Sudden, constant anxiety? Birth control? PTSD?

[lmiadb]

Hey all, and thanks for your help. I'm a 20 year old female who just has a few questions, I have recently developed almost constant anxiety, and wanted to get a better idea of what might be causing it? I've always been a bit of a risk taker, and have flown in planes since I was a tiny baby, but within the past 4 months I've been crying during flights, refusing to board, and having the worst of dreams. I've started avoiding going to the grocery because I've been afraid to cross the street, I've become a wreck in cars. I get nervous about diseases I might have (recently cancer and HIV, both of which were fears that came out of nowhere and stuck around) and I can't focus on tasks because I'm too worried about what I might die of. My stomach is almost constantly filled with butterflies, for one reason or another, its difficult to sleep, and when my brain doesn't snag on my possible upcoming death, it snags on the misery that other people might be feeling, somewhere else in the world? I feel guilty for how good my life is.

All of this began about 4 months ago, out of the blue. It is absolutely out of character. I started taking birth control medication around that time, and for the first month or so struggled with the hormonal attacks on my brain. I was very upset often and cried almost every day.

About 3 years ago I was in a near-fatal accident, and spent the following year seeing pychologists and talking about it, I took tranquilizers to sleep, as sleeping was very hard for me. Bad dreams and panic attacks relating to this event abruptly ended about a year after they began, and I thought my head was clear? But maybe this is stemming from that accident? I'd just like to ear what other people think, maybe some reassurance that this will go away....or could this be part of my young brain developing? Is this the way I'll be for the rest of my life? Any ideas?? THANK YOU...

[lmiadb]

hmm, i chose not to. and have since chosen not to see anyone proffesionally about this, but should i? or does this sound like something that will go away with time? i'd rather "ride it out," if possible. unless you think it would get worse?

[dreambrother]

my anxiety started almost the same way,when i had a bad experince about 10 years ago. you may be suffering from p.t.s. causeing anxiety. where you put on any medication?