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Public Anxiety

When I'm in public places, mainly school, I get really anxious. My face will tense up, my neck and shoulders don't always but when they do it hurts and I get a bad headache, and its been bad enough at times that my legs tensed up really bad too. I think it gets worse after it starts because I worry about looking strange to others. I'm sure that my problem is mainly because I feel so insecure around other people. Its hard to describe, but its horrible. I've had a lot of good things happen to me recently so it hasn't been as bad, but I'm not in school right now for one and might never have to go back to high school again, but it still happens when I get the least bit stressed out and it happened the last time I rode a long time in a car, and I'm afraid that it'll get bad again. Any advise please on how to stop this?
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Avatar universal
As long a its the kind of medicine that doen't put people in bad moods or hurt the liver I would be willing to try it, but the therapy part worries me. My sister had therapy for a while and ended up not going and figuring things out on her own, and now she has to take tons of tests  and interviews to keep her job because she's been to a psychologist before. I would also have to tell my parents that I want to see one and that feels like it will be embarassing and I would have to explain all my troubles and I'll not be able to say anything straight, as usual.
I hate that I feel like a whimp and ashamed that I've had these progressive problems for so many years and still not dealt with them. It sounds so simple to just go talk to someone about it but it feels extremely difficulty and embarassing. This is only easy because I'm ananomous, no body or voice, no relatives, and other people who are similar. I just don't know how to cope!
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2044839 tn?1331255841
Im still in the process of gettin my panic disorder under control its very stressing cause i cant even work . Im scared out of mind that i wont finish my shift. Check with your primary physician get on the right meds and thearapy. Like start by going to public places for a few minutes at a time work yourself up kinda like practice. Its a start and what im doing.
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1709182 tn?1330160060
I know it is truly a horrible feeling and unless you have gone thru it, it is hard to imagine..I try to tell myself these feelings will pass when i have an attack..over the years i have done alot of research on this(looking for answers!!) just putting a name to it helps!!! Good luck with it.see your doctor to make sure nothing else is going on tho.
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Avatar universal
It feels so much simpler with a name to it. Is this sometthing that can be changed effectively? I want to get a job soon but I don't want to be tensing up and turning red every day. Thanks for your answer.
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2044839 tn?1331255841
I to have the same problems when going out in public especially places with alot of people my legs get real weak and i start breathing short breaths but ive learned to tune out my panic attacks. I'm not a health professional but i believe your suffering from Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia due to me having the same symptoms as you best of luck. If at all possible try and find a way to make yourself laugh to play a trick on your brain. It works for me on  occasion.
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Arlington, VA
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Arlington, WA
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