Anxiety, panic attacks, overstimulation, and anger issues
can someone offer me advice on coping with anxiety, panic attacks, and overstimulation in social settings or public places? I've struggled with these for years but only recently did I recognize and name these experiences.
whenever I feel nervous or scared my hands, feet, and armpit get excessively sweaty which embarrasses me and worsens my anxiety. in school, I sometimes become extremely self-conscious, often looking down while walking to avoid drawing attention, getting looked at gives me anxiety. In class, I'd sometimes feel my blood rushing, and my breath growing heavy and as soon as the period ended I got an overwhelming urge to rush out and go home. I really miss the feeling when my body feels so light, and my mood so good because I have more bad days than good days. I would only know what kind of day I will have when I step onto the campus, my mood is so unpredictable.
One instance that stuck with me was when I accidentally left my hanky in the classroom, I was a new student then. I quickly walked back to retrieve it but before I could reach the room a classmate spotted me and joked "You forgot something? :) Is it your handkerchief?" (whenever I feel awkward I just smile or laugh like I'm the goodliest person and I hate that quality of mine.) So I managed to smile and confirm, and she replied, "You left so fast! haha" Although she was nice and friendly I felt panicked inside.
during anxiety or panic attacks, I become very quiet and may snap at others, even if they're not doing anything wrong, I'm just extremely sensitive to everything, especially when I'm overstimulated.
can you share with me any advice or personal strategies that worked for you in these situations, also I just recently heard of overstimulation and I feel like I'm overstimulated at school with my blockmates and in our house with my mom. It's ruining my relationship with everyone. I can hide my anxiety and panic attacks by running away or being quiet in the corner of the room, but being overstimulated I just snap I'd call than an anger issue sometimes my reaction and emotions don't make sense.
I'm overwhelmed by pent-up rage from being misunderstood, constantly battling anxiety, panic attacks, and overstimulation. Despite these struggles, I believe I'm a good person although I am more bad than good because I'm having more bad days than good days, and maybe my anger issues are simply the product of everything. I'm really trying to change, I'm constantly trying things that would help me not just physically but also mentally to be emotionally balanced.
I still have a lot of things I want to share to explain everything I just wrote but this is it for now. hope someone can share their thought. Till next time! :)
@mededicatedstudent
Oh. No. You are not a bad person for occasionally doing bad things or having bad days. No one is. Because it is certain everyone is occasionally doing bad things. I'd even argue that these things aren't even bad. You are struggling, alone, with big overwhelming things and that makes you amazing. Yes it does.
I'm so glad you shared. Because you don't need to do that alone. It would be great if you could find someone to share this with in real life, but it needs to be the right person. Someone with either training or natural skills in listening. In the meantime you should find lots of people here to help.
We're not supposed to give advice here (you know you and your life best and so are best placed to know what will work for you). But well, sod that. My thought is why do you try so hard to be like everyone else? You are beautifully unique, caring, sensitive, intelligent, self aware, considerate, empathetic and more. Can we not celebrate those things?
I can tell you some little things I used to do. Like when walking alone (to the shops to the bus stop, whatever), taking a deep breath, expand my chest, tuck my bum in, shoulders back and pretend to walk like a model. Imagine someone watching and going "wow!". And then laugh a bit cos I'm never going to be a model. But I deserve to feel like one, now and again. And so do you.
Pilates is good for teaching body self confidence and slow deliberate movements. There's loads of free lessons online anyone can do in a bedroom. I find the ones done by a physiotherapist the best.
I learnt about fear and the 5 fs -, flight, fight, freeze, fiddle about etc. And learnt that I was doing normal things. Then learnt to tell myself that it is OK to feel afraid. And OK to be angry. And OK to feel whatever I was feeling. Because when I accept my feelings, I become less overwhelmed by them and they have less control of me.
And someone here gave me some sparkles. Can I pass them on to you to share around? Because it is OK to sparkle sometimes. Celebrate those moments when you sparkle. You are beautiful and very lovable.