Share with others--Anxiety

BePositive-Amy · Post by **BePositive-Amy** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 1:18 pm

I just want to throw a topic to discuss. I am curious any of you have share with other people like friends or stranger or boss or anyone outside of this forum about having anxiety? What was it like for you? Benefit for you to share with others? Bad experience or good experience? Was it easy for you to share?

Since I know sometimes it can be benefit to share with others never know you could discover someone you know had same experience. But at the same time it can be scared by what they would think about you or stay away from you or whatever...

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 2:27 pm

for me it was pretty obvious to my bosses (I think) that I was having a major meltdown. I just came off a major high stress project and got hit with a series of high stress assignments and promotions. I literally crashed and burned and had to tell my bosses (I was reporting to three different senior managers at the time) that " I had hit the wall" and wouldn't be taking any of the assignements or jobs. I still didnt realize that I was suffering from anxiety and depression, all I could focus on was my physical symptoms, severe stomach pain, insomnia, headaches etc. This was back in December/January. Last week I told my new boss in the course of a discussion around my new job that I was suffering from anxiety and that it was seriously affecting my performance and attendance. This was a key negative thought for me that I would get fired because of this problem so I decided to stop worrying about it and put it on the table. She was surprised but sympathetic and helpful, not sure everyones boss would react the same way. I used to worry about looking weak or crazy but quite frankly I am prepared to do just about anything to get control of this problem and I have been very surprised that when I share my problem with people I find that many of them have it as bad. Kind of an epidemic I think.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 8:51 am

Thanks James for sharing your experience.. Glad your boss was very understanding.. Its relief

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 9:29 am

What a great question. I can't wait to read more responses. I haven't really talked to anyone except my husband and two children because they are the ones directly effected everyday. I have wondered about telling certain friends and I just figure when the time is right it will come out.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 9:29 am

Yes, I've shared. As I worked thru the program, I wanted to share with others some of the reason for my seemingly short response behavior. They hadn't even noticed!!!! But I did tell them that I had started with panic attacks several years ago and it's been something that had gotten worse. I mentioned I was working on it with the Attacking Anxiety program and that usually opened the door for a huge conversation about how it had happened to them! I did not necessarily share with everyone--just those that I felt comfortable with. I told my dentist that I got very anxious in the chair, etc and had broken appt. because of the anxiety.

Just telling people is liberating because it helps minimize the panic. Many people have it--they just don't talk about it because they think they are the only one. And if someone treats your wierd after you told them, then it's an issue with them--not you.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 10:09 am

Everyone in my life that needs to know, KNOWS, lol. I'm not embarrassed about it as much as I am private about my business. So, obviously hubby knows & our family & my close friends= my inner circle, & drs/dentists, etc.

EX: I went to the dentist several mths ago, after not shamefully having gone for 3 yrs. I explained my absence to our dentist. He took xrays & more xrays - fr every angle, lol. He needed to give me a few needles to numb me so he could work. He did what he had to. When all the work was finished that day, he goes "so, the anxiety med is helping you - thats good Lenore. You were the calmest you've ever been in all the yrs coming here". <span class="ev_code_RED">I happily replied, "no, I'm not on any meds - don't need to be. I just did some personal work so I don't have to." </span> lol, that man was dumbfounded - he didn't know what to say, other than as he was walking away "oh, no drugs wow, oh no drugs, wow" hahahah

LENORE

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 10:28 am

Ironically enough, for those of my family members who I've shared my panic info with, they don't ever talk about it because of their own anxiety issues- so not a lot of support on my side. However, my hubby's side has been extremely supportive and understanding and have been there to help me out. My best friend for many years suffers from depression and when I told her last fall, she was just super supportive and then she cracked open all about her deal- so we have talked with eachother about a lot of things. I've told a couple others, but that's it and being a stay at home Mom, I don't see a whole lot of people. Anyone that I've told that I don't necessarily know but I've had to tell them, like ER doctors and nurses and the like have been extremely supportive, much more so than lets say the psychologists I have seen. It's kinda weird, but anyone I can tell, I feel a weight off- you know?

Dixie1980x · Post by **Dixie1980x** » Sun Jun 08, 2008 4:49 am

It's something that I end up sharing with most poeple who are close to me in my life I was dignosed with PTSD when I was younger and severe anxiety is just one of the effects I have gotten... Although it can be really tuff exspecially when it comes to trying to exsplain to people like boses that have no idea what you are going through and think it's just a way to avoid work on days to the ones like my ex-husband who think it's all in your head. But I also have a very supportive group of friends and family that stand behind me. I've also learned that it can cause problems by not letting friends know! I ended up staying at one of my military friends houses one night and at about 4 in the morning when my meds started to come down i started shacking badly in my sleep. Well they're used to seeing this b/c of soldiers having shell shock and woke me up freaking out b/c they were so scared for me. For the most being honest with poeple and letting them know has been a good stepping stone to me getting better!! Best of wishes to all of you!!