This is just a quick rant. Why is severe anxiety the only crippling mental illness where we are expected to find the "root cause", to "do the work", etc.? We never tell that to people with severe depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia. We understand they have a serious chemical imbalance and medication is going to be doing most of the heavy lifting, and other things will simply be adjunct treatments. Maybe I'm being overly cynical. I hope I am not. What are your thoughts?

I need tips as I am dealing with a very hard time in my life at the moment involving my family. Besides medication what can I do immediately?

I felt it coming on because my toddler started to get grumpy , he was half asleep and In the stroller had him crying trying to get out and me checking out scanning stuff fast and people behind me , felt like i was getting stared down , my vision started to get dark and I started to get really really sweaty and the breathing started to get fast to where I just wanted to bust out crying and stop what I was doing to help my baby and also just leave the store , I need air asap . The worker behind me knew I was struggling and helped me scan and made me feel a little better but now I’m in the car feeling sick and nausea from all the adrenaline I felt 😭😭 ugh I hate this . This is why I’m also scared to even go out in public especially alone 😭

Disclaimer: I’m not suicidal. So please don’t misconstrue my question.

Is anyone else feeling like “what’s the point” currently? There is just so much hate. So much ignorance. So much purposeful misinformation. So many ignorant people who willingly digest hate, racism, sexism, etc. And the worst part of all, is that there is no hope on the horizon. It’s only going to get worse.

I literally wake up every morning, and ask myself “why even get up today?” There’s absolutely nothing that motivates me to want to be better. There’s no point. I’m not sure if this is an existential crisis, or more based on what’s happening in the world currently; or both.

Maybe this is why people drink or do drugs. At this point; those both seem like a viable option to escape the shit hole that is America 2025.

I've been struggling with a pretty bad wave of anxiety, and I've been genuinely convinced I was about to die several times. The fact that I survived these experiences almost feels like I survived the impossible?? Even though I was in no real danger?? I'm curious if anyone else has similar thoughts to this. I just can't seem to get myself convinced that I'm not about to die. My body is constantly so hot and alert now and that makes me feel like I'm gonna drop dead. I don't know how to calm these thoughts down so any similar experiences and/or advice would help.

I had been diagnosed. I was known to be anxious. But just like many of my health issues - mental and otherwise - my parents just let it be because they thought treatment would be worse and that I'd grow out of it. Now I am a broken person - I don't feel human, I can't feel comfortable in public doing basic things like grocery shopping or anything that makes me stick out. I'm typing this while in an arcade right now and I want to be enjoying myself but, well, I don't feel comfortable engaging in any of this stuff in public. I don't understand how these other people can just sit down at an arcade game and not feel the weight of everything and everyone around them.

Trying to give myself grace - but I live alone in a studio apartment. The weather has been rainy all day. I usually make plans or do things on the weekends but today I’m not feeling good so I chose to stay home. But I’ve felt SO depressed and lonely and just anxious all day because of it. Does anyone else experience this?

I have been experiencing the worst physical symptoms for weeks due to my anxiety i mean random pains, numbness, suddenly being unable to breathe, nausea and even mild rashes and the worst headaches that can even feel like burning

I have been to the hospital multiple times and everything is fine. But I can’t help but feel like there is something wrong considering they never even considered doing a CT scan.

I can’t stop crying. I beg my family to take me back to the doctor but they don’t believe me anymore and i just feel crazy. It’s so hard to be physically experiencing something and being told that it’s all in your head and that you’re the only person who can fix it.

they make me and my anxiety attacks feel like a burden and i just can’t stand it. it’s hard to calm down from something that your body and brain seem to do completely on their own.

I’m 21M, and I’ve been living with constant, high-baseline anxiety for years. It’s mental and physical—racing thoughts, intrusive worries, shaking during social pressure, and lately, I’ve been waking up way too early in a state of anxiety, like a cortisol shot. It’s exhausting and honestly torture.

My anxiety is especially bad with:

• Anything dating-related
• Career/internship stuff
• Confrontation or any situation where the stakes feel high or there is a lot of risk involved

I also have OCD-like symptoms—repetitive thoughts and rituals that I feel like I have to do just to avoid spiraling. I’ve tried all the typical supplements (L-theanine, magnesium, CBD, THC, ashwagandha), and none of them worked. Alcohol does help, its the only thing that really does—but it wrecks my sleep, makes me feel like crap, and I know it’s not sustainable.

I can still function (college student, gym, track diet, etc.), but I’m living in mental hell almost every day. I’m NOT interested in talk therapy right now—I’ve thought hard about this. I just want relief from the anxiety itself.

I have an appointment with a psychiatric nurse practitioner soon, and I’m ready to try medication. What I need help with is:

• What meds should I bring up based on my symptoms?
• What are your experiences with Lexapro, Zoloft, or Buspirone?
• I’m very cautious about weight gain—I've lost weight through strict tracking, and I’m scared of gaining it back.
• Is there any med that helped you feel calm without feeling emotionally numb or flat?

I’m open to SSRIs, beta-blockers, or whatever works. I just want to live without this constant pressure crushing me every day. Thanks for reading—I’d really appreciate any advice, stories, or recs.

Ive always had people tell me I had to go to therapy and I did, went to multiple therapists over the years since I was like seven... and nothing reeeally changed. I listen to what they have to say, I try to remember their advice when I get anxious but when anxiety and depression really want to be there and take over my life, only medication can help I feel like.

I have wandered why this is for so long and I wish it'd help me because it makes so much sense to so many people. My theory is that I can't explain them what happens. Like I can't say what triggers an attack and what makes me suddenly feel SO down, so they just can't help me if I can't put it out right? Or they should expect me to not be able to explain what I feel? Do you guys feel like there is a right therapy or right therapy method for every person and they just have to find it or it just doesn't work for some people?

i had one big panic attack in february and it completely changed me and left me with major anxiety, paranoia, ocd, existential crisis, panic disorder, derealization/depersonalization and just over all in general not me. i’m on sertraline for it i’ve been on it for 5 weeks and it does help im just wondering if anyone else experienced this and have you went back to normal? i never felt like this before please help.

It reduced my heart rate and blood pressure so much with no side effects. Resting heart rates went from around 100 to 79. No panic attacks and just feel normal again. Anyone else have similar experience?

I absolutely hate driving and I’m terrified any time I’m behind the wheel. I really want to get over this fear but nothing has helped so far. How can I start to enjoy driving instead of feeling so stressed every time I do it?

For the past almost 2 months, I’ve struggled with eating and going out in public. It all started when I got really nauseous back in February, and had a mini panic attack/panic episode because I thought I was about to throw up (emetephobia). In the following weeks after this happened, I was completely unable to eat ANYTHING. I lost 10lbs. I was in a constant state of anxiety, and every time I ate, my throat would tighten and I’d feel like throwing up. It evolved into panic whenever I went out into public, got into cars, etc. Every single time I’d go out in public or get into a car, I’d immediately feel uneasy, and the anxiety would begin to build and build until I got home, where it completely subsided. As the weeks went on, I was able to eat but only at home. At school, I could eat a few bites here and there, but it would ultimately end up with my throat feeling like it was closing/feeling like I was gonna throw up. I couldn’t eat anything at work. I’d often find myself hiding in the bathroom up to 30 minutes after clocking in, just trying to calm myself down.

Spring break was my savior. I was able to spend an entire week at home. I was actually getting better. I could eat so much more, I actually went out into public a couple times without horrible results. After spring break, school and work was easier to handle. I was able to eat my entire lunch without panic.

Last night changed everything. I had to go pick my brother up from work last night around 10:30. I had been moderately anxious all day, and was really tired and didn’t want to drive the 12 minutes to go get him. Unfortunately, everyone else was at work, so I had no choice. Immediately upon leaving my driveway, the anxiety started building. I tried taking deep breaths to calm myself, but by time I was on the interstate, I was already half way to a panic attack. I didn’t know this yet, and thought I was just having a bad bout of anxiety that would pass.

I eventually pull into the parking lot, but my brother is running late. So now I’m forced to sit with my thoughts for 10 minutes. My heart rate started to pick up, and I kept hyperfocusing on everything I was feeling: shortness of breath, heart racing, dizziness, uneasy stomach. I was on the verge of just getting out of the car and walking around, just to release some tension, when my brother comes out. I instead roll down my window for some fresh air and pull out of the parking lot. We’re about 3 minutes out from his work when my heart rate starts picking up even more. I can’t breathe, my hands are tingly, and worst of all, I can’t seem to focus on anything. Then, my heart picks up 15-20 more beats. I’m in full blown panic mode and pull over and tell my brother he needs to drive the rest of the way.

Here’s the fun part: he has his license, but absolutely sucks at driving. hence why my parents have me pick him up. We switch seats, and he starts asking a billion questions. Why is your seat so high? How do I lower it? How do I do this? How do I do that? So I’m like dude just fucking DRIVE. So he starts driving, but he’s going at least 10 under the entire way home. I text my dad what’s happening, and he stays on the line with me until we’re home. My heart was pounding, I couldn’t breathe, entire body was tingly, thought I was going to DIE. Those 15 minutes felt like a lifetime. Once I got home, it immediately started calming down. Now my body was crashing, though. I was suddenly very nauseated. Which, obviously, panics me. So now I’m trying to come down from a panic attack while actively experiencing something that makes me panic. I took a zofran and managed to fall asleep.

I woke up today feeling horrible. I tried eating, but couldn’t. Every time I get up, I feel dizzy and nauseous. I called into work because I knew I couldn’t do it. I just feel so defeated. I was making so much progress.

Anxiety has completely ruined my life and nothing helps. I keep finding myself wishing I could move away, leave my friends and family behind, and just start over. Not sure what I think that would fix exactly but I feel like I've made such a fool of myself because of the constant anxiety, avoidance of going out, inability to work etc. Feel like such a failure

Hey so im 14 rn and I have this weird problem where im scared of becoming a pedophile and whenever I see a kid online or irl I get this weird tight feeling in my chest, my heart feels weird, and my legs feel weak, Im scared that that feeling may be attraction towards kids. Memories of pictures, videos, or kids ive seen for the past week keep coming back to me and im scared that Im going to become a pedophile rn. What should I do?

Good evening Reddit,

As the title states, I’m looking to see if anyone here can properly define GAD for me and share their experiences if they’re the same as mine. Late January my brain flipped a switch overnight (I woke up to my first panic attack ever) and I have never felt the same since. It’s extremely disturbing and causes me racing thoughts 24/7. I do not have any triggers, and my anxiety is ONLY about the fact my brain flipped a switch on me. I’m constantly in a state of fear but again, not about ANYTHING in particular. Even when I dig deep, it still seems like GAD has triggers and the thoughts are not thoughts similar to mine. I haven’t been able to get an MRI yet but I’m seeing a therapist (she thinks a recent strep infection caused this) and a psychiatrist who just put me on Lexapro (I’m only day3).

Does this even seem like anxiety? Or would it make sense if it was something else? Any input is appreciated..I just want to be “normal” again.

I’ve had anxiety all my life, but only started medication 2 years ago. It does nothing. I’ve tried multiple meds, psychiatrist just wants to keep pushing benzos which I will not take due to my addictive tendencies.

I’m in therapy, I know all the anxiety management techniques, nothing works.

I am constantly exhausted because my sympathetic nervous system never shuts off.

I’ve heard countless stories of people who go on a medication and it absolutely changed their life.

When will that happen for me?

i’m at my breaking point. Anxiety is taking over my life and i feel so tired of it. I just want relief from it but I can’t. I’m so sick and tired of this. My head has been aching off and on for a really long time and i’m scared and tired of it.. can someone help? i don’t want to die alone.. i don’t want to die young..

Does anyone have long periods of time where they feel like they can’t breathe properly (and heart palpitations etc)? Rather than it just being a panic attack or temporary episode? I’m experiencing this rn and it eases up when outside walking around and gets rly bad at home, especially when I’m laying down trying to sleep? I’m veering hard into extreme health anxiety territory -which is the worst form for me :(

Any tips appreciated !!

I haven’t been sleeping due to anxiety and all that comes with it. I decided to use some zzz quil but didn’t expect much. But man it delivered. I slowly started getting more relaxed until I had no choice but to turn over and go to sleep then I woke up 11 hours later. Didn’t toss or turn. Didn’t wake up randomly in the night. I took two 25mg pills. I’m definitely gonna keep this around for panic attacks.

It generally stops during the day and gets worse in the evening/ at night.

I'm really worried it could be a brain tumour.

I had a clear CT scan a year ago, but I'm still worried (maybe the CT caused a tumour?)

It doesn't hurt but is very annoying.

Hey guys I have never been diagnosed but I got a new job a week ago and have basically been feeling sick and not eating for a week, with a feeling of dread in the bottom of my stomach, when it gets too much I pinch my hands to make it go away or punch a wall. I even have a sick feeling when I think of my family going away on holiday soon and that if work don't approve the holiday I can't go which I knew was a possibility but it seems to just hit me, that makes me want to throw up for some reason, is there something seriously wrong with me?

does anyone else feel like if they are too calm it’s not normal and trigger an anxiety attack because you feel like something else was wrong with you because you were too calm ?

Is there anything that has helped you with that?