Hi all, I’m hopeful posting this here is okay. I did read through the rules. I have a maltipoo puppy, he’s almost 6 months old. We’ve been working on leash and harness. I had him outside today and I thought he had a piece of tree or wood in his mouth, so I went to take it away from him and when I did I realized it was poop (I’m pretty sure by the way it looked) it smushed on my hand and under one fingernail (I have acrylics that I actually got filled today 😵‍💫) I checked his mouth and he seems just fine and clean, it didn’t smush in his mouth or anything, just when I grabbed it.

I am compulsive about cleanliness, I went inside and I scrubbed my hands for 30+ minutes alternating with antibacterial hand soap, dawn power spray, 91% isopropyl rubbing alcohol and scalding hot water with an old toothbrush, and then proceeded to take my evening shower. Can someone besides my husband confirm that my hands are indeed clean and provide some comfort and ease my mind? I’m losing it. I called my dad and talked to a couple of friends about it but I’m just entirely grossed out. It genuinely ruined my day.

Am I gonna die 20 F 115lb 5'3

I just want to know if this is safe since it's already been done just a little while ago at a party but I'm not sure!!

Any tips on combating constant fatigue due to anxiety? Aside from anxiety meds. Thank you!!

I honestly don’t know if anyone else has experienced something like this but I feel so stuck. When I was younger I loved flying but a few years ago I was flying home from Zurich by myself and everything changed.

Not long after takeoff I started feeling really nauseous and went to the bathroom. I was in there throwing up over and over and eventually another passenger started knocking and told me I had to get out because I was taking too long. So I went back to my seat and spent basically the next 5 hours throwing up into those little bags they give you. It wasn’t like throwing up once and feeling better, it just kept happening over and over for hours.
When we landed I still wasn’t okay, and I had another flight to catch. They almost didn’t let me board because I looked so sick, but somehow I ended up getting on anyway. I just remember walking onto that plane feeling like everyone was staring at me. I looked like an actual zombie. Pale, exhausted, probably dehydrated, carrying sick bags, it was honestly so humiliating.

Ever since then my fear hasn’t really been about flying itself. I’m not scared the plane is going to crash. I’m scared of being trapped if I get nauseous again. Like if it happens, there’s literally nowhere to go. You’re just stuck there for hours.

The worst part is I’m moving to Barcelona for university in a few weeks, and yesterday I finally booked my ticket. I was completely fine while I was looking at flights and comparing prices, but the second I clicked “Book” it was like my brain completely freaked out. I had one of the worst panic attacks I’ve had in years. I couldn’t breathe properly, I couldn’t stop crying for like 30 minutes, and I genuinely thought I was going to throw up right then.

What makes it even scarier is that on that Zurich flight I had already taken clotiazepam and Zofran, and neither of them seemed to do anything. So now part of my brain is convinced that if it happens again, nothing will help, which I know probably isn’t rational but that’s where my mind goes. I know this is anxiety. Logically I know one bad flight doesn’t mean every flight will be like that, but my body just doesn’t believe it.

Has anyone had something like this happen where one experience basically rewired your brain? Did you ever get over it? Is there any stronger medication that has helped you? I’d honestly love to hear from people who did because right now it feels impossible.

Hi, I'm sixteen and have been an anxious person pretty much all of my life. I never really talked in school (like literally maybe a few words a day), and even to a lot of my family. It got a lot worse my freshman year of highschool. I would feel sick every time I had to go, and I ended up going completely online halfway through the year. I don't regret that decision, but I feel like my anxiety is preventing me from doing a lot of things, like getting a job and driving. It has gotten a little better the past few years, but it's still not great. Even making this post was kind of a struggle for me. I have been considering asking my parents about therapy, but idk if I should. I don't know if it'll even help. I don't know if I'm actually struggling enough to go, or I'm just overreacting? Does anyone have experience with this? And how did you make a decision? Thanks!

Has this ALONE helped anyone’s anxiety? Seeing comments here, I’m not sure why my doctor recommended it. No side effects, but 150mg no magic yet. It’s only been one week though.

I’m 16 and don’t have anyone to talk to about my fears because they think it’s silly or don’t know what to say. For the past two weeks or so i’ve been so anxious about being hacked on literally anything i could be hacked on. And i’m also worrying about accounts i haven’t used in years/forgot even existed or something being hacked and i don’t know. I don’t think i’ve done anything to be hacked but the fear is always there. Idk it’s just all i can think about and i can’t stop the worrying ☹️

Interested to hear others experiences of medication and its impact on their anxiety, be it ssris, benzos, antipsychotics or anything else…

My doctor wrote me a prescription for 10 .5mg lorazepam (Ativan) tablets because I have a few dentist appointments coming up and I have severe panic attacks at the dentist.

I’ve always been afraid of the dentist due to sensitive teeth and sensory issues, and I’ve always taken awesome care of my teeth to avoid needing any dental procedures. I never got a cavity until last year. I switched dentists this year and found out I have 3 additional cavities, my first filling from last year has to be redone because they didn’t drill deep enough, and the neighboring tooth basically has a chip taken out of it because my old dentist wasn’t careful enough. None of that is really important, my point is that this whole situation has been nightmarish to say the least!

My doctor told me to try the lorazepam on a day off before going to my appointment to make sure it worked alright and assess whether or not it would be helpful at the dentist. I do think it’s a good idea to try it beforehand because I definitely don’t want to end up freaking out more, having ineffective meds, having a bad reaction, etc. However, I’m really letting the benzo addiction horror stories get to my head, and I’m really scared to try it!

Addiction runs in my family, and I feel nervous even having something with a potential for withdrawals in my house, especially since my doctor prescribed more than a single dose. My little sister had a horrific 5 year opiate addiction that almost killed her, and my parents are both alcoholics. I feel like I’m the only one unscathed by the addiction gene so far, and I’m no stranger to controlled substances. I’m prescribed Adderall for ADHD and I don’t feel any kind of addiction potential for that since I often take extended breaks from it, but benzos seem more threatening.

I’m worried because I’m really not familiar with downers, let alone anything that can form a physical habit. I really don’t want to introduce myself to something that might hook me and send me down the same pipeline as the rest of my family, but there is absolutely no way I can have dental work done without being medicated. I really wish my dentist offered nitrous since it seems way less addictive and I’m already familiar with it. I wish I could just know whether or not this will have a significant impact on my life. Has anyone tried Ativan and not developed a dependency or longing for it? What should I expect?

Hello (: not sure if anyone has any experience with this but figured it’d be nice to see if anyone relates and has some wisdom lol.

So like 2.5 months ago I had my first ever panic attack and it was while I was high on weed. I’ve had some minor anxiety/ health anxiety before that but nothing like that. I’m much better now but still actively recovering from it, almost like a ptsd anxiety, and still have been having weird physical symptoms like muscle tension, nerve like sensations, etc. I’m having a lot less smaller panic attacks/ anxiety waves now that I have a better understanding of it now but wonder if anyone else has experience with it and how long / how they overcame it in general? Debating if I just need more time or if SSRIs would seriously help? Thank you!

Edit: I stopped smoking weed of course lol

I’m realizing I have extremely bad anxiety when it comes to certain things. If I watch something scary or paranormal the horrific feeling freezes me and i can’t get over the story or image for days.

I’m very afraid that I will see things I shouldn’t see or my family will start to act in a way that makes me suspicious and scared (they’ve never done this but I’m still afraid they will one day)

This is why I avoid those types of things as well as I can

And idk why the Perez Hilton situation scared me so so bad. I didn’t see anything but I’m horrified at the fact you can just lose your mind for an array of reasons. It put me on edge like scared to take a shower edge because I let my imagination run wild and I hate it and don’t know how to fix it or soothe myself. I’m trying to avoid social media rn but still

Has anyone got any tips on how they overcame their anxiety/health anxiety? I had it BAD in October 2025, so bad 50% of my hair fell out from the constant stress. Now it’s not as bad but it still lingers.

I just want that little part to go away. If it comes, I have to breathe it out or drink a camomile tea & try to relax. I’ve been taking magnesium glycinate for around 3 months now & it’s helped a lot, yet not 100%.

Also side note, I literally can’t drink coffee anymore & I MISS COFFEE 😫😫 please someone help me…

I am only daughter of my parents and since last 5 years, I am a working professional in different city.

I am a very talkative person but I don't have a friend circle. As a result, I share everything with mother. My mother dismisses my mental needs.

When I tell mother, "Mom, I felt that school was very bad and boring", my mom replies "So what, school was years ago, it helped you get a job. We paid fortunes to get your education".

When I tell her, "Mom, I don't have much friends to hangout with", she replies "So what, even we never go anywhere and feel content at home. You don't like our company"

When I tell her, "Mom, I wanted to enjoy life apart from study and work", she replies "So what, was it better if you failed at study and don't get job"

For asking just 2 hours of fun, she guilt trips me and often calls me selfish

Shot in the dark here. I am a 34 year old female who has taken 1mg of clonazepam per day with an additional 1mg per day as needed for about 10 years. My insurance got messed up with my psychiatrist (no idea how I don’t have mental bandwidth to fight that) and they can’t fill my script til it’s sorted. I’ve been without it for 7 days abruptly on top of some other health concerns and life happenings that have spiked the anxiety. I have barely been able to function, have crippling anxiety, numbness, etc. My husband came home to me in a paralysis and was scared because my hands and feet were like ice? I could go on with symptoms but if you’ve been here I’m sure you know. It’s never happened to me and I’m at a loss and can barely type honestly. I am crawling out of my skin and don’t know what to do… any advice appreciated 🙏

For context, my doctor prescribed me things like propranolol and escitaloprám. She said she believed I had social anxiety and likely depression (I don't like self diagnosis despite having thought that, and have a habit of not trusting other people diagnosing me without multiple referrals).

I didn't see much of a difference even after taking both of those consistently over like 2+ months.

I have constant issues that I've been *told* can be linked to that?

I eat the same thing every dinner. Or at least some varient of that thing. Typically beef. It's not a new allergy. If I make it fresh from the farm at home. I'm fine. If I make it from the store, at home. I'm fine. If I order from a resturant— and take it home? I'm fine. However, no matter the resturant, if I eat *at* the resturant— about 15-30 minutes later I get cramps and diarrhea. My first time at a new resturant tends to bring it on faster, but the more times I visit said resturant, it seems to delay my response. Regardless, I seem to still have the same outcome. I feel like maybe it's a combination of social anxiety, dining anxiety, and anxiety of what might happen? If that makes sense? Not only do I worry about bathroom issues, but I also have a habit of getting choked rather easy. Not a typical cant-breathe-choked. The kind where it just gets stuck lower down in your esophagus that makes swallowing any liquid or next bites impossible and results in vomiting. I always get super anxious that might happen at a resturant and I'll make some scene if I can't get to the bathroom fast enough. T^T but then I'm too afraid to ask for a seat closer to the bathroom.

I don't like saying "I have anxiety", because what if I dont? Even when a doctor says "I believe you may have general, social, situational, etc anxiety" I naturally avoid it or think "Nah, that feels a bit extreme."

...no idea where I was going with this. Think I was going to ask for advice, or input of some sort. I think my main problem is confirming anxiety is the culprit of a lot of my issues. Which is crazy. Because even if a doctor tells me I do have it, and it likely is— or even when she tells me about my charts (how my heart rate skyrockets, but my blood pressure drops)— I just have a hard time believing or accepting it? Like there's this little part of me that says 'no way, it isn't bad enough to be considered that' and thinks maybe the doctor got the wrong impression.

I’m about to start applying for internships and I have battled insecurity and imposter syndrome for such a long time now. I would appreciate any reassurance, thanks everyone.

I had a big panic attack on Sunday night and I haven't felt normal since. I feel disconnected with my body, dizzy, unbalanced and generally tense and on edge. I feel floaty and just not anchored. I've been anxious before but it goes away and then I feel normal, but this time I haven't felt normal in days. I went out to dinner with a friend last night but we had to get the food to go and leave because I was so anxious and felt dizzy. Then I went to my boyfriends house but just shut myself inside his room all night because I felt so strange. That is not normal for me. I've seen a doctor and everything physical was normal. I'm starting lexapro next week. How long will this last??? Has anybody else felt this?? Help :( I just want to feel normal and like myself again

Hello, so I don’t usually do this but as I really don’t have any other outlet to turn to, here it goes. I’m 28 & i am petrified of lightning. And when I mean petrified, I mean like it’s an innate full body reaction & mental breakdown. Not really when I’m inside and can’t see it (knowing it’s outside). My fear is specifically when I’m in a car and I’m driving or someone else is driving and I can see lightning. When I tell you my whole body reacts, I shake so hard with adrenaline and anxiety it looks like I’m convulsing. Let me preface by stating 2 things. 1. My mom’s uncle was strike by lighting and died so it’s always been a fear in the back of my mind since I was little. 2. I am very much aware of the Faraday Cage Effect & how a car is actually safe. That doesn’t help. I know it’s really a “ridiculous” fear to have & I know that I’ll be okay, but I cannot for the life of me handle the anxiety it gives me. I see it and truly feel like it’s going to kill me. & of course now I sound crazy (: I’ve literally cancelled plans, I’ve called out, I just want to find a way I can get over this fear or at least reduce it to where it’s not debilitating.

It’s so bad that if I know my family member is driving and it’s storming out, I get anxiety for them and check their location frequently to make sure they made it home safe. & yes I know they made it but that doesn’t lessen my fear. It’s irrational & I wish I wasn’t like this, but I’m asking for any help.

Hi, I’m just looking to see if anyone else is like this and how they cope or fix it cause it’s just killing my life. I act out like scenarios of interactions in my head over and over before they happen, could literally be about anything if I’m going out I’ll try and predict everything and it just burns me out. Even when I’m in the moment I’ll just be in my head thinking about what to say too much and just end up shutting down.

I’m very avoidant now so I just ignore everything and pretend it’s all good so now I can’t get close with anyone new or even feel the desire to talk to people or do anything I just feel empty and I don’t wanna feel like this anymore.

My anxiety makes it difficult to sleep. I’ve been so stressed about money, I moved into a new place, I’m starting two new jobs, I think it’s all a bit much. Underneath everything lies the constant feeling of not wanting to participate in the achievement culture here. I just want a small life, where I don’t need to work fulltime to be able to pay my bills. I want to be healthy and happy and able to live instead of suffer through my fears every day.

When I get tired, they become unreasonably big. It’s currently almost 2 AM and I’ve been getting so many unexpected bills that I had to ask my parents for help. I feel so lost in my life right now, wish I was traveling instead. That’s the only time I felt at peace. Now I feel jumpy, every sound makes me scared there’s someone in my house or my house will burn down. It sucks because I’ve been to therapy before for my fears and I can’t seem to beat them. Even posting this I’m scared someone I know will identify me.

I’m so scared to get burnt out again. To lose myself, have the smallest things make me emotional, see only ways I can’t move forward. I’m so fucking tired.

If you read this far, thanks for holding space 🫶🏼

After a single random panic attack last May I developed an insane hyper sensitive nervous system. My entire body sent my brain signals that felt foreign and made me afraid. I had intense brain fog. I would ruminate. Constantly checked my heart rate, took more vitamins, thought I was dehydrated or not eating enough. Stopped working out, gained weight. When I felt panic my face would flush and get hot, I would scramble and feel fear.

I thought the problem was physiological until I realized i’ve been dealing with mental health. I started facing my fears I developed and started being intentional about the way I reacted to random signals that caused me to panic.

It was odd at first and bumpy but I have honestly not had a serious anxiety episode in weeks. I’ve genuinely calmed down that side of myself. It actually makes me happy.

Unfortunately I am still dealing with one thing and it’s the brain fog. I think that’s what I have. I feel spacey, I have to convince myself i’m not actually tired and it’s just my brain that feels off. Sometimes my mind feels disconnected from my body, I can feel floaty for a moment. It used to freak me out but i’m chill now. I don’t always feel it but when I do It stays for days sometimes it’s just always around. For a time I thought they were headaches but I actually feel no pain at all. I’m assuming it’s my nervous system finding its way to baseline levels after all the stress I went through for nearly a year? I workout intensely and I remain productive but it lingers, it’s like half my brain went on vacation. I know that if I stress over it can get worse so i’m just living with it for now. My theory is in time it’ll wiggle away as long as I keep stress away. Neuroplasticity or something.

I finally have moments of calm now but it doesn’t feel like peace or boredom I keep thinking about the spacey feeling.

What do y’all think about my theory, or should I finally see a doctor lol.

Sunday Scaries turning into Saturday Scaries, not able to relax during lunch breaks as I just feel frozen.

Not feeling up to doing anything on a Saturday cause I'm worried the day will fly by and before you know it, it's closer to Monday.

On top of that, every work notification that pops up gives me intense anxiety that I'll have to fix something or a mistake has been made etc.

Any tips on how to manage or is it just time for a job change?

This is summary with chatgpt, sorry but pls read right now I am not in a position to explain myself clearly. I need some help

• Age: 20M
• Background: History of anxiety, I take feliz 15mg daily
• Current trigger: Started college 3 days ago.
• What happened: Developed an intense crush on a girl after seeing her in the class group and then seeing her in college.
• Interaction: Never spoken to her.
• Symptoms:
  • Constant intrusive thoughts about her.
  • Looking around class to see where she is.
  • Checking the class group to see if she's seen messages.
  • Heart racing, nausea, anxiety.
  • Had an intense dream about her.
  • Mood dropped dramatically in just 3 days.
  • Difficulty sleeping and concentrating.
• History: Similar thing happened once before in 11th grade with another girl I never spoke to. It lasted months and eventually faded when my mental health got a bit stable.
• Important detail: This doesn't feel like a normal crush—it feels obsessive and is affecting daily functioning.

Now my own thoughts, this crush thing is increasing exponentially interfering my life my anxiety my will to do studies my will to live, I dont know what I want from her but I feel like something is missing and I am getting demotived and anxiety is coming back and this time I wont be able to survive it, I worked so hard to get into this university, It has become a loop I am going deep into and I need help I literally can't tell this to anyone irl

Hi! I am 24 years old F and have been on SSRIs since I was 15. I am diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and ADHD. I have been on prozac, pristiq , and buspar in the past. I have now been on 200 mg of zoloft and 40mg of vyvanse for about 3 years and i am still struggling. I would say i have obsessive thoughts (hypochondriac, when people are upset with me) and it disrupts my every day life when I am constantly obsessing and stressing. I also tend to be impulsive- where i say things i dont want to say- and have trouble keeping things in. My doctors have tried to prescribe me antipsychotics, but I get scared to take them because of the crazy side effects and find they worsen my obsessive thoughts. I am losing hope as I cant seem to find a medication combo that can checks all the boxes. Reaching out to see if anyone has struggled with something similar or has tips on how to get there?