Anxiety

It IS about age when you're 16.

Its NOT a mental disorder unless it's debilitating. Its just...life.

People need to grow up and stop whining when life isn't going their way. Blaming problems on a "disorder" is just an excuse not to adjust your lifestyle.



x

 

"The main thing is to get informed about anxiety and what it is, then one can work towards overcoming it. Groups are useful too - it helps to see that others are stuck with the same syndrome. In fact, as is usually the case, it's easier to see where others are going wrong than where one is going wrong oneself."
Well one thing that helps is to stand in a public place wave you arms in the air and go "wuuuoaaoooh". I'm not trying to be funny, I came up with this idea ages ago in the belief that since there are no consequences and this is something I'm doing due to personal strength and not any flaws of any sort is therapeutic. Just as a negative experience can send you into anxiety a positive experience can take you out.

 

well said, xexon and utilitarian-i agree, as long as the information we are receiving about anxiety is the kind that encourages us to fight our own demons.

 

True. Part of the problem though is getting people with anxiety or other problems to face reality. Usually these people are deep in the feedback loop of social rejection and socially ineptitude and don't trust anyone who may be trying to help them preferring to view all criticism as an insult in case what they thought was criticism turns out to be an insult.

I think this can be worked around by appealing to logic rather than gaining people's trust by telling them what they want to hear. Most people at least have confidence in their ability to determine the truth, if all you do is state facts and let them calculate for themselves then they can be sure you're not there to screw with them.

 

well, the good news is that if you're 16, your brain is still growing, and it will be a easier to be an anxiety-free adult than if you were say, 35. Have you heard of a book called "The Power of Now"? - that is really good for setting yourself at ease.

Also, if you find yourself stuck thinking over & over again about a distressing topic - try this - look at your surrondings and say out loud the things you see using at least one adjective. "I see a red cup. I see a blue book on a brown table'. Sounds silly, but give it a try.

Here's another good one - peripheral vision excercise - it actually relates to how our brains are wired and if you try it, you might find it has an intersting effect on anxiety and distressing thoughts. http://www.trance.dircon.co.uk/5ways.html

Anxiety is learned behavior, and a persistant one, but you can learn something else to replace it.

good luck

 

The part of the brain that controls anxiety is overactive in some people. some grow out of it some never do. I never did. I'm mildly medicated for it and i'm ok with that. my anxiety is a generalized anxiety disorder with an emphasis on social anxiety. it was hell to deal with because my symptoms were external as well (sweating, rapid heartbeat, loss of breath). some people say psychiatry is bullshit, a temporary fix, but i would suggest seeing a good psychologist (which are extremely hard to find), then let them take you from there. it could be an issue from long ago that was never properly dealt with. In which case no medecine is necessary.

 

stupid brain

 

Medication is not the way to handle anxiety. There are natural ways of handling anxiety. It begins by facing your fears. Imagine yourself standing on the edge of a cliff, you look down, a long way down. You can feel the fear rising in you, fear of death or pain. But it is actually fear of the unknown. Imagine yourself, filled to the brim with fear, almost unable to stand it, and jump. Realise that it is only in your mind, it is only perception. The more risks you take the more mistakes you will make, and the more you will realise what you can actually handle. You are not weak, you only think you are weak.

And speaking of disorders, the majority of humans are considered to have disorders because we have an IDEA of what a human is. But that is a flawed idea. A disorder is nothing more than a difference between the idea of a human being and a real human being. The consequences are real, but the issue needs to be reexamined. Such as ADD and ADHD. These "disorders" are nothing more than a persons inability to pay attention to things that do not interest them, and are caused, not inherent, by the amount of information children are having to process, coupled with people's increasing failure to correctly place value. This is why ADD is becoming so rampant.

It is true that you are not afraid, you need only realise it. This is attainable through your own actions, but also search for those who will support you. Do not be afraid to tell others of your fear, because they may be just as afraid and need you help.

Maitreya

 

whatever works for you

 

I agree and meant no disrespect.

 

true. part of the trick here is finding the risk that is just at your limit. What might be doable to one person with anxiety might appear like an alligotor filled moat - for example, telling a person what you really think or feel. One person might be able to go through with it and say 'that wasn't so bad' but another person might feel like their world would explode. So, the 2nd person has a few more steps to go before they get to the point where they can actually express thier feelings.