Why So Scared?

Have you tried meditation? Meditation will help to calm you down and relieve some of the perpetual stress you seem to be dealing with. It won’t cure an issue that needs medical attention, but it sounds as though a lot of your fear is self-imposed. You obviously know what you are afraid of, but do you know why?

Get a copy of the book “Feel the fear and do it anyhow.” It has lots of suggestions on how to deal with your fear. Also sounds like you could be having anxiety attacks which manifest themselves into specific fears, look online or in self help books for tools to use in dealing with anxiety.

Have you experienced something (anything) traumatic that you may not have moved on from – emotionally? Are you really stressed at work (or school) – any changes in your life that could have triggered this?

I know you mentioned that you can’t afford to get a diagnosis, but I would really recommend at least appealing to family or friends to see about borrowing money for a single consultation with a psychologist or therapist.

It may seem like a strange thing to borrow money for, but it’s entirely possible that this may be stemming from something more complicated. These people help others for a living, so they’re going to be more practiced at finding a source for your problems and helping you deal with it productively.

If you already have issues with paranoia, going the self-help route may just introduce you to more things to be afraid/paranoid of.

I don’t really understand the cause because at first I thought it was because I had a bad day, but some days will go perfectly and it will still happen. My friend told me he thought I had anxiety paired with acute paranoia.

@Amoebic – excellent point!

@ShanSlumbers – really, you do need to be able to talk to someone. Do you have people that maybe you could borrow the money to see someone to discuss this? Is there a county health center that has a sliding scale fee – maybe that could be an option?

It sounds like you are experiencing extreme anxiety and you would be well to see a competent psychiatrist and or psychologist. You may suffer from a variety of Obsessive Compulsive Disorders and would be well suited to seek professional help. They would probably be able to offer you medication along with behavioral modification. There is no reason you have to be tormented. Best of Luck

My friends are all broke college kids and my parents think that I make these things up.

@ShanSlumbers – does the college offer any services? I’m sorry your parents aren’t seeing your need for assistance.

I’m not in college. My friends are. Im in my last year of high school at a place where nobody can be trusted.

@ShanSlumbers – based on your current situation (and lack of funds), I would try to educate yourself as best as possible on anxiety and related disorders. Also, finding someone to talk to about what you’re thinking, how you’re feeling, and so on will help. Having an outside perspective of what’s going on in your head would be a good thing.

I sincerely feel as though the better you understand what could potentially be causing this constant fear, the more likely it is you will be able to move past it. While it would be best to have help from a professional, you can do as much as possible on your own until an opportunity arises. Talking to your parents would likely be a good idea as well… it may continue to do nothing, but if you are well informed and can articulate the problem clearly because you have tried to self-educate yourself on the issues, they many be more willing to listen.

Ill start studying tomorrow. :)

@ShanSlumbers do you have teachers that you trust or confide in? Someone you can tell (or write out) everything without playing it up/down or sugarcoating it? If your parents aren’t taking you seriously, (I’m really sorry to hear that!) then maybe they will listen to another adult. By going to someone outside of your family unit, it may show them that you are actually serious about trying to resolve your problems.

@lindelizery, @rooeytoo: This is just my personal opinion and you can most certainly toss it. If they are going to try to educate themselves on what may be happening, there is a huge open door for misdiagnosis. If this person is already having issues with paranoia, introducing the world of abnormal psychology is a really good way to exacerbate and increase the number of fears this person may have about themselves. Everyone possesses qualities that are similar to symptoms of most disorders to a generally lesser degree; it may not take much for an anxious, paranoid person to worry that they fit the bill for just about any disorder in the book, especially since many of the symptoms are similar, overlap, and may differ greatly from person to person. Also, if a person does make a misdiagnosis, it may complicate the discernment process in the future if they wish to visit a professional.

Basically, if you’re going to research it yourself, take it with a huuuuuge grain of salt, and try to stay objective.

You might want to check out Recovery, Inc. in your area.

Or, if you’re going to college in the fall, talk to your family doctor about it when you go in for your pre-college examination.

Thankyou all for helping! This has really given me some new insight.

You’re not alone, but you do need help, so you can enjoy your life. That sort of stress is not fun.

most counties have mental health facilities that will see you at no charge. i am a big advocate for proper care for folks with emotional or mental issues and i urge you to seek local resources. best to you and if i can be of any further assistance please contact me!

I haven’t read all the comments yet so I don’t know if I’m repeating something. My initial response is that it sounds like you are scared to die in general. Some questions I’d explore if I were you are: Is there something about death that makes you so scared?
Or perhaps you have experienced death of someone you love and now it brings you a lot of anxiety?

What @alvamez says is very true. Pretty much everywhere has a crisis clinic at least and most counties have a sliding scale or free counseling center available. (i use one myself)

I’ve had problems with anxiety myself. A couple things that help me immediately are the following:
– Rescue Remedy (it costs about 9.00 a bottle, its an herb, actually its flower essence, and crisis workers use this herb, it is very well known, you can buy it online or at an herb shop or natural food store).
– Lavender Oil
– A tea made of oat tops

Also journaling is VERY recommended for anxiety issues. When you are feeling anxious sit down and write. Write it all out. It relieves the tension of anxiety. I HATE journaling but even so I do it and it does work.

nami.org—an awesome mental health resource, which will guide you to low or no cost services in your area.