How long have you had Anxiety problems?

Well...I never was an anxious kid. I was reletively calm and although am still very calm outside, my anxiety creates mostly physical symptoms of pain that are unlike anything else I've ever encountered along with intestinal and stomach problems, sweaty palms and forgetting to breathe. I guess it started at the same time as the depression when I was going into high school. Before that, I'd get anxious about things like everyone else, after that, I got more anxious than other people and couldn't calm down. It made me lose sleep simply because my thoughts can't be stopped.

i used to have panic attacks.....thought i was going to die.....called ambulances, then by the time they got there, it had passed......had them mostly at night....but sometimes during day....a fear of mine was what if i died on the street or on the bus, all alone.....

I was diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder when I was 16, but I remember the symptoms being there since I was 11. I'm 23 now, so 12 years.

It started to bad enough to interfere with my life when I was 16 or 17. I was diagnosed with agoraphobia when I was in high school.

Before that, I think I had some mild anxiety issues, but nothing like what hit when I was in my teens and definitely not anything that could be considered abnormal.

I believe, looking back, it began when I was around 11 and then it got real bad in my teenage years.

Panic attacks at 16, severe at onset and worsened since.

Oof. Panic attacks since I was five. Didn't know what they were called then but I remember the symptoms well (too well ). I struggle with the same symptoms now; I've been dxed with anxiety disorder NOS (3 years ago).

I believe I have had it all my life, I had suffered a variety of health issues, which I believe contributed to my anxiety issue. But, I really began recognizing it in my late 20's.

I've always been a shy nervous person, but I didn't start getting panic attacks until I had my son 4 years ago. I think it may have been the sudden change in life. I'm not sure. all I know is I wish it would go away! I will admit, it has gotten a lot better.

That's good to hear. I was so hoping after Menopause that I would have less anxiety, but really, there has been little change for me. I am extremely hesitant to take meds, but will if it persists or intensifes.

i did learn something after a few mis-diagnoses, which only made my anxiety worse...and that is that my breathing was causing an imbalance in the gases in my lungs or body or both. I would be breathing rapidly and shallowly, and this caused the feeling like i could not breathe and thus more anxiety...and the diabolical cycle.....

I got hold of this little book written by two doctors that finally explained my symptoms to me. It was a God-send, literally. It shed light on the dark unknown for me. And the unknown factor, the not knowing what was wrong with me just made it sooo much worse and fed into the terror and panic i soooo dreaded.

The key is the breathing.

I've had anxiety problems since I was thirteen or fourteen. I think it started when I stopped talking with my dad; and when my parents (mom and step-dad) started having horrible arguments. I really hoped that I would grow out of my anxiety, but I haven't yet . . . .

When I was 16 after my grandfather died I took it VERY badly and got OCD. It diminished over the years, then last year (I was 26) in June I developed intestinal problems (barely ate or slept for a month), generalized anxiety, panic attacks, OCD, depression after a VERY stressful year teaching. (it was mostly stress I put on myself to be perfect). I still have it although it's getting easier. I still forget to breathe sometimes and my chest gets tight, I have shoulder and neck tension, feel like I'm going to die soon (anxiety), hot flashes, mild depression, etc. (pretty much EVERY symptom in the book) but no hives yet this year! Praise the Lord! :o) I also had neurotransmitters tested and serotonin and norepinephrine are low (from stress) so I'm on amino acids and in Christian CB therapy. I'm learning to rely on the Lord and trust Him. It's helping a little bit but I would like it to go away! I tend to be impatient and get frustrated easily. I also am working on my own to change my belief system-ie: I don't have to be perfect, my worth is not related to my success/failures, etc. which will help. But, I'm my own worst enemy! This is really long..lol :o)

I think I always had some level of anxiety in my life, especially in social settings. I developed Panac attacks after suffering PTSD. I hate it!!!!!