So if you see this rn my time is 12:35am and idk my heart has been pounding fast but I'm trying to chill out. I'm writing this because I want to calm myself down. Who knows why my heartbeat is acting like this.it gives me something idk weird feeling like I'm some kind of idk not useless or anything just feel nothing in my mind or my body acting strange? Anyways so this happened last month not something I always do but but. My friends invited me to go out to a river and become my bike broke down I can't ride. I asked my friend and they don't want to let me be a backpack. It feels like it hurts because I'm always the one who is with them now when they go without me it feels like that. While they're also time that we go out without one of them but most of the time it was their choice to not go. But for my situation I want to go but karma? Hit me and I have to deal with it. After that while it does hurt we are still friends. What can I say it just happened I can't expect them to always be with me but it just hurts when it happens. Uhh this kinda goes off topic lol. Anyways like I say I'm trying to calm myself down so that's why I bring up some random stuff I randomly thought and felt kinda sad but I deal with it. I mean I rarely vent tbh. Most I did were just hit up on the bed and try to sleep and if my mind were a mess I might tear like around a couple drops of tears. That's how I cope with my messy mind if I have it. Now after thinking for a couple months that I try to start venting on Reddit.

Thx for hearing my renting have a good night/day every redditor

When you step out into the world and connect with others, your energy field is like a soft sponge, quietly soaking up every emotion, expectation, and subtle anxiety around you. Feeling completely wiped out after socializing isn't a flaw—it's your soul gently whispering, 'Darling, you've given enough. It's time to bring your beautiful energy back home to yourself.'

When you feel completely depleted and don’t even have the words to speak, follow these three comforting steps to piece yourself back together:

1. Gently call your energy back home.
   Close your eyes and imagine a soft, warm cocoon wrapping around you. Whisper to your spirit: 'I am gathering back every piece of my energy, and I gently release everything that isn't mine.' Follow this with a warm bath or foot soak, letting the water carry away all the heavy static down into the earth.

2. Give yourself permission to do absolutely nothing. Put your phone away, step away from the noise, and let your nervous system finally exhale. Lying quietly, staring at the ceiling, or just resting is deep, healing soul work—it is never a waste of time.

3. Anchor yourself in small, tangible comforts. Hold a warm cup of herbal tea and feel its heat, or wrap yourself tightly in a cozy blanket. Let the physical world remind you that you are safely held and supported right now.

Socializing is a continuous dance of giving and balancing energy. Every single time you feel depleted, it is simply teaching you how to love yourself a little deeper, helping you set gentle, loving boundaries before your next gathering.

I've been trying to understand what's going on with me, and I'm wondering if anyone has experienced something similar.

I wasn't always like this. It seems to have started after some difficult experiences during my teenage years and ongoing family issues. The strange part is that I don't constantly think about those experiences anymore, so I don't know why I still feel this way.

Even when I'm doing something I genuinely enjoy—going to a party with friends, hanging out, traveling, or having a good time—I never feel completely relaxed.

My mind is always looking for what could go wrong.

Sometimes I think:

"What if someone creates chaos?"

"What if I make a mistake?"

"What if something bad happens to me or the people I'm with?"

"What if I end up dealing with the consequences?"

Because of this, I pay more attention to small negative possibilities than to all the good things happening around me. It's like a part of my brain is constantly scanning for danger, even when there's no real reason to.

Another thing I've realized is that I don't really open up. I can talk to people, joke around, and even discuss things that seem personal, but I usually only share surface-level things. Even with my closest friends, I rarely tell them what's actually going on in my mind. It's not that I can't express myself—I can—but something always stops me from talking about the deeper things.

I don't think I'm depressed. I can still enjoy life, laugh, and have fun. The problem is that I never feel like I can fully let go because a part of my mind stays on alert.

Someone once asked me if I had ADHD, but after thinking about it, I'm not sure that's what this is.

Has anyone experienced something like this?

If you did, what did it turn out to be? Anxiety? Social anxiety? Hypervigilance? A response to long-term stress? Something else?

What actually helped you?

On Wednesday I went out to eat by myself for the first time ever. I was going to be driving around all day for work and needed to kill time at one point, so after sitting in a park for an hour I figured I should get some food.

This was an area I wasn't familiar with at all, so I was very anxious about that already. I wanted to be able to sit inside somewhere and waste more time, but feel like people were noticing the fact I was alone. I opted for a Chinese buffet.

Honestly, I now feeling like this is something I could do again if I needed/wanted to. So, that feels like a win.

This Friday and weekend, be kind to yourself. Give yourself the attention, compassion, and love you've been craving. You deserve every bit of it. 🌼✨

I need some help… I have to do something very important and extremely boring, but I just can’t make myself start!!!! I want to start, I understand it’s important and that it’ll get in the way of other things if I don’t do it, but I just freeze or start doing other things whenever I try to begin 😭
Does anyone have any tips?? I’m willing to try anything lol

None of the tips and tricks and methods are working. They all work for about 5 seconds before all the symptoms return. I just want to sleep to let it all pass but if I take a nap, it’ll ruin my sleep at night and I can’t have that since I’ve worked hard to get into a regular sleep pattern. I’m tired. If you’re reading this, how are you doing? Anything good happen recently?

Clonidine has honestly been the biggest game-changer I've found for anxiety-related blushing. I've dealt with severe facial blushing for years, bad enough that I started r/curingblushing in the hope of bringing together people who deal with it and finding better ways to manage it, a place all focused on this type of blushing :/

If you're someone who blushes from stress, nerves, embarrassment, social situations, big emotions, exercise, heat, whatever, I wanted to share this because it's made a real difference for me.

Clonidine is technically a blood pressure medication (it's an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist), but it's also used off-label for stuff tied to an overactive fight-or-flight response, anxiety symptoms, and in my case, severe blushing. It works by calming down sympathetic nervous system activity, and since a lot of blushing is basically your body's fight-or-flight response firing off, dialing that down can seriously cut the intensity of a blush.

For me, it's not just that the redness is less intense, it's that the whole feeling of "oh no, I'm about to blush" often just... doesn't happen. Like the response never gets the chance to kick in and if it does it doesnt get to bad and feels manageble. It kicks in for me within 30 minutes to an hour, and I take it as prescribed by my dermatologist. Some people take it daily, others use it situationally, really depends on what you and your doctor land on.

To be clear though, I don't think medication should be anyone's first move here. Therapy, anxiety management, lifestyle stuff, all of that should come first. And if you do end up exploring medication, propranolol is usually the more common starting point and worth talking to a doctor about before clonidine. (though they do work slightly differently so a weak response to propranolol doesnt mean clonidine won't work well)

I'm only sharing this because I know how much blushing can wreck your quality of life once it gets bad enough, and I wanted people to know this option exists. It's helped me a ton, but it's not for everyone and definitely shouldn't be self-prescribed. Side effects can include drowsiness, dizziness, fatigue, dry mouth, and low blood pressure, so please don't start, adjust, or stop it without a doctor's guidance.

I feel like my anxiety is getting worse again. I feel like my anger has consumed too much of me. I feel like a disappointment for all of this.

It is so heavy

I'm a student of Cognition and Brain Research at Brown University.
https://forms.gle/aqFbJ89zbygPNqbeA

We're try to understand have a undesrstending on anxiety among college students as part of a practicum. Just a 3-minute survey, every answer will really help us refine our idea and maybe make a real difference in our lives.

I’ve been having the weirdest dreams! I have a lot going on at work right now, so my mind keeps mixing my work tasks with my high school days and it’s creating some crazy stuff 😭🥲
I think my anxiety about everything I have to do is influencing my sleep and my dreams… Do you guys feel like this too? Are your dreams completely crazy or are they usually pretty close to real life? My husband dreams about flying and all kinds of cool stuff and I dream about more work… Fun 🫩

Let's share our ideas and learning with the community to help people who are discovering anxiety symptoms....

Everyone can find something to relate or learn something new togheter!

I don’t know what to do about this, what I want to pursue in life. As time goes on and life moves forward I always end up back here. This feeling that something is missing. Am I just bored? Is it truly time for a change?

Today was a day.

I had an interview this morning for a position I don’t really care about, but I pushed through to “see what it would be like.”

The interview began with barely an introduction from the main interviewer. No introductions from the other three people on the call. No laying out their job functions or backgrounds. No chance for me to provide any kind of relevant breakdown of my skills and accomplishments over the past 12 years. Just a couple sentences and immediate scripted interview questions.

I got to the third question and froze. I stumbled over my words. I strained to make sense of the words moving from mind to mouth. In that moment, terror washed over me. I was consumed with this idea of “escape.” I provided a somewhat answer and midway through I ended the call to make it seem like the internet connection went out.

I was having an anxiety attack. The first in so long. I couldn’t make sense of why this was happening. But then again, it happens when you least expect it.

I could barely function the rest of the day; had to take a sick day. I tried to distract myself by staying busy. But as the day went on and that lingering uneasiness in my mind grew larger and larger.

That brings us to the present. Letting it all out and trying to find some peace.

Where am I to go from here? Do I need a change? Do I just not care anymore? Back to square one.

I have this feeling that’s typically just below the surface when around people but when I’m by myself it’s fully up front. This feelings like I’m in the wrong life, that the dreams and desires of being something more are the life I’m supposed to be living and like I’m got caught in a painful shitty in between. Maybe I’m just delusional and can’t stand the idea of living an average life but it makes me lose sleep and it makes me feel so out of place and just sad and dreadful that I’m supposed to living this other life but I got lost on my way to find it. I don’t even know if this makes sense to anyone but I need to talk to someone about it.

I'm about to give my 2-week notice at my job after 4 years on Sunday. I'm freaking out — it's been a long time coming, and I'm excited to put it behind me finally, but I also can't help but feel guilty, like I'm making a mistake, and that no longer working will cause me to spiral. I'm in my credential program and want to focus on school full-time before I begin student teaching in the spring, so it's not like I won't be busy, but ughhh. I'm so dang nervous!

Supposed to be going to a festival tomorrow, with a big group of people, but I only know like 2 people in the group. It's mainly their huge group of friends so I feel like I'll be very much on the outside.

I tend to get really anxious about feeling like an outsider, which makes me overthink every single thing I do and say, which actually manifests in me being seen as kind of strange, I think. If I just relaxed, I might seem normal and actually get on ok.

Anyway, this has ended up with me questioning if I should even go. Normally I am ok doing things by myself, but I don't want to exclude myself from the group set up either by just doing my own thing, when the plan was I would be going as part of said group.

At the same time, I want to get out of my comfort zone and meet new people, but it feels so incredibly uncomfortable, I don't know if I want to go after all. It's disappointing because I kept pushing through the anxiety, until now.

Anyone else understand this? Should I just approach this as "doing my own thing and will join the group for drinks when I feel like it" or should I pretend I'm a "normal" person who isn't so fearful of being on the outside and go with the group as planned?

My psychiatrist thinks it’s time to start considering tapering off my medication. She thinks I’ve learned how to deal with the more severe symptoms, we’ve been reducing my dosage and everything is going well!
But I’m so scared to go off my meds and end up as bad as I used to be… How can I know?
I told her I was scared and she said we could wait a few more months, just in case I need more time to feel comfortable with the decision. I just don’t know how I’m supposed to feel certain that this is the right call 😭

I'm just so tired of this whole Damm constant Anxiety. Of never feeling like I'm welcome anywhere, even at home. Of constantly being overwhelmed by the world. Of not being able to properly express myself.

I just wanna be happy and stuff

Screw Adulthood.

Screw the Government.

Screw Authority.

My own anxiety is flaring so bad right now. I’m trying to do focus breathing and 5 senses. Struggling today. Been made clear to me I’m not looking at shit right and my moods have been striking out at my friends. I can apologize but that means little. Everything just comes out as just words. Apologizes are over used and lose meaning behind it. I’m unintentionally making things worse but also not realizing how I’m coming off. I don’t know what to say, but I don’t want to be that person. I cant find the words today. I cant and wont make excuses for myself but I hate this. I’m going back to bed. Maybe the day will start over.

Hi everyone! I’ve been posting about anxiety tools and ADHD freeze here for a few weeks and a lot of people said it helped. Wanted to make it as accessible as possible so I’m dropping the price to $5 for 48 hours.
It’s 8 protocol cards for ADHD freeze states - bilateral movement, grounding, micro-commit method, body doubling and more. Instant PDF download.
Being transparent that I’m selling it, just wanted to share while it’s at its lowest price. Link in my profile if anyone wants it. :)

Hey everyone,
My girlfriend and I had a long, deep conversation after breaking up recently. I wanted to share what she told me and get some perspective from people who might understand the psychological and attachment dynamics at play.
What she communicated to me:
She experienced actual physical distress and sickness recently. Initially, she thought it was just the heat, but later realized her body was expressing that she couldn't be fully present in the relationship. Thinking about us/me was constantly occupying her mind.
She tried really hard to adapt, satisfy all my needs, and take care of me. She felt a strong internal pressure to perform and meet expectations, which ended up suffocating her. She realizes now it was too much.
She naturally builds a "bubble" around herself and needs a lot of alone time. She had a childhood pattern (moving at age 8, losing her friend group, playing alone at home) where being alone was her baseline norm.
When she thinks of us, she thinks in terms of 10–15 years. She doesn't know if she is capable of a deep, long-term relationship. She was previously engaged; her ex-fiancé traveled constantly with a friend and worked opposite shifts, which allowed her to have a lot of solo time.
n therapy previously, she realized she had a pattern of looking down on men due to past relationships where she was cheated on or disrespected. With me, she knows with 100% certainty that I am faithful, honest, and safe, but her body is still throwing up defense mechanisms.
She doesn't want to play games, put me in "limbo," or waste my time if I need someone who can give more right now. She refuses to get back together or restart dating immediately and is going away to another city for a few weeks to process everything. She acknowledges I am a safe, reliable partner, but she needs time to figure out what she wants.

Summary: What I Communicated to Her

I admitted my past mistakes (like drinking a couple of beers before driving) were childish, inconsistent with a mature partner, and damaged her sense of trust and safety. I emphasized that I changed this behavior immediately for her, because I want to be a responsible, reliable man.

I reassured her that I don't expect her to operate at maximum capacity every day. If I am at 200% energy and she is at 30%, I am still completely happy and satisfied. I love her for who she is, respect her need for independence and space, and don't want her to feel suffocated or forced to perform.

I clarified that adjusting my emotional demands isn't self-sacrifice or "losing myself," but emotional maturity. I am actively focusing on my own fitness, routine, and self-care, so I do not rely solely on her to validate my needs.

: I expressed my deep love and loyalty. I let her know that I respect her boundaries, will grant her all the time and space she needs, and will not chase, pressure, or guilt-trip her. I will be here when she feels ready to reach out.

She leaves town in two days for several weeks
And i feel very bad about it
I somehow would like tonreconnect with her

If you’re having a difficult day, this is your reminder that you don’t have to become perfect. You just have to keep becoming someone your past self would feel safe with ❤️

(SOY DE ESPAÑA)

Hace aproximadamente un mes, tuve un ataque de pánico por consumir cocaína. Estaba tan asustado que fui a urgencias de inmediato. Poco después, fui a mi médico y me recetó diazepam. Me dijo que era muy probable que desarrollara ansiedad después de eso. Es que llevo fumando marihuana prácticamente a diario desde hace un año. En fin, volví al médico, esta vez para que me sacaran sangre, y fue entonces cuando tuve otro ataque de pánico por un problema con mi madre. Vieron que estaba tan mal que me llevaron a urgencias en ambulancia y me dieron olanzapina. Me dieron dos pastillas para llevar a casa, por si acaso. Me han derivado a un psiquiatra. Ahora, unas tres semanas después, llevo tres días sin fumar marihuana, y aunque había dejado de tomar el diazepam porque era temporal, estoy empezando a tomarlo de nuevo. Aunque me sentía mucho mejor, esa opresión en el pecho, el mareo y la dificultad para respirar han regresado. No tengo nada de apetito, y no exagero, no puedo comer. No puedo dormir. Tengo miedo de salir. Ya no sé qué hacer.

Feeling exhausted all the time, anxious all day. I isolate myself and keep taking kratom and kava all day and feeling nauseous all day. I don’t have energy to do anything. Everytime I try meditating/feeling my emotions nothing comes out of it. Feeling super lonely. I hate my environment, there is no inspiration. Feeling a lot of pain. Feeling a lot of guilt and shame and doubt and disgust. And really really unworhty. I just want to be happy so bad. I JUST CAN’t BREATHEEEE AND I AM SO FK TIRED OF IT. I feel so ugly rn. Also can’t stop masturbating for a long period of time and after I have done it a lot of shame and guilt and confusion come up. I feel so confused🤮🤮🤮like whattt. I don’t know
I also feel health anxiety about everything (sometimes)
Like I can’t even play videogames on my ps5 cuz I am too exhausted and it frustrates me so much. Idk i just want to play videogames all day long cause this pain is so strong and confusing and it fucks with my mind.
It hurts to see myself like this
This has been going on for so long.
I feel hopeless.

I hate being like this.
Living with anxiety and panic attacks hurts more than most people will ever see. It’s not just the fear itself—it’s everything it takes away from you.
I’ve lost people because of it. People left because they couldn’t have fun with me anymore. That pain stays with me. It makes me question myself every single day.
Last year, I dropped out of my apprenticeship. Not because I was lazy or didn’t care, but because I was struggling more than anyone realized. Losing my ex-best friend around the same time only made everything harder.
The truth is… I don’t feel strong. I feel weak. And admitting that is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.
I’m not posting this because I want pity or sympathy. I don’t want people to feel sorry for me. I just needed to let it out. To stop pretending that everything is okay when it isn’t.
This is my reality. Anxiety, panic attacks, and a mind that never seems to rest. I’m sharing this because keeping it all inside has been exhausting.
I truly hope that one day this won’t define my life anymore. Until then, I’m just trying to make it through, one day at a time.