Urgent or not?

[Starr_Holcomb]

Hey, I'm 15 &' lately I've been having really bad anxiety attacks. I mean I've had anxiety since I was about 13 but they have never been this bad. Knowing that anxiety is just a mental illness I would think it would physically affect me. Now my anxiety has been to the point to where I'm light headed &' shortness of breath etc. &' I start to panic even more but what really bothers me is since like a month ago I've been feeling like I'm in a dream that I can't get out of &' my anxiety attacks happen just out of the blue. Is it really anxiety causing this? Or what?

[Tocldja]

Whenever you feel like this, take a deep breath, close your eyes, and touch your index finger to your thumb. Can your fingers feel each other? You're awake! Usually I do this when I feel that way because it reminds my brain that I can still feel things and I am still conscious. Hope it helps!

[Davina55]

I have been filling like everything is  unreal and I feel like I'm in A dream but I'm not I do not know how to get rid of it can someone tell me how to get rid of this filling!!

[Paxiled]

Well, I guess I'd say, chronic anxiety is definitely a mental illness.  It can be mild or incredibly severe, but it's still an illness.  We don't know that it's brought on by "stinking thinking," we only know that some people can overcome it by changing the way they think.  That doesn't tell us how it came about in the first place.  But the above is good advice and labels aren't really that useful as far as treatment goes -- the point is to get better, not accurately label the illness.  Still, it does help to know what one is facing in order to accurately address the problem.

[LRon]

All of the symptoms you describe are very typical for anxiety. I should know because I've experienced them all! Anxiety isn't really a "mental illness" but more of a condition that people generally bring on themselves through "stinking thinking." I strongly encourage you to ask your mom/dad to make an appointment for you to get some counseling. Don't start with medication -- try first to see if someone can help you identify what the issue is, and help you adjust your thinking on it. Anxiety is very treatable, but you want to grab the bull by the horns and move on with your life before it becomes deeply-entrenched. In the meantime, try this approach: whatever you're worried about, just let go and let it happen. Don't fight it. Say to yourself "Bring it on!" You'll very likely find nothing happens, and realize your worries and anxieties are unnecessary. You'll be better for it! I hope this helps.