idea about their problem and they think that the people around them are crazy and that nothing is wrong about themselves). After that talk I felt better for a few hours, but I couldn't sleep, I woke up in the middle of the night with my heartbeat really fast and today, I woke up feeling mentally worse than yesterday.
What I would like to know is: Are there other people who feel the same way as I do? Is it my anxiety and hypochondria that causes all these questions and fears or do I have indeed a serious problem (in other words: am I having an anxiety breakdown or am I really losing my mind?) ? Do I need to go to a psychologist/psychiatrist or just having a more full everyday life would help to erase those thoughts?
Thank you so much for your time :)
I'm having same problem as yours but mine i have it with my body muscle i dont know how to contract which muscle for example as doing a squat which muscle to squeeze while sitting down and when to breath in and out. How to contract glutes and abs etc.... I even have over train my biceps muscles left hand and had a biceps tears.... my scapula pops out and my elbow is really stiff and tight..... I can't really grasp and master things in my mind. there are too many thoughts wandering.. Since i was 6 years old I was like that.... mind thinking over thinking etc.... I don't really know what to do now with my life.... People even doctors therapist etc cant help won't do anything.... These things just occur in mind and no one can bring any help about it.... sometimes I just sit and stay in reflection for hours. my life is a hell of bad thoughts spiral out of control.... I dont know how to erase these bad thoughts and all people out there are fine living happily and just only people exists and all have indifferent thoughts and manners of thinking..... All will bring different opinions and others non helping solutions because it's all already ****** up in my mind and dont even have courage to suicide because I afraid it even when died it doesn't stop these conscience and thinking and all..... Please i need help but know when I will ask for it will get only ***** answer which won't help in anyways.... I'm not wanted to be like that.... it's all these inners voices and thoughts im tired to deal with since childhood.... Hope one day it will stop.... things changes with time but every time I think why I'm still like that.... all these things the world and people are complex and difficult to understand and i just want to be normal have my muscle mind body posture become perfectly symmetrical and aesthetics.....
I wanted to mention too that your story could have been written by me, I had VERY similar fears, all of my life...like this, I could have written this word for word...
" I was afraid that my parents wouldn't pick me up from the kindergarten or that they would leave me forever, once I've also suspected that they wanted to poison me, that the devil would kill me, etc."
Vacations were a nightmare as a child because I was so afraid of becoming lost and never getting home. I hated sleepovers for the same reason. Amusement parks were awful too. anywhere there was a big crows or an unfamiliar place I was especially anxious, that same fear of getting lost and never finding my way home. I worried my entire school career about missing the bus, even into HS! I too even had the fear one time that my mother had poisoned my soup. Those are called intrusive thoughts, and very common with anxiety. I have panic disorder, btw.
I just wanted you to know that I TOTALLY understand what it's like! We share a lot of the same characteristics. And actually, your age is right around the time most people present with an anxiety disorder (even if they've had problems all their life). I was diagnosed at 18. While I was anxious all of my life, even remember having panic attacks as a child, I had my first whopper of a panic attack at college at 18. I too was TERRIFIED I was going crazy and would have to be locked away in a mental institution. I'm 41 now, and am not crazy (although some of my friends and family may disagree, lol) and not locked away.
You're going to be okay!
" I was afraid that my parents wouldn't pick me up from the kindergarten or that they would leave me forever, once I've also suspected that they wanted to poison me, that the devil would kill me, etc."
Vacations were a nightmare as a child because I was so afraid of becoming lost and never getting home. I hated sleepovers for the same reason. Amusement parks were awful too. anywhere there was a big crows or an unfamiliar place I was especially anxious, that same fear of getting lost and never finding my way home. I worried my entire school career about missing the bus, even into HS! I too even had the fear one time that my mother had poisoned my soup. Those are called intrusive thoughts, and very common with anxiety. I have panic disorder, btw.
I just wanted you to know that I TOTALLY understand what it's like! We share a lot of the same characteristics. And actually, your age is right around the time most people present with an anxiety disorder (even if they've had problems all their life). I was diagnosed at 18. While I was anxious all of my life, even remember having panic attacks as a child, I had my first whopper of a panic attack at college at 18. I too was TERRIFIED I was going crazy and would have to be locked away in a mental institution. I'm 41 now, and am not crazy (although some of my friends and family may disagree, lol) and not locked away.
You're going to be okay!
Yes, IMO you don't have to worry about any psychotic illnesses like Schizophrenia. Anxiety disorders are very common these days and very treatable. It IS important that you seek out professional help because anxiety can be debilitating and most certainly can greatly decrease your quality of life.
I hope you enjoy the rest of your vacation!
I hope you enjoy the rest of your vacation!
**something happened to my computer so i will repost it, sorry:
thank you all for your concern and time :D it is really important to see that people who don't know you care for you. It gives hope that good people still exist!!
i had another extensive and tearful conversation with my parents and things look definitely more clear now! i am 1000 times calmer!! i explained all my problems to them and they soothed my anxiety. they told me that this is the most brutal "panic attack" i have ever had about any other illness and that is because my boyfriend is very sad and we are talking about his friend all the time. and i agree with them...it makes me worse and it is what made my doubts come out.
i also talked on the phone with a counselor (because i am on vacation on a small island of greece where even a general doctor is a BIG privilege -he comes here once a month) and she told me that i will definitely not get schizophrenia from what i've described to her but i need to visit a professional to find the roots of my anxiety, fears and phobias so that i will appreciate life more!
i am also very glad that neither you who read my post nor the counselor mentioned that i need to visit the psychologist and that i have a serious problem, but you all pointed anxiety as the main problem...it's not good that i have it, but it's good to be sure that i am sane!
thank you all for your support! i will update after i visit the psychologist :)
good luck to you all, i hope your problems are solved soon!!
thank you all for your concern and time :D it is really important to see that people who don't know you care for you. It gives hope that good people still exist!!
i had another extensive and tearful conversation with my parents and things look definitely more clear now! i am 1000 times calmer!! i explained all my problems to them and they soothed my anxiety. they told me that this is the most brutal "panic attack" i have ever had about any other illness and that is because my boyfriend is very sad and we are talking about his friend all the time. and i agree with them...it makes me worse and it is what made my doubts come out.
i also talked on the phone with a counselor (because i am on vacation on a small island of greece where even a general doctor is a BIG privilege -he comes here once a month) and she told me that i will definitely not get schizophrenia from what i've described to her but i need to visit a professional to find the roots of my anxiety, fears and phobias so that i will appreciate life more!
i am also very glad that neither you who read my post nor the counselor mentioned that i need to visit the psychologist and that i have a serious problem, but you all pointed anxiety as the main problem...it's not good that i have it, but it's good to be sure that i am sane!
thank you all for your support! i will update after i visit the psychologist :)
good luck to you all, i hope your problems are solved soon!!
thank you all for your concern and time :D it is really important to see that people who don't know you care for you. It gives hope that good people still exist!!
i had another extensive and tearful conversation with my parents and things look definitely more clear now! i am 1000 times calmer!! i explained all my problems to them and they soothed my anxiety. they told me that this is the most brutal "panic attack" i have ever had about any other illness and that is because my boyfriend is very sad and we are talking about his friend all the time. and i agree with them...it makes me worse and it is what made my doubts come out. i also talked on the phone with a counsellor (because i am on vacation on a small island of greece where even a general doctor is a BIG privilege -he comes here once a month) and she told me that i will
i had another extensive and tearful conversation with my parents and things look definitely more clear now! i am 1000 times calmer!! i explained all my problems to them and they soothed my anxiety. they told me that this is the most brutal "panic attack" i have ever had about any other illness and that is because my boyfriend is very sad and we are talking about his friend all the time. and i agree with them...it makes me worse and it is what made my doubts come out. i also talked on the phone with a counsellor (because i am on vacation on a small island of greece where even a general doctor is a BIG privilege -he comes here once a month) and she told me that i will
Hello there! Sorry you are having such troubles! I'm glad you've reached out for some help here.
Of course, I'm not able to say with any certainty what you're contending with, being that this is the internet and I am not a doctor, but it sounds an awful lot like OCD in my opinion. That or something like panic disorder (which I have, and our stories are similar).
Obsessive compulsive disorder is a mental illness (anxiety disorder) that centers around certain intrusive thoughts or obsessions. Those thoughts often vary a bit, a person with OCD will become fixated on one fear, then move to another.
MOST people with OCD will also have compulsions. Compulsions are certain behaviors meant to help quell the fear they're focused on. Someone with OCD centering around germs may wash their hands 200 times a day. A person who fears fire or some kind of disaster may check the stove over and over, lock and re-lock their doors. There is another form of OCD, called "pure O" that involves just the intrusive thoughts without the compulsions.
There are also other anxiety disorders that could explain what you're dealing with.
I would strongly recommend seeking an evaluation with a well trained mental health professional (preferably a psychiatrist). He/she can thoroughly assess you and offer an accurate diagnosis. Then, they can start working with you to formulate a treatment plan. There are many treatment modalities appropriate for anxiety.
While hormones certainly affect us emotionally, it seems you've been struggling with anxiety since you were a toddler, so I wouldn't say that is the CAUSE but maybe more a contributing factor. IMO, the length of time you've experienced this indicates a more chronic problem, and is something I would definitely recommend addressing with a professional. You don't have to go on living in fear like you have. There ARE lots of ways address and treat anxiety.
I understand that your parents seem to think you don't need to seek help, but I think it would be a good idea. You're of legal age, you shouldn't need your parent's permission, so I would recommend getting the ball rolling. Your PCP can help you with a referral.
Very best to you, I hope you get some answers soon, please update us okay?
Of course, I'm not able to say with any certainty what you're contending with, being that this is the internet and I am not a doctor, but it sounds an awful lot like OCD in my opinion. That or something like panic disorder (which I have, and our stories are similar).
Obsessive compulsive disorder is a mental illness (anxiety disorder) that centers around certain intrusive thoughts or obsessions. Those thoughts often vary a bit, a person with OCD will become fixated on one fear, then move to another.
MOST people with OCD will also have compulsions. Compulsions are certain behaviors meant to help quell the fear they're focused on. Someone with OCD centering around germs may wash their hands 200 times a day. A person who fears fire or some kind of disaster may check the stove over and over, lock and re-lock their doors. There is another form of OCD, called "pure O" that involves just the intrusive thoughts without the compulsions.
There are also other anxiety disorders that could explain what you're dealing with.
I would strongly recommend seeking an evaluation with a well trained mental health professional (preferably a psychiatrist). He/she can thoroughly assess you and offer an accurate diagnosis. Then, they can start working with you to formulate a treatment plan. There are many treatment modalities appropriate for anxiety.
While hormones certainly affect us emotionally, it seems you've been struggling with anxiety since you were a toddler, so I wouldn't say that is the CAUSE but maybe more a contributing factor. IMO, the length of time you've experienced this indicates a more chronic problem, and is something I would definitely recommend addressing with a professional. You don't have to go on living in fear like you have. There ARE lots of ways address and treat anxiety.
I understand that your parents seem to think you don't need to seek help, but I think it would be a good idea. You're of legal age, you shouldn't need your parent's permission, so I would recommend getting the ball rolling. Your PCP can help you with a referral.
Very best to you, I hope you get some answers soon, please update us okay?
Hi(: My name is ashlee! I am going kind of thru the same thing. I have horrible anxiety and It can be crippling anxiety makes you think bad things and it makes you think things are much worse than they are. dream like state you are feeling is called Depersonalization and or Derealization. I feel that way alot And it is scary and uncomfortable! I hate it it makes me have anxiety attacks and I am constanly thinking about it waiting for it to stop Its been happening for 1 month on and off. Ive read up on it people get it alot with anxiety! and they say once your anxiety is under control that feeling will go away! I hope so! I still have mine, I actually am at work now and feeling it! Like bluCrystal said it could be hormonal mine is they started me on Birth control and it was gotten better but not completely better. I have also thought crazy things all through my childhood. and I am a huge hypocondriac well not so much now. I have lost some emotion due to this stress and anxiety but you will feel better. Just go get some blood work done it could very well be a hormonal balance I have PCOS! good luck I am here if you ever need to talk just try to stop stressing out I know ITS HARD but at least try and stop thinking about it best as you can! good luck blessings to you!(: Ashbug<3
Hello, Terina. People at your age go through some pretty rough adjustments to hormonal changes during puberty. These changes can make you feel like you're abnormal somehow. If you were having a real breakdown, you would not be on the computer. You would be in the hospital. But finding a pediatric counselor might help you, so you can talk things out with someone who is not involved with your life, and can see it from an outside perspective. Blessings - Blu
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Anxiety Community
Find out what can trigger a panic attack – and what to do if you have one.
A guide to 10 common phobias.
Take control of tension today.
These simple pick-me-ups squash stress.
Don’t let the winter chill send your smile into deep hibernation. Try these 10 mood-boosting tips to get your happy back
Want to wake up rested and refreshed?
