Anxiety is the most common mental disorder in the world. Currently, it affects about one in 13 people, meaning that approximately 7.3 percent of the world's population is facing these struggles every day. For someone who doesn't have it (lucky them!), it may seem like something that can easily be shrugged off. I'm sure that many who are struggling with their mental health have heard their "just-cheer-up's" more than enough.
Quite recently, someone started a thread on Twitter about what anxiety feels like. The person wrote that their anxiety feels like an increased heart rate, worrying about the future, feeling disconnected from the world and other symptoms. Other people started sharing their symptoms as well, thus making the thread go viral with almost 17k likes. Scroll down below to read people's answers on what anxiety feels like to them and comment on whether you've dealt with the same struggles (and even maybe how you managed to overcome them!).
This post may include affiliate links.
This sounds more like depression than anxiety. (I've got both, so no criticisms.)
Yeah. I thought I was alone. But, I realized (through this article) that I'm not.
this is also more like depression than anxiety, except maybe the last one
I absolutely hate change; one small thing makes me mad because I follow a routine. I blame everything on myself, and always second guess things like even making a sandwich. or commenting on a post. I used to feel like my room was a prison, but now that's the only place I want to be( I am a teenager tho so idk). I get triggered at very small things, like a drop of glue on the side of the bottle or dropping a book. I don't really fear interactions though, unless it's with someone new or with someone of interest. I am actually very extroverted lol. Now I am even second-guessing writing this because I feel like I will be judged somehow :(
waking up with a fast heartbeat and difficulty breathing because of the anxiety is like a torture to me. There is nothing more i desire in this world to get rid of that feeling
I find that when I start a new relationship (platonic or not) I immediately think about the end.
I definitely feel like I easily annoy most people. I am sorry this person feels the rest of these.. =‘(
Oh, all of these I know well. My husband used to call me Shakey McTwitch. I always have the remote in my hand in case there's a loud noise on tv. I'm a gunslinger with the mute button. I don't leave the house for weeks on end because even the thought of going to the store is overwhelming and too stressful. Anxiety sucks, it can take over your life.
Soul deep exhaustion is such a great description. It's almost like your mind won't shut off the thoughts of anticipation of what you need to do, it's always overthinking, and it spreads down from your mind to your body. Just thinking about and anticipating what might happen (and of course it's always worst-case scenarios and never fabulous things) that make it almost feel like your body has already done the things. It's probably your thoughts triggering hormones that trick your body into thinking it has experienced the bad things you thought about.
Yeah, I'm always so tired, because i can't sleep. I'm constantly scared that my gf is going to break up with me, even though at the same time I know she's not.
And you breath fast and shallow because the chest is so tight, and your back is stiff like a board, neck muscles rigid, eyes wide open, and you think you're going to die. Your heart can't beat that fast and not explode.
Anxiety feels like: not being able to control anything Not being able to stop shaking Not being able to breathe Having panic attacks all the time Freaking out about everything Trying not to cry when the tears are already spilling out.
yep, I can relate. At lunch, I mostly stay quiet because when I speak, no one seems to react or care. I don't get invited too many places, which makes me feel like no one likes me or I have no friends. My hands are always sweaty, and people even ask me about them if they touch my hand for a high five or something like that. I worry about every little thing, and I feel like nothing sometimes :( today has been a hard day
I am introverted with PTSD and although I don’t make every single type of phone call “most adults can make because it’s easy,” I have found ways to slowly accomplish a lot of types of calls. One, I’ve been making myself call my dad (lives in another state) once a week, sometimes twice, sometimes once every 2 weeks. I also chat with my husband’s family members that are sweet and happy to hear from me. Ok so those seem easier than making appointments. I have nervous energy in public so I have overchatted with the techs at my doctor’s office and my dog’s vet, but somehow it helped. I tel myself not everyone thinks I’m weird and some seem to like chatting. So now I can make appointments to those two places without extreme anxiety because I sort of know them, it’s less intimidating. I also pay for the voicemail text so I can think about what I’m going to say when I call back if they called first. I also have what I need with me, pen, paper, dates/times I want to ask about. Preparedness
This is me. I get upset when I'm overwhelmed too then I feel stupid for crying.
I've been advertising this to everyone I know with anxiety: ashwagandha, an herbal supplement, was recently recommended to me and has been effective when various pharmaceutical meds have not. It's aka "Indian ginger" and treated as a spice like turmeric (curcumin). It reduces cortisol in the body. Check for medication interactions and whatnot, of course. If anxiety is your body's alarm system, alerting the firefighters to get ready and deal with a problem, normally the alarm system turns off after it's served its purpose. If the alarm system doesn't go off, it just sounds continuously at a deafening volume and feels like it incapacitates the firefighters. After a week of ashwagandha, I feel like the mechanism for my body's alarm system was fixed and could finally turn the alarm off, relieving the deafening catastrophizing and finally rallying the firefighters. I personally am taking six 500mg capsules a day.
I will check if it interferes with any of my meds but I like the idea
Load More Replies...
I've been advertising this to everyone I know with anxiety: ashwagandha, an herbal supplement, was recently recommended to me and has been effective when various pharmaceutical meds have not. It's aka "Indian ginger" and treated as a spice like turmeric (curcumin). It reduces cortisol in the body. Check for medication interactions and whatnot, of course. If anxiety is your body's alarm system, alerting the firefighters to get ready and deal with a problem, normally the alarm system turns off after it's served its purpose. If the alarm system doesn't go off, it just sounds continuously at a deafening volume and feels like it incapacitates the firefighters. After a week of ashwagandha, I feel like the mechanism for my body's alarm system was fixed and could finally turn the alarm off, relieving the deafening catastrophizing and finally rallying the firefighters. I personally am taking six 500mg capsules a day.
I will check if it interferes with any of my meds but I like the idea
Load More Replies... 