how does one feel anxiety?

i've always felt like i could 'feel' depression... down, low energy, irritable, in a coma... but anxiety - that's always been a mystery - except for when i just get a anxiety 'attack' or just fearful, etc... but i'm wondering about just constant anxiety. for example,  i feel i always am wary of danger, very careful about protection against theft, worry over activities and events so much that i just have written them out of my life. ...

i think 'hiding' in my house hides my anxiety from me. i think i use avoidance of things (no more air travel, no hotels, no movies, no crowds, all complicated by covid) a lot, and so also --- my anxiety might just be hidden from me. i have grown to 'accept' i will never do those things again. maybe that's the wrong long term approach.....

i prefer also not watching the news a lot ---- it's pretty disturbing, the world now.

anyone else experience anxiety this way?

i'm thinking of trying a medication for this ---  have been trying ritalin for about six months, trying to get the right dose. of course, ritalin is not for anxiety....  but now wondering about trying some mild anti-anxiety thing, to help me cope with life.

thank you!

Parents
  • For me it's where I experience things like,

    My throat feeling tight

    Stomach pain

    Upset stomach

    Trouble breathing

    Feeling sick

    Fast heartbeat

    Dizziness

    Sweating

    And trembling.

    But I also tend to feel anxious like I know it's happening and usually this feeling is crippling and suddenly I'm overwhelmed and on come the symptoms I mentioned above. 

    I try to avoid anything that causes me worry and then results in anxiety but usually everything and anything causes it so there's not a lot I can do.

Reply
  • For me it's where I experience things like,

    My throat feeling tight

    Stomach pain

    Upset stomach

    Trouble breathing

    Feeling sick

    Fast heartbeat

    Dizziness

    Sweating

    And trembling.

    But I also tend to feel anxious like I know it's happening and usually this feeling is crippling and suddenly I'm overwhelmed and on come the symptoms I mentioned above. 

    I try to avoid anything that causes me worry and then results in anxiety but usually everything and anything causes it so there's not a lot I can do.

Children
  • i'll probably be trying meds --- my anxiety has been slowly more and more debilitating, and it just covers everything like a film of dust that just obscures everything. i am kind of not aware of it, even tho it just suffocates me (unless depression and sensitivities also play roles, more or less). actually, i'm very anxious just thinking about meds, but i no i need something, at this point.

    i use avoidance, like you do. i also do walking, whatever exercise i can, healthy eating,  --- just about any little thing that might mitigate the anxiety...  i'm trying to catch anxiety before it gets so bad.... can be hard. many seem to like meditation - i do feldenkrais - to try to calm oneself.

    meds are something i've definitely avoided, til now.