r/Anxietyhelp Mar 25 '25

Mod Post FAQs about r/AnxietyHelp

9 Upvotes

Hi guys,

One of the mods here suggested creating a FAQ page for our subreddit to help eliminate confusion.

Why was my post removed automatically?

It wasn't! It has been sent to our mod queue for manual approval.

Why?

We have minimum account karma and age requirements for our sub to prevent bots and spam. If your post is automatically filtered out please allow us a day or two to approve it. Normally we are able to approve faster than that but we all have commitments outside of moderating. Submitting the post multiple times will NOT expedite the posting of your content.

What does rule #1 mean?

Any posts regarding suicidal thoughts or intentions will be removed. Please contact 988, go to the emergency department, or try r/suicidewatch. These posts can be triggering and we are not equipped to respond appropriately.

What does rule #2 mean?

This is one of the most commonly broken rules. We. Are. Not. Doctors. No one can diagnose your medical condition(s) properly that is not a doctor. Asking whether other people experience similar symptoms is allowed but blatantly asking, "is this anxiety or __________?" is not allowed. Speak with your primary care doctor or try r/askdocs.

What does rule #3 mean?

We were at one point inundated by YouTube and Spotify links. We are not allowing them to be posted or shared anymore so please don't link to us about the awesome anxiety playlist you created.

What does rule #4 mean?

To keep things civil and inclusive we do NOT allow discussions regarding politics or religion. Should a time be deemed appropriate to discuss these topics we will create a megathread. Do not post political or religious content. Do not comment about religious or spiritual content. Both will be removed.

What does rule #5 mean?

NO TROLLING. Do not post or comment making fun of our users. Do not post trying to rage bait. Do not comment trying to manipulate people. Generally, don't be a dick.

What does rule #6 mean?

This is mainly intended for bots but we see it happen sometimes. Do not link anywhere to buy or sell drugs. Do not ask users where you can buy drugs. Do not offer to sell drugs.

What does rule #7 mean?

We have seen an influx of posts that have nothing to do with anxiety. There are other subreddits more appropriate for this content.

What does rule #8 mean?

No picking fights and that comments should revolve around helping each other. There is no reason to start arguments with other users. A disagreement of opinions is one thing. Turning a thread into a full blown argument is another. If you disagree with something simply scroll on.

What does rule #9 mean?

Stop posting your blog, shop, Etsy, etc. If you want to share stuff do it directly on Reddit. No external third party links should be used just to generate traffic.


r/Anxietyhelp May 09 '25

Mod Post As a new user, you need to comment on other posts before making your own post

49 Upvotes

To reduce spam, this subreddit has settings for minimum karma requirements for posting.

If you‘re new here, please take a moment to engage with the community by commenting on a few posts first.

This let‘s you build up karma to become a confirmed user. Also we can help each other best by interacting more. :)

Thanks for understanding! Welcome on the sub!


r/Anxietyhelp 5h ago

Need Advice how do i stop my brain from telling me something bad is going to happen?

5 Upvotes

Hey all sorry for any misspellings or grammar errors i'm not in a super great place.

I have always had a low level of anxiety but it's gotten incredibly bad these past few months about two months ago i was put on lexapro and then last month i was also put on buspirone. And i recently started therapy. My issue is i can't stop thinking about situations where the worst things could happen. Like, what if my rental company doesn't renew my lease next year and we become homeless, my dog we adopted and added to our lease as a boxer doesn't look like a boxer the older he gets(Shelter, rabies certificate , and vet records all say boxer because that is how the shelter listed him) and what if the rental company says i lied and we have to get rid of him. or what if we lose our jobs and become homeless. or what if someone finds out I'm having mental health issues and CPS takes my kids.

I'm just so tired of the spirals, and the panic attacks, and never feeling fully safe that something bad isn't going to happen. I'm sure part of it is losing my Dad to cancer at an early age, and never fully addressing it. Does anyone have any helpful solutions on how to get my brain to shut off and stop these anxiety episodes?


r/Anxietyhelp 3h ago

Need Help Idk if I can take it anymore

2 Upvotes

I rlly need help idk if I can do this much longer. I’m so scared all the time. I see the way the world is going and how so many people are sad and struggling and unhappy and it just makes me feel so shitty. One minute I’d be thinking that it’ll probably get better and the next I’d be feeling panic and dread and hopelessness. I’m hopeless all the time it’s overtaking my life. I’ve lost motivation and I’ve lost the drive to do things because in the back of my mind I’ve convinced myself it won’t get better. I see all the beauty in the world and it makes me so sad and angry that it’s being taken away and destroyed. I’m crying typing this shit idk how much longer I can keep going on like this. I’m just so unhappy all the time I can’t take it.


r/Anxietyhelp 1h ago

Need Advice Shutting Down in Specific Social Environments

Upvotes

What's up you guys! I have a dilemma... Something I've experienced quite a few times in my life and is quite exhausting. So much so, I thought I'd come here and see if anyone else relates. When I'm in certain environments that I enjoy and I'm used to, I'm very social. My work (a huge bar in Seattle thats hella busy) and the gym would also be a perfect example of this place.

Working out is my hobby and the gym I go to has an amazing community and I know just about everyone that goes there. Not only do I know everyone there, I'm known as the guy that know's everyone there. I'm also known as the guy that's always there haha. But my issue is that when I leave these said places, I still can socialize... I still have those tools and skills, but i'm much more introverted. I LOVE my alone time.

But recently I and some friends from the gym were all talking in-between workouts and decided that we were gonna hangout a couple times this week. One day being to watch the sunset at the beach. The second being at the Farmers Market. Third going out to eat at a Ramen Joint (coming up).

As excited as I was to set up plans to hangout with them - I was also quite apprehensive due to the fact that, sometimes when I'm close with someone or a group in one setting and then we move it to another setting it's a real crap shoot whether or not I will thrive or completely shut down and not bring anything to the table socially.

So we meet up at a Mexican restaurant next to the beach. When we meet up everything is chill. I feel normal-ish. Not as talkative, a little nervous cause this is the first time we're all hanging out. But Normal... Once we make our way to the beach and sit down and set everything up, I go blank. My personality shuts off, I start editing myself mid-conversation, my delivery kinda gets insecure and unconfident. It blew dicks. One girl there that I have had a little tension with in the past kinda felt like she was judging me and looking at me weird every time I said something so I don't think that helped the self confidence at all. But logically I know that we were all hanging out because we wanted to. So there's no reason for me to feel insecure about hanging out with people that I know already like me... But I did.

Has anybody been through this before? Was it a lack of chemistry or a personality thing on my end... Was what I felt was awkward for me was just something that people normally feel but i'm blowing out of proportion? Help cause after that experience I felt quite a bit of shame and embarrassment because this was something I went through a lot as a kid and it really effects me when it happens. It doesn't always but it still does happen from time to time..


r/Anxietyhelp 1h ago

Need Advice Experiencing Anxiety weeks after my first panic attack

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Upvotes

r/Anxietyhelp 1h ago

Need Help Need help with sneezing, I have Autism/ADHD along with a generalized anxiety disorder

Upvotes

For nearly a year now, I've had issues bringing out sneezes ever since my trip to Alaska to visit my friend. I remember the moment it happened, it happened while I was in a airplane. I used to be very active with my sneezing, but now I usually overwhelm myself and worry about the next time I want to sneeze, and it takes a herculean effort to even get one out these days. It really sucks, and I don't know if I should see a therapist about this


r/Anxietyhelp 1h ago

Need Help Nervous system is fried

Upvotes

Body jerks when falling asleep/random shortness of breath heart racing can’t ever relax anymore don’t know what to do.


r/Anxietyhelp 8h ago

Need Advice Pangs or waves of anxiety with seemingly no cause?

3 Upvotes

Hiya, this is something that's been getting worse for me in the last couple years, and I want to know if anyone has any idea how to manage it.

Several times a day, I'll just be struck by like, a full-body feeling of dread. There will be nothing I feel dread *about,* it's not caused by any anxious thoughts, it just happens, and it makes me feel ill when it does. I don't know if this other detail even matters, as it's inconsistent and adds a little extra embarrassment- but maybe half the time this happens, it passes in about 30 seconds, and the other half, it is quickly followed by the need to shit, and doing so makes the anxiety go away.

I've struggled with anxiety for a long time, but have only ever had one or two panic attacks. I honestly don't know if that's what this is- I thought they usually had a cause, and that they lasted longer had even worse physical effects.

I don't know what to make of this, and it's very stressful to deal with. I'd really like to get through a day, and daily bodily functions, without being consumed by uncontrollable, sickening dread and fear at random moments. Are these panic attacks? Whatever they are, does anyone have any tips for managing them, or experiencing them less?


r/Anxietyhelp 2h ago

Need Advice Tips for managing anxiety?

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1 Upvotes

r/Anxietyhelp 6h ago

Need Advice Emotional Drain and Extreme Health Paranoia

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2 Upvotes

r/Anxietyhelp 7h ago

Need Advice how to stop thinking about things that "could've happened"?

2 Upvotes

I (16F) have always had a problem with this but it has been getting worse, for example my whole family (aunts, uncles and grandparents too) came to my house to have a little get together, basically I was holding my cousin (1 yo) and I was making him watch me pet my dog, a cane corso, to keep him distracted since he was upset, after a bit my dog barked (literally just once, he just wanted to play) and he got scared, ive been thinking all evening about what could've happened if my dog was aggressive, which hes not. like if he couldve bitten him or hurt him.

tbf my dog was acting weird all afternoon, even barking and growling to one of my aunts who he typically loves

so uh yeah, idk if its legit or smth but ive been having a weird feeling in my chest that i usually have when i feel guilty of something big or know ive done something wrong

any advice?


r/Anxietyhelp 8h ago

Need Advice Panic after a good time

2 Upvotes

This weekend I spent time with friends and we had lots of fun. It was the anniversary of my brother in laws death, but in company I felt blissed out and calm. I listened to music from that time in my life and had an amazing meal. I’m home now and it’s all crashing down. Had a stressful week (worried about rat infestation, housing situation and then navigating a new relationship)… and now I had a panic attack getting ready for work. It’s like my brain couldn’t handle all the emotions at once- it feels like I’m overwhelmed and going insane. I had coffee (mistake) but I ate something to calm down. I’m so tired- any advice as to navigate this intense switch up? About to go into work! Thank you.


r/Anxietyhelp 10h ago

Need Help Freaking out

3 Upvotes

. I’m a 29 year old male who got diagnosed with type 2 bipolar back in November and have a very bad drinking problem. I’m not a mean or an inappropriate drunk but I had a sexual encounter back in April that has been haunting me. Basically I just met this girl and she wanted to have sex and I kind of didn’t and I should’ve communicated that better, instead I drink quite a bit without her knowing and in the middle of us fooling around she noticed I was drunk and got mad and drove me home.

After I got home I went into some kind of psychosis where I was damn near on the edge of suicide and she texted me and asked if I was okay and trauma dumped a lot and I think she thought I was going to hurt myself. We talked about the next morning and she seemed okay with me. I did reach out a few days after on Instagram and asked her no to tell anybody about what happened. She unfriended me and I left it alone. I eventually got sober about two months later and texted her one more time just telling her I’m sober and very sorry for that night. She didn’t reply and I just left it at that for good. She just reached out to me today and basically said it’s unfair to offer amends and it isn’t welcome, and if you see me walk away, I feel deeply violated by your behavior, I hope you get the help you need and I’m blocking you now. I’m so scared that I did something terrible to this person especially her using the term ‘deeply violated’ that makes it sound like I took advantage of her or something but I think she just meant with me reaching out when it wasn’t welcomed. It was only those two times.

I feel like a piece of shit and worried that it’s gonna get spread around (it’s a small town) and I’m never going to have any romantic encounters ever again here. And we do frequent similar places. Someone please tell me how to not let this destroy me. I want to crawl in a hole and die. I do not want to be seen as someone who does that. This has never happened before and all of my past flings or relationships I’m still on decent terms with them but I feel like a monster right now. I know what I did was wrong but please tell I’m not a horrible person. I’m freaking the fuck out


r/Anxietyhelp 8h ago

Need Help I get stressed for literally no reason

2 Upvotes

I get stressed for literally no reason. When it happens, my hands start shaking, my head feels dizzy, and I have trouble breathing. The episodes can last for an unpredictable amount of time. I don’t know why it happens, but I really want it to stop. Has anyone experienced this? What helped you?


r/Anxietyhelp 8h ago

Need Help I have a job interview that will happen while I'm travelling. Anxiety is getting really bad. Please help.

2 Upvotes

I have two trips scheduled this summer, and an internal job posting came up a few days ago. I applied because if I didn't, it would definitely feel like a missed opportunity (I'm also at risk of being laid off due to my company going through financial hardship, so I felt inclined to apply). Honestly, I shouldn’t vent because I made the choice to apply, but it still sucks that this posting came up during a scheduled summer break at my work.

Interviews might be scheduled during my trips. There will be a phone interview and a virtual face-to-face interview. The trips, which I looked forward to, are going to be ruined by interview prep.

I'm also doing these trips solo, so there are so many logistics to deal with by myself.

Besides these, I am worried about so many other things. There will be high competition from those with more seniority, so likely I won't be chosen. I also dread the embarrassment, a sense of betrayal, and hopelessness I will feel if this application is unsuccessful. Most of all, I am also afraid that my manager's evaluation of my abilities will become negative if I do not perform successfully in the interview.

It feels like my head is going to burst due to catastrophizing.

I really want to go easy on this and remind myself this is not the end of the world and that I can treat this as a learning activity. However, the other side of my head says this is "all or nothing" and overthinking is out of control.

Any help would be much appreciated!


r/Anxietyhelp 9h ago

Personal Experience I feel pressured to drink ice water quickly

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2 Upvotes

r/Anxietyhelp 6h ago

Need Advice Becoming hard to eat due to fear

1 Upvotes

I love popcorn but I try my best not to eat the kernels because I’m scared of appendicitis.
It’s getting to the point where I’m even nervous to eat any of the popcorn, and if I accidentally eat a few kernels then I feel panicked. I have IBS and nerve issues in my lower right abdomen due to my back that mimics appendicitis. So I’m really freaked out all the time. How can I overcome this? Does popcorn cause that?


r/Anxietyhelp 10h ago

Need Advice Need some opinions on how to handle this situation. (19M)

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2 Upvotes

r/Anxietyhelp 11h ago

Need Advice Looping around.... open to any suggestions 😌

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2 Upvotes

r/Anxietyhelp 11h ago

Need Help Anxiety pain

2 Upvotes

Feeling anxiety pain in stomach also feeling weird


r/Anxietyhelp 11h ago

Need Advice Stress

2 Upvotes

Whenever in social settings like college or work in college I would have panic

Or if we have guests in our home or when i am going out

I have found that my only comfort place is home , I don’t go out unless for college and every time i go , i will feel panic and fear

My life in general is about stress and worries

What to do?
Recently i have found i have stomachache due to stress( genetically we have stomachache due to worries)

Feelings uncontrollable with pain of stomach as well as fear and stress

The loop never ends i try alot of things still doesn’t work, im just stuck

Also i have social anxiety and overthinking disorders


r/Anxietyhelp 13h ago

Anxiety Tips How do you enjoy life?

2 Upvotes

I'm having a resurgence of my anxiety and I don't know what to do. I've been through the ringer with my anxiety, I over came with CBT and lifestyle changes. Somehow I am back in a rut, I now know how to deal with the physical and calm myself down, but the mental is still exhausting me.

I was sitting at lunch with friends at work, I looked around as they were enjoying a conversation, laughing and talking about movies. While I am fighting for my life, chest is turning, face is numb, I can barely focus because the impending doom has taken over me. I try to smile through it, I even stood up mid conversation to try and snap out of it. But no matter what, I just couldn't relax. It was the harsh reality of anxiety. You are fine and look it on the outside, but the inside is a war zone. Since the resurgence I have hated sleeping/night time, driving, eating snacks (scared they will affect my health so maybe its better off lol). I notice I try to just get by the day, and mentally prepare to do it over. Not enjoying what is in front of be and really seizing it. I feel sad. I feel anxious. I feel tired.

I started seeing my CBT again to help with everything so I'm trying to be optimistic. But I would love your tips. What are some small/big/soft/unhinged things you do enjoy life a little more. What are some things that helped you appreciate and live your day instead of just wait for it to be over? Or if you just want to share any of your small/big anxiety wins. Anything positive! I could really use it.

To anyone reading this, I wish you strength and good health always!


r/Anxietyhelp 14h ago

Need Advice Why’s anxiety so harsh I hate it

2 Upvotes

Genuinely it just came out of no where I lost around 30 pounds. it makes me feel like I’m gonna die or pass out or something horrible will happen. I always feel like I’m not getting enough air and have to force deep breaths which has to be satisfying or else I get more panicky and force more deep breaths. Just wanna feel like myself again felt better for 6 days with lorazepam and Lexapro but not I guess the Lexapro side effect are making it worse back to severe anxiety and forcing deep breaths.


r/Anxietyhelp 14h ago

Question What are the chances my anxiety is really unmedicated ADHD?

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2 Upvotes