I have always said i have anxiety, it is not clear if i do have it or not. I would like clearence.
•I avoid buying stuff so i would not have to deal with interaction with the worker on the counter and i worry that my card dont work or anything can go wrong
•It is hard to reach out and make friends for me, I tend to worry what i would say, how they think of how i look and talk.
•I avoid doing presentations infront of the whole class, fear of being judged. Having that amount of attention on me, makes me tense and uneasy.
•I hate going restaurants because there are people around. I would always think there are so many pair of eyes looking at me and judging me.
•When I start to get “anxiety”, i can feel my heart beat so clear/hard and my body tenses up.
•I went to a new school and did not get any food because I avoided crowded places and interacted with the workers, and scared that people would judge me.
Dear @user0182
Thank you for sharing very clear examples of your experiences. I can see that you have been struggling for a while and understandably it is exhausting and isolating.
I recommend speaking to a counsellor soon to get a professional evaluation on your anxiety and fears of being judged, watched, doing something wrong and avoiding everyday situations. I believe avoidance has been a painful and distressing and you are motivated not to continue avoiding anymore. I see it has greatly limited the quality of your life. Please know that you deserve to live fully and expansively, not deny yourself everyday experiences.
The counsellor will listen non judgementally and help you unpack thoughts and fears driving this avoidance. The counsellor will also gently challenge thoughts and beliefs. With consistent effort, I believe you can gain clarity and will be able to chart steps to navigate and overcome avoidant behaviours, replacing them with values driven action.
Please know that you are not alone in this journey, so keep reaching out for support whenever needed. The first step would the hardest so do not be discouraged, take those steps anyway despite discomfort.
You don’t need to feel anxious all the time anymore and thank you for taking this first step to improve your wellbeing.
Hi @user0182,
I can hear how much these worries are affecting your daily life - from avoiding simple tasks like buying things to skipping meals at school because the anxiety feels too overwhelming. The physical sensations you described, such as your heart beating hard and your body tensing up, sound really distressing. It takes courage to write all of this down and seek clarity about what you’re experiencing, especially when these feelings are making everyday situations feel so challenging.
It’s important to know that there is a difference between anxiety and anxiety disorder. Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time - it’s a normal human emotion. However, if the anxiety becomes excessive, persistent, and interferes with daily life, causing significant distress and dysfunction in work, relationships, or school, then it would be best to seek professional assistance. The good news is that anxiety disorders are treatable. Our brain can change with new learning and therapy. A patient can recover if diagnosed early and the proper treatment is administered.
Getting a proper evaluation from a mental health professional can give you the clarity you’re looking for and help you access the support that could make a real difference in your life.
Here is a resource to help you connect with community mental health services. It is a Service Wayfinding tool that recommends the appropriate services based on your area of residence and your needs.
https://mindline.sg/mental-health-service-providers/start