Anxiety, help please.

[ibelongincalifornia]

Okay. So I'm going to start with I have had mood swings and bouts of depression all throughout my adolescence. I smoked marijuana for my first time a little over a year ago. I had a panic attack, and blacked out. Ever since, I have had anxiety all the time. It's getting increasingly worse lately, and I'm having a really hard time with even leaving my house. I think maybe this is brought on by a few other things, too, such as my best friend having to relocate to Tennessee (this also brought on depression for about a year) and my boyfriend going away for college this past August. They were both the two people I could trust with anything and now they're gone- so many miles away from me.
I get my anxiety when I'm around a lot of people, sometimes even one on one now. I had feelings of anxiousness when I was with my mom the other day, and that is what scares me into having no hope now. In school I barely talk to anyone, and I am scared in all of my classes to do anything. Sometimes it feels like life is a blur and I get the surreal feeling that a lot of you have been talking about on here. Sometimes I feel like I am making a weird face. Like, it feels like my eyes are staring, and I can't make them focus. It's really hard to explain, and I feel so stupid even admitting it, but it's true. I have muscle spasms sometimes, I think, and I just get nervous around people to the point that I don't know what it is acceptable to do and I always lose my train of thought. My anxiety is getting extremely crippling and I am having a hard time even going to school lately. Someone please help.

[ibelongincalifornia]

Yesterday and today have been a lot easier since I have been taking the St. John's Wort.

[ibelongincalifornia]

Update: my doctor's appointment is monday at four. Today i began taking st john's wort for my anxiety, and i am hoping it will get me til monday.

[MMahon]

Make sure you discuss ALL your feelings with the doctor.  Tell him about the anxiety and depression, sleep problems, etc.  Even if you have to print out your posts here to bring with you.  Impress upon your mom that what you are feeling concerns you deeply.  I know sometimes your loved ones can be your worst enemies when it comes to getting the right treatment. It is common for them to go into a state of denial when it comes to this illness.
Don't let that stand it your way of getting treatment.  Be open with the doctor and you may be better off seeing him by yourself leaving mom in the waiting room if her presence impedes you from speaking openly.
I agree with Jul above and suggest you ask the doctor about a referral for therapy as well.
Good luck to you.

[ibelongincalifornia]

Yeah I was on this special diet for a while full of whole foods and foods with omega-3's in them. Also foods with tryptophan, which is in turkey and makes you sleepy, it helps you get a better nights sleep. Also I was doing about 30 minutes to an hour of cardio a day because it gets your heart pumping and that is supposed to help your body get used to the anxious feeling. I cut coffee out of my diet, too, and most things that contained caffeine.
I did it for about two weeks, and it WAS working, then it stopped. So I stopped and I have been pretty much lost since.
I will definitely let you know how the doctors visit goes, my mom was saying something about she wants me to get a blood test to see if i'm inefficient for any vitamins and that is what is causing it.

Thank you so much for your support.

[jul04]

If you deal with the anxiety now and get to the bottom of what is really causing it you will not be like this forever.  You can overcome anxiety it just takes time and alot of work.

I am so glad that you are going to see your dr.  Be honest with him/her because that is the only way you are going to get the help you need.  Even if your mother thinks you are making it up you need to be honest with the dr.  He/she should be able to explain to your mother that this a  real thing you are experiencing and that with the right treatment and support you can get better.

If you still have problems with your mom I would suggest you to speak to your school counselor because they also would be able to explain it to her.  Eventually she will have to open her eyes to it.

Not eating right can add to your anxiety.  You need to be eating lots of fruits and vegetables to get your body the vitamins it needs.   You have to try and stay away from alot of sugar and caffeine.  Caffeine is  a stimulant and it can make the anxiety worse.  Exercise is really important too.  

Good luck at the dr and let me know how you make out.....

[ibelongincalifornia]

I have been talking to my mother about it, and it seems like she is really disappointed in me for having something wrong and sometimes she appears to think i am making it up get out of going places (school, parties, etc.). She  is calling the doctor today and i'm hoping i get in today. I don't think it is so much anything of the emotions being trapped up nature, i express my feelings as much as i can.
I don't really eat that good lately, and that probably isn't contributing to the anxiety, either. I know i am young, im sixteen, and i am so scared that i will be like this forever. I don't want a life filled with these feelings. I will keep you posted. Thank you so much for putting the time into reading and replying to my post, i appreciate it so much.

[jul04]

I am so sorry that you are going through such a hard time right now.  Please know that you are not alone.

Have you spoken to your parents about what is going on with you?  If not I think that would be a good starting point.  If for some reason you can't talk to your parents then I would suggest you talk with a school counselor or someone else that you can really trust.

I think you should be seen by your dr.  I would ask for a physical and full bloodwork just to make sure you don't have something going on with you.  Sometimes when your levels like B12 are low you can have increased anxiety.  Low magnesium levels also add to anxiety.  

I also think you should be seen by a psychatrist.  It would be a great outlet for you to have someone to talk to and they can teach you coping skills.  Also try keeping a journal sometimes that is a great way to get some of your fears and negative feelings out.

Make sure you are eating healthy and getting enough exercise.  

You are so young and you don't want to end up with a life filled with anxiety.  You need to get help and deal with it now.

Just remember you are not alone and you can get better.  As long as you deal with it you can overcome anxiety.

I wish you all the best.  Please keep us posted on your progress.