Stress Center Peer Support

Is it normal to have some douts at the start of the program? It's just that I have been suffering from anxiety disorder for a little over 5 years now. I'm 17 years old and soon have to decide what I have planned for my future but all I see is nothing, no future at all since I can barley leave my house without feeling like I am going to pass out from the dizziness. I am really putting all my faith into this program because its pretty much a do or die situation. I need to get rid of this fast or else I can never do what I want in life... get a job, get married and so on. I know this has helped many but have any of you had it like me where if you go into a store you get so dizzy you start seeing the whole place tilting and moving and you have to run pretty much with your eyes closed to get to your car? I am trying my best to face it and try to suck it up but certain situations I have no choice but to run. Example: In a few days I am starting my semester two of my last year in high school, now my first semester was probably the best semester I had throughout the whole 4 years of high school but semester two I have math up on the top floor (Third floor) and that is so difficult for me it makes the attacks even worse and when it does come to the point of running away from it I have to get all the way to the first floor feeling dizzy as hell.(Sorry for the language) I'm just not sure what to do I know ill continue the program and finish it but as for know how can I deal with it now to make it a bit easier?

Thanks you a lot for your time

Ricky
Walk up to that third floor and speak to the floor (literally) and let it know that you own it.
Your the one in control, don't let it control you.

Thanks, ill give it a try.

Hey ricky!

I want to let you know that even if this program doesnt help you, its definitely not do or die. Anxiety is not something that can't be cured. You have the strength I promise you. No matter how unique or how severe you think your anxiety is, it can be cured. Pretty much everyone with anxiety at one point feels like they are the worst case ever. The key is anxiety only has so many symptoms, it cant really get "worse" once you have experienced these symptoms. You arent going to go crazy, you arent going to die, you arent going to faint.

Let me point something else out. First off, I want you to know that personally I am still struggling from anxiety but I definitely am on recovery road, slowly but surely making progress. So anyways I know this point may be INCREDIBLY hard to really grasp, especially when its something you really do have trouble with. But you are scared of the third floor right? So when your mind makes you "run" to the first floor, you feel safe and begin to snap out of the anxiety. But what really changed? You didnt turn off a switch, you didnt go to a place with more oxygen or something unrealistic. You just convinced your mind that it is safer on the first floor. Your mind has been conditioned to percieve some non-existant danger of the third floor. You can break that habit, it just takes exposure, time, and acceptance. By exposure I mean doing it anyway, by time i mean be persistant and by acceptance I mean just accept the feelings, they CANNOT HURT YOU.

As far as being worried about not being able to get married, go to college etc. Dont worry about that right now. Living in the future causes a lot of anxiety for ANYONE. Focus on living each day and accomplishing your goals on a day to day basis. I'm not saying "screw thinking about college", I am 21 and I am graduating college this year, its hugely important. But I remember being a senior in high school and thinking omg what am I gunna do with my life! And now 4 years later, I am a Web/Graphic Designer and I love it! I NEVER HAD THE SLIGHTEST CLUE THAT THIS IS WHAT I WOULD BE DOING WITH MY LIFE. So just take it easy on yourself man, slow down! You are 17! Not 71! You have plenty of time to figure things out.

As one intelligent man once said, We cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over our heads, but we can prevent them from building nests in our hair.

----Bret

Hey thanks a lot it really meant a lot to me what you said, I am trying to expose myself to it as much as possible but I also found going into stores are easier for me to handle then school since school is a place I have had a lot of trauma. I am so happy for you that you are graduating and being a web/graphic designer. All the best to you and I hope we can chat some more

Thank you Ricky! I'm glad I could be of some help! Shoot me a Private Message if you have a question and ill do my best to reply as soon as I can. Im really swamped with projects and side projects and managing my own anxiety, but DO NOT feel like you would be bothering me by PM'ing me.

God Bless and Keep It Real Bud

-Bret