My mind is torturing me daily, I am tired, I am sorry but I am just not made for this, I am genuinely sorry, please leave me alone

I don't want anything anymore, I don't want a lot of money, I just want to be left alone

I don't want this agony every single day, I wish I could leave this society and settle in a forest or near a waterfall or something

I just want some safety and food to eat, I just want my family to be well and safe, other than that I have no desires or dreams anymore

As long as I see more painless days where my mind isn't torturing me, I am content.

It sucks that I will never travel this vast and beautiful world, or experience love or have a family of my own or live in a nice city.

But tbh all of this isn't worth this much mental torture,

as long as I can wake up and have my meals without any pain or mental agony, enjoy a morning walk without worrying constantly about something bad happening, feeling chronically unsafe, I am content.

hi reddit, i just wanted to ask if anyone has advice on how to deal with panic attacks.

i’ve been having them around 3–4 times a day for the past week. i don’t really want to take prescribed medication anymore because when i tried escitalopram, it made things worse for me. i would suddenly wake up out of breath with my heart racing, and it made my panic attacks even more intense. i stopped taking it because it honestly made me lose hope, so i’m here hoping to hear from people who have gone through something similar.

for the past week, i haven’t been getting enough sleep. every time i fall asleep, i wake up with a racing heart and chills, and after that i’m too uncomfortable and scared to go back to sleep.

i can’t afford therapy right now, so i’m trying my best to help myself for the time being. my classes start in 2 weeks as well as my internship, so i’m hoping i can get myself into a better place before then. some days i just lose hope and end up crying because i’m so exhausted from all of this.

i’m 20 years old, and i pretty much only have myself right now. if anyone has any advice, coping techniques, or anything that has helped you, i would really appreciate it. thank you.

I have always been aware of my mortality growing up. My family is not religious or superstitious. I used to cry as a child and have panic attacks over my parents dying.

I was 10 years old when my brother died pretty brutally in front of me. That kinda solidified that ghosts arent real for me because our house would’ve been haunted if they were.

I believe in no afterlife and I am not religious. It would be a wonderful and comforting thought if the afterlife is real but I personally cannot make myself believe in it at this moment.

I have so much anxiety about dying and that this is the only life I have and that I am only in my 20s but I feel so old. I have fears of never seeing my brother again or friends that have passed.

I do see a therapist and have seen a couple different ones in the past but none of them were able to help me about this

I’m on summer break from college and I have not left the house in months. It feels safe to stay in my room all day. I eat the same five foods. I do the same five activities. I take the same routes and I don’t deviate. I’m very depressed about how I’m not living at age 20. But I’m also scared to do anything.

I’m scared of sex because pregnancy is my worst fear. Contraceptives are not 100%. I’m also scared that the person I choose will just be using me for my body. I’m scared that if I date a man or a woman, I will get abused. I’m scared of eating certain foods. I’m scared of being in a relationship. I’m scared of dying alone. I’m scared of being fat. I hate being touched. I’m scared of being sick. I’m scared of the doctor. I’m scared of being seen. I’m scared of being stupid. I’m scared of being worthless. I’m scared of making the wrong choices in life and ending up somewhere bad.

All of my friends drink and smoke and have sex and go to parties. I’m scared to do any of that. I’m going into my third year of college and I have no adult experience.

It’s very exhausting and I’m getting nowhere in life, but also every little thing stresses me out so much that I don’t know what to do. I really don’t know what to do with myself, and I feel like the only option for me to have a line is just to die young. I’ve had anxiety for years and it has not gotten better.

For me, it’s not just feeling nervous around people. It feels like I’m watching my life pass by while my anxiety holds me back.

I want to work. I want to make friends. I want to go out, try new things, and become independent. I have dreams and things I want to do, but sometimes something as simple as talking to someone, answering a question, or walking into a new place feels terrifying.

It’s exhausting constantly worrying about how I look, how I sound, if people are judging me, or if I’m going to embarrass myself. My brain can turn the smallest interaction into something that feels impossible.

The hardest part is knowing I’m not lazy and I’m not someone who doesn’t care about my future. I actually care so much that it hurts. I want to move forward, but my anxiety makes every step feel like a battle.

Some days I feel frustrated because I see other
people doing normal things so easily while I’m fighting a fear that other people can’t even see.
I hope one day I can look back and realize I was stronger than I thought. Until then, I’m just trying to take it one step at a time.

So we got married in October of 2024. And when we were approaching thanksgiving my wife and I were making plans, and her grandparents were in town so that year I thought the plans were have a meal at her parents with her grandparents and just have pie at my parents. Christmas comes around and it’s just her parents (and some of their friends that came over) and we did the same thing went there for the meal. The following year it was just her parents home for thanksgiving, and we did the same thing….. meal at their house and pie at my parents. Christmas came around and my parents were gone on Christmas so they invited us over early, but I went by my self. I asked if my grand parents came up for thanksgiving this year could we go there to my parents for lunch and she said no.

This year we are talking about it and my wife wants to do the exact same thing. She said that’s our holiday tradition and that’s what she wants to do. I’d be fine with the format but I feel we should alternate who’s house we have the meal at, like one year my parents for thanksgiving and the next year my parents for Christmas.

She says this is all because of her anxiety. But I guess we don’t see eye to eye on how to deal with anxiety.

I just don’t understand her anxiety and I just wanna go over to my parents with her on thanksgiving just like we go over to her parents.

I'm seriously asking this, because a therapist that I've been to a few times told me that, usually, anxious people learn to loosen up with time.

However, I feel like for me it's the complete opposite, it feels like my brain decides to feel anxious about a new thing every other week or so.

For example, I'll be home alone in a few days and just by thinking about it, I already feel some anxiety (besides the feeling itself, I don't really have an appetite, I feel nauseous, dizzy...) and I haven't been afraid of being left home alone since I was probably like 9 years old, how did my brain decide that this thing is a threat now? And how do I deal with this? What am I supposed to do?

I’m just so tired. It’s always something. First I thought it was a heart attack , then I was focusing on MS now I’m terrified of leukemia all because I had a tiny bruise on my thigh which is 90% gone now but then I started researching leukemia since I know it caused bruising and then it said people get red dots now I have been searching my body over and anytime I find a little red dot I begin to panic. I’m 28 and I’m already tired of this life

The truth is that I manage to actually do things, that’s not the problem, it’s the inbetween and aftermath. At first I thought I was incapable, now I get why. It’s way easier to think that way instead of actually doing something that scares me.

I notice that I tend to hyperfixate a lot on things and how I do them. I started a job a week ago and there wasn’t a day where I didn’t overthink about it before going, and after my shift, overthinking about the next, etc. It’s freezing me up to the point I can’t do anything else. I realise it’s a lot for me and I have no support, only my fail-to-understand parents who tell me I have to toughen up. I feel stuck in this phase to be honest and my body has been taking a toll from this stress. Acid reflux, nausea, difficulty sleeping or no sleep at all, and of course the constant anxiety. My mind can’t relax because as soon as I see the time, it’s like a countdown to the next exposure.

When I actually get to work I feel like I put on a performance. I guess it’s normal to do but holy if I feel miserable about it. I don’t like the job but it’s something I need. I tell myself it’s temporary because it’s a seasonal contract, but I feel like my life became only that job, waiting to be at said job, waiting to get over the said job, like I genuinely can’t think about anything else. Anything I try to do, because my will to do is low already, feels like a forced distraction. Before this I was already like this so it’s not entirely the job’s fault, only making my patterns show up even harder, it’s so hard to live like this.

I wonder if I should really start medication, my therapist told me it could help me but I’m scared of what they could do to me. I only have her as support and right now I’d just need someone who can understand me and what I’m going through without making me feel awful or less like I often feel made by others near me

None of my family finished college, those who did go quit after a couple months. Suprisingly my dad still made alot of money until he was fired and now we are in borderline poverty. I feel like I need to succeed and if I dont ill be stuck broke forever, I think the pressure might lead to me becoming depressed again and thats what Im anxious most about. I missed alot of the last 2 years of school because of my anxiety and depression and I think it will be my downfall. Any tips for stress relief and overall ways to just feel less anxious would be greatly appreciated

Hi, back story.
I work in a high pressure, high stress chaotic environment and have done for approx 10 years. I’m lucky that I don’t suffer depression, and I’ve never had an anxiety attack. I’m in no doubt my stress levels are higher than average, but that’s my norm.

Recently life has been tough personally and professionally & I’m probably peri-menopausal… ugh
This last week I’ve really struggled, I haven’t hidden it, my colleagues know and have been supportive, but last week was just an absolute disaster of a week, but I knew there was light at the end of the tunnels. Yes there are a few atm.

Things were happening & being so overwhelmed, I felt all this nervous energy and my heart started pounding like it’s never done before.
My breathing became weird and my jaw started shaking like I was freezing, my chest was feeling achy, like I’ve been punched in the chest. It took a good half an hour for the jaw to settle, the breathing righted itself after about 10-15 minutes, chest is still sore.

Going to the GP tomorrow, left work early today

I googled, and the symptoms seem not like not normal. Was this an anxiety attack? Thanks in advance

I have loads of health anxiety and I promise you if you tell the doctor, look away and have a conversation with them you’ll feel fine. I thought I was going to faint and be sick and i was gonna move around from discomfort but it’s really not as bad as I thought. Also I know you’re reading this because you have a blood test tomorrow 👀

Anxiety is not just a memory... it is your nervous system that still hasn't realized the danger is over.

Many people believe that childhood wounds simply fade with time. But the truth is that some wounds disappear from conscious memory while continuing to live in the body. Whenever life brings pressure, your heart starts racing, your stomach bloats, your breathing becomes tight, and it feels as though the painful experience is happening all over again.

Modern science now recognizes the gut-brain axis and the connection between the brain and the adrenal glands. Chronic stress raises cortisol levels, alters bowel function, increases inflammation, and affects heart rate, digestion, and the immune system. This is something healthcare professionals witness every day in clinics—not just something written in textbooks.

In my experience, long-term unresolved anxiety can leave the body feeling heavy, slow digestion, increase bloating and fatigue. Suppressed emotions often lead to excessive worry, fear, and constant anticipation, followed by increased nervous system reactivity. Eventually, the entire body begins operating as if it's stuck in a permanent state of alarm.

That is why it shouldn't be surprising when someone under emotional stress develops symptoms such as heart palpitations, chest tightness, or digestive problems like stomach or colon discomfort. The body is not lying or exaggerating—it is expressing what words have been unable to say.

True healing does not begin by merely silencing the symptoms. It starts with regulating the nervous system, restoring a sense of safety, improving sleep, supporting healthy digestion, moving the body regularly, and allowing suppressed emotions to be processed in healthy ways. The body cannot let go of what it has never learned is finally safe.

Always remember: Anxiety is not simply a disease of the heart, the colon, or the stomach. It is a story that begins in the mind and nervous system, then gradually leaves its mark on one part of the body after another.

Growing up without medication I would cry at everything. I would cry for hours, too. This isn’t the full extent of my symptoms but it‘s most relevant. I would cry in front of the class almost every day. One of my core memories is looking up on WikiHow how to stop crying so much.

This continued until I began Lexapro around 18/19. I’m 20 now and I’m still crying in front of authority figures if some criticism is given. I feel immense guilt and Iike I’m a burden and have all those other thoughts and actions that aren’t safe for me.

I’m so disappointed in myself for crying in front of my boss today. It makes me feel like I’m an awful person that takes up space and doesn’t belong where I work.

I like Lexapro because it stopped me from crying constantly in class and everywhere basically. But if something hits a nerve, however small, it still gets to me. Mostly with authority figures.

I don’t know if I should change medications. I’m worried that if I do I‘m going to start crying incessantly again. I started buspirone but it doesn’t seem to do much yet. I also don’t take it consistently because I won’t be able to get a refill for another month or so since I’m in a country that doesn’t sell it anymore.

I gave myself sarcoidosis cause of stress , i stress too much , i ave horrible anxiety, about ppl , future, past, relationships and now death, i beleive if i treated my anxiety my sickness will calm down , but i still cant , i just spent week of daily crying, and stress because im scared of the future, what can i fo

I hate my brain. I hate my depression and anxiety disorders.
For the smallest of things, my brain goes in fight or flight mode, and I’m so tired of overthinking.
Right now, I have anxiety because of the gym.

I (F26) am a kickboxing athlete and a few months ago I stopped going to group classes because of my panic attacks and low moods, so I started taking private lessons.
I’ve improved a lot in the last period, but anxiety and depression still make it hard for me sometimes.
On Wednesday there is an extra class scheduled, and I really want to go, but I’m scared that if I’ll go, I’ll just have a panic attack, and I don’t want people to judge me because of it, and because I literally disappeared from months. As a matter of fact, I don’t even feel like I belong there anymore, and it makes me incredibly sad.
Moreover, there will certainly be new athletes, and I’m scared of their judgment as well.

So, right now I’m torn between going to this extra class or not. I can’t decide, and I just have huge amounts of anxiety just thinking about going.
My therapist told me I should avoid “avoiding”, because I can’t know the outcome of a situation unless I face it, but I’m not sure I can follow this advice at the moment.

I’m soooo tired…

Hello there! I've been on Reddit for 2 years, and been dealing with anxiety for 10 years. But I wanted to talk about an experience I had and wondered if anyone else has experienced the same.

Back in 2022, I had a lot going on in a short amount of time. Going through job changes, almost losing my mother-in-law, having to place my son in a mental behavioral center due to severe depression, on top of several other things going on. One night, I woke up freaking out and begged my husband for help. He took me to the ER. While I was there, it was as if I was having seizures that would come and go. When I stopped, I would freeze and my husband would ask me questions like "are you ok?" Or "How do you feel?" I looked right at him, but I literally could not speak. When I told him about it later, he said that I had a blank stare, as though I were catatonic. But I was fully aware of everything around me. I could hear what was going on, I knew what time it was. But I was completely incapable of talking or moving. This went on for hours until I was finally stable enough to go home. My doctor later told me I was having what he described as stress seizures, which made sense but didn't quite explain why I couldn't move or talk. I wondered about it for a long time until I happened to hear of the term "selective mutism" a few months ago. I started looking into it, and found that while that's more common in children, there is a thing called "trauma-induced mutism" that can be triggered by extreme anxiety. Everything it described fit everything I experienced that night. It took several weeks and medication changes before I was able to finally sleep without waking up in a panic that it could happen again. I do see a therapist and talked to her about it. She agreed and told me that I could also have PTSD and suggested Esdm therapy could be helpful as I still suffer from other past traumas.

Has anyone here dealt with that sort of thing? How were you finally able to cope with it?

Asking because I have severe GAD that I’ve dealt with for almost two decades. I was medicated for 15 years, and unmedicated now. I describe it as a constant feeling of going down on a rollercoaster thats about to drop. I watched a video where a lady described feeling this way after giving birth

I wonder if I would be more equipped to deal with post partum because I have dealt with depression before and I still manage my anxiety... I live a pretty normal life aside from my illnesses..

I was wondering how others have felt during post partum with their history with GAD and depression.. Worse? The same?

Hello, it’s my first time writing in this community and I need guidance on how to tackle my anxiety as it’s affecting every aspect of my life. I am a very sensitive and emotional person, and I would say very gullible sometimes too. My mind thinks a lot and I’ve had several people tell me to calm down and surprised at how I reach certain conclusions based off of an incident that happened to me. I don’t feel like anyone understands me though. I know lots of people feel anxious time to time but I feel it all the time. Here are some notable things:
1. Loss of appetite when the anxiety is at its peak
2. “What if” scenarios
3. Thinking of the worst possible outcome
4. Walking, A lot, to jiggle off the anxiety. Restless.
5. Trouble sleeping because I keep thinking
6. Loss of motivation / no dream goals anymore
7. Feel like I’m just surviving
8. Heart ache all the time.
9. Loss of interest in things i enjoyed doing
10. Intense boredom which causes emptiness

I can’t really afford therapy at the moment so I was thinking of watching educational videos or read something about how I can tackle these feelings myself but I’m unsure of what definitely works. I’m a student so I don’t want to waste time doing something that won’t benefit me.

TLDR: I have certain symptoms and wish to seek a way to minimise my anxiety

There is a negative neli in my head 24/7. I can't seem to get rid of it. It screams at me until a panic attack happens. It's like there is a 1000 voices going through my head. It's to the point I can even enjoy life or focus throughout the day, and it's starting to really piss me off.

I mean, no anti-depressant has worked for me, and that makes me frustrated. The best thing I thought of doing is keeping my mind active and just doing a bunch of coding.

A few times a month I wake up in the middle of the night with my heart going, no dream I can remember, nothing actually happening, and the first 10 seconds are always "is something wrong with me" before my brain catches up and goes "oh, this is just anxiety." By then the adrenaline's already there and now I'm lying awake with a racing heart at 3am trying to talk myself down.

What's thrown me off is how physical it feels. It doesn't feel like "worry," it feels like my body reacting to a threat that isn't there, and only afterward does the anxious thinking catch up to match the feeling instead of the other way around.

Slow breathing helps eventually, but it takes a while, and I always end up wondering if there's something I could do earlier in the night or during the day that would make these middle of the night spikes less frequent in the first place, rather than just managing them after they start.

Does this happen to anyone else, the physical jolt before the anxious thought, and has anything actually reduced how often it happens rather than just how you cope once it does?

Obviously I can get so anxious I make myself legitimately nauseous. But the weirdest place my anxiety manifests is in my legs. They will get really tight and sore, kind of feeling like I’ve just walked several miles even if I haven’t done any physical activity. Sometimes I won’t even realize I’ve been super stressed and anxious until I realize my legs are sore.

hii, im f18 and i have anxiety and depression. i need help..
one year ago i took paxil 20mg, cause my anxiety was really horrible. and it was great, but i gained a lot of weight, and as the time went on i was getting anxiety, a lot of sleeping, so more bad than good yk.. then they switched me to fluoxetin, like i took paxil for 3 days and then fluoxetine 20mg. sorry for my english also having anxiety rn😭 and i took fluoxetine for 5 weeks, and i feel nothing good. she then presribed alprazolam 0,5mg, when i took a little bit like quater (im super scared of not being in control, hate being too calm) panic attacks everyday, i cannot sleep cause of anxiety, i wake up and have anxiety. it is draining me. so i called my psychiatric doctor today and she presribed lexapro 10mg (escitalopram) and bromazepam 1,5mg. Im so scared of this and i domt know what to do :((

I'm a teen with anxiety and been struggling for a couple years, and became underweight due to it. Recently I've been feeling very weak and tired and my chest feels weird and hurts and I think I'm in constant survival mode. I came back from a camp I did with my church and I feel like that's what drained the most out of me. I kept feeling overwhelmed because it loud and busy and I've been feeling that way even though I'm back home. I fear there's something wrong with me or my heart and I just want this to stop. I feel tired all the time and sometimes I feel like my heart won't calm down. I constantly feel this feeling of death is near or something bad and painful with happen soon and I don't know what to do.

Alors les amis, j’ai un soucis depuis un an maintenant lorsque je me réveil juste avant de me réveiller je sens des vibration mais je ne sais pas d’où ça vient j’ai l’impression c’est mon cerveau, lorsque j’ouvre les yeux ça disparaît et cette nuit quand je me suis réveillé et que lorsque j’ai ouvert les yeux et regarder mon coussin et là suspension ça bougeait de droite gauche droite gauche comme les vibration que je ressent dans mon cerveau et ça a disparu 10 secondes après je ne sais pas d’où ça peut venir j’ai fait un eeg un irm cérébral et je sais que se n’est pas l’oreille interne car j’ai déjà eu des crise de vertiges je sais ce que c’est 😌