- Dec 26, 2004
- 1,041
- 342
- Country
- Finland
- Faith
- Eastern Orthodox
- Marital Status
- Married
I feel so stupid posting here, but I don't know what else to do...and this is kind of long, so please bear with me.
I've had anxiety problems for at least 5 years now (I'm 20 now). I've never been a very outgoing person, but it seems like it's just becoming more and more of a problem. At first the problem was mostly things like talking on the phone and calling people I didn't know, but now it's even things like talking in class if I have something to say (from my seat - not even in front of the class), or talking to people I don't know well (like most other adults). Sometimes I have panic attacks during these things too.
Stuff like that is something you can deal with (somewhat) when you're in high school, but as I get older it just interferes more and more with my life. I have a hard time doing things I need to do now. It's taken me months just to get up the nerve to call a lady at my college so I could register for classes, for example. There are lots of things like that that keep happening. And probably most importantly, I don't know how I can go out and look for a job again.
Fall of 2003 I got a job (which I only applied for because a friend also applied at the same time, so we got to do some of the initial training together until she found out she wasn't going to get hired). The interview was bad enough, but even after working there for a year and a half, I was still always worrying I was doing something wrong and had a hard time talking to the supervisors and other people there. About 8 months ago the place shut down, and I haven't been able to go out and look for a job since.
I still live at home, and of course after 8 months of not having a job, my parents are getting pretty insistent. The hardest thing now is to explain to them what the problem is - it's almost becoming an anxiety in and of itself. I just feel like they won't understand. It seems they'd rather think the reason I don't call people is because I'm lazy or because I simply don't like to talk on the phone, despite the fact I've mentioned it's practically a terrifying experience. The time I mentioned having panic attack type feelings just thinking about bringing up a point in class, my mom and sister just laughed and didn't take it seriously at all. It must be cute/funny of course, because everyone knows "normal" people aren't scared of things like that.
Maybe they're just misunderstanding, I don't know. But I know I can't live off what's left of my minimal savings forever, and I can't deal with constant questioning about why I haven't gotten a job yet.
Any help would be wonderful. I'm so stressed out, so even if you could just pray, that would be great. Thanks so much.
I've had anxiety problems for at least 5 years now (I'm 20 now). I've never been a very outgoing person, but it seems like it's just becoming more and more of a problem. At first the problem was mostly things like talking on the phone and calling people I didn't know, but now it's even things like talking in class if I have something to say (from my seat - not even in front of the class), or talking to people I don't know well (like most other adults). Sometimes I have panic attacks during these things too.
Stuff like that is something you can deal with (somewhat) when you're in high school, but as I get older it just interferes more and more with my life. I have a hard time doing things I need to do now. It's taken me months just to get up the nerve to call a lady at my college so I could register for classes, for example. There are lots of things like that that keep happening. And probably most importantly, I don't know how I can go out and look for a job again.
Fall of 2003 I got a job (which I only applied for because a friend also applied at the same time, so we got to do some of the initial training together until she found out she wasn't going to get hired). The interview was bad enough, but even after working there for a year and a half, I was still always worrying I was doing something wrong and had a hard time talking to the supervisors and other people there. About 8 months ago the place shut down, and I haven't been able to go out and look for a job since.
I still live at home, and of course after 8 months of not having a job, my parents are getting pretty insistent. The hardest thing now is to explain to them what the problem is - it's almost becoming an anxiety in and of itself. I just feel like they won't understand. It seems they'd rather think the reason I don't call people is because I'm lazy or because I simply don't like to talk on the phone, despite the fact I've mentioned it's practically a terrifying experience. The time I mentioned having panic attack type feelings just thinking about bringing up a point in class, my mom and sister just laughed and didn't take it seriously at all. It must be cute/funny of course, because everyone knows "normal" people aren't scared of things like that.
Maybe they're just misunderstanding, I don't know. But I know I can't live off what's left of my minimal savings forever, and I can't deal with constant questioning about why I haven't gotten a job yet.
Any help would be wonderful. I'm so stressed out, so even if you could just pray, that would be great. Thanks so much.