When i'm in class at school or out with my family and friends i sometimes feel lightheaded and faint and i think i have social anxiety because i'm scared something might happen to me , like i might faint or be sick , ik it's sound a stupid but oh well , and people could look and judge , i'm a really open person and will do lots of things and don't really care about what people think but when this happens i can't control it , any suggestions to ease it or make me calmer?
Are you eating enough, Alfie?
When I was a teenager I was afraid that other people might throw up when I was present. That worry has left me over the years.
To calm yourself down, try looking at relaxation videos on you tube.
You could also talk to your doctor about getting therapy.
Have you got a school counsellor who could help, or a teacher you particularly like and trust? And what do your parents say?
I'm sure that this is part of growing up but please don't think I'm dismissing your feelings. A good therapist will be able to help you to figure out why you're feeling this anxiety.
Hi alfie It may seem stupid but it's all real. I know exactly what you are going thru. My group therapist seemed to help me a lot by saying OK let's follow this thru.
You feel like you are going to faint? Yes, Then what do you see happening after you faint. Ah, people helping me? Do you think they will judge you because you fainted. Hmmmmm no. Do you think they will be concerned? hmmmmm yes. OK let's say you vomit (hopefully not on another person) or feel sick and shakey/sweaty, what do you think will happen? People will try to help me. Do you think they will be concerned? Yes. Do you think people will judge you for vomiting or being sick. Hmmmmm no. So what exactly are you afraid of? I don't know.
The fastest way I know of calming oneself is to refocus your thinking away from where you mind is taking you. Put a rubber band around your wrist and snap it hard when you can feel the anxety building. Try not to stiffen your muscles sort of shake your body all over like a dog getting water off it's coat (I know that sounds stupid but it helps) and deep breath always remember to deep breath. I use to have 4-6 panic attacks a day and if I was out on the street I'd lean my body on wall or something solid (in order to get away from people and just in case I actually fainted -- never did) and breath while the anxiety runs it's course and it will diminish sooner than you think.
Short of taking medication, there are many ways you can deal with the anxiety but know this -- you cannot control it -- you an merely reduce it to a managable level without meds. Just my two cents (I've had this condition plus a host of other that go with it for over 30 years).
alfie, take it from me -- I have struggled with enough anxiety to kill a herd of cattle and I've learned that I have very little if any control. There are things I can do to make something better. The one thing you MUST NOT DO is try to contain the anxiety. It will run it's course if you talk to yourself and breath and here's the real icing on the cake -- let people know how you are feeling -- that you suffer from anxiety disorder and if you walk away or out of the class room, it's because you are going to calm yourself.
Hope this help in a small way.
oops ran the same paragraph twice. Rats. Wish this board would let up edit out posts.
Great answer, Frazzled.
Thanks mate , i've only just been able to read this and i haven't really thought of it the way you've put it , and it's nice to know that other people suffer to ( in a good way obviously)