Im 16 and have really bad anxiety. I am looking for advice so if you are a therapist. I am always thinking I am going to die. Like now, I do. I feel lightheaded and feel like I am going to stop breathing. I take melatonin at night otherwise I won't be able to sleep well. I already know it's in my head so, I just need to hear from a reliable person that I am ok, and that I won't die. I need to hear it takes a lot for a person to just stop breathing. i also would like some proof so I can believe you. Remember I am only 16 and have no background knowledge on this. Please help. Thanks
Hi Heather, I am not a therapist or doctor, but here to offer my support as I suffered from terrible anxiety for a while. It would take over me and consume me to the point where I also thought I would stop breathing. The only way that I was able to get a hold of it was to practice slowing down my breathing. I would breathe in deeply, hold it for a moment, and then exhale. I would also walk away from stressful environments; walking outside into the fresh air would always help me, as well as putting on my ipod and listening to happy music.
Again, I am not a doctor, so I would advise seeing a doctor if you are having serious shortness of breath. Have you seen anyone?
Thank you for your advice. I will try the breathing and let you know. And I haven't seen a doctor. I have been trying to get my dad to take me. And thanks for everything.
check out Dr. Robert Sapolsky on u-tube …he explains some science to why you feel bad…C"mon now dont be sad …pleeeease.
Ok. I will look at that. Thank you for your advice.
i'm always checkin ...lemme know how your doin.anxiety,in a huge form like this is somewhat unbearable at times .....day by day ......alright.
yeah i know. and ok i will :)
heather, welcome to the site and well done for reaching out in such a tough time!!
puppy's advice is pretty much what i would give. anxiety is mainly a state of mind rather than a physical issue although at the time it may feel differently.
i too suffer from anxiety and when i hit a panic attack i feel as if my lungs are about to burst simply cause i cannot breathe. the best way to deal with it is achnowledging it for what it is. i tell myself, 'crap i can feel a panic attack coming on!' so i stop myself from whatever im doing and i just tell myself breath in, breath out, deeply, feel your chest rising and falling and realize that you're still alive, that nothing is actually happening other than you worrying yourself too much in that moment.
you should definitely talk to your doctor though about the anxiety. do you have any idea why you could be so scared to die? and how long has that been going on?
love
maedi
Thank you. And I try. I am only 16 and also a hypercondriat. Which explains why I think I am going to die. It has been going on for almost a year. I come to find that relaxation music helps. Lets hope it calms me down all the time. oh and thank you so much for helping. I really do appreciate your thought.
try something called ARTAINMENT......look up the "light freedom party" its rather peaceful.
Ok thank you . :) I will keep you informed.
well with anxiety and anxiety attacks usually a person might feel like they are going to die because you feel like you can't breathe but YOU WON'T DIE. you will be ok. You should definately see a psychiatrist to try to figure out WHY you have this overwhelming anxiety and they can help you work through it. Has anything changed recently that makes you stressed or have you been worrying about something in particular that causes anxiety? To try calming yourself down do things you might enjoy that are relaxing such as writting, singing, listening to music, art, etc. Anxiety sucks because it makes you feel really bad as if your world is comming to an end but you'll live. It just feel bad when you're having and anxiety attack but try to realex by doing something calming. just remember although you think you're about to die you wont! Try talking to a counselor about this. Schools usually have people you can talk to. You're in HS right since you're 16? They should have people there but you can also ask your doctor for a referral to a psychiatrist and see someone privately. Good Luck!
Such great suggestions and guidance. Thank you all for sharing.
Heather, please let us know how things are progressing for you.
That is a greath idea. I start school sunday so I will go see my counselor. Thanks a lot Rose. I like to write and sing and dance lol. And I have just been through a lot in my life. Ever since I have been watching my bro and sis, it came but it wasn't so bad intil my dad got this gf. I called this chick mom. Stuff happened and my anxiety got worse. I will keep you guys all informed and I thank you for everything. :)
my dad recently died and I was having similar feelings like OMG i feel I’m going to die but I was more thankfull like YES! finally I will die b/c I can’t take this pain! but here I am still alive. anxiety makes you feel like you’re dying but believe me you aren’t. I listend to my ipod and it kind of calmed me but certain songs made me cry b/c they expressed how I was feeling but coulnd’t express myself or they felt like something I’d say to dad etc. but it was more depression and crying rather than anxiety and hyperventillating. also, sometiems I wrote letters to him or poems. try writting poems about your life if you liek poems or try learning some songs since you like to sing. go out to karaokee. put that ipod on and just tune into the radio station and tune out the stressful world =D and if you like to dance go take a dance class or join a dance club at school or just put music in your room and go crazy 
nobody’s watching so jsut dance. I’ve done that before and when you move around your body releases endorphins which actually make you feel less stressed and happier. Think about it have you ever seen someone on a dance floor crying or do you usually see people laughing and smiling when they dance? I’m glad you’re going to go see a therapist. I have and can personally say that it does help because you don’t feel crazy for having the stress and there is someone to listen to you and help you examine WHY you are stressed and what’s going on and sometimes things that you don’t think contribute to teh stress are the main causes of stress!!! you might learn something new about yourself! I hope it works out <3 I’m here to listen if you want to chat =) Just post or send me an email and I’ll get back to you <3
Thanks rose. I took a melatonin like 30 minutes ago because if I dont I wont be able to sleep. I can't sleep. I am totally paranoid that I won't be able to wake up in the morning because I died in my sleep. I hate this feeling. I try telling myself I will be ok but I am having that dieing feeling anyways. I would dance but I am way to freaking tired and paranoid. If I don't respond, I fell asleep. I would love to hear from you again. Thanks.
and I’d love to chat with you. You can even send me a private message if you like. Sometimes I had that feeling would go to bed and think I was going to die yes I won’t be waking up tomorrow but here I am!!! I assure you it’s just the anxiety speaking. you will be able to wake up. I know you know that even though it feels differently. But if you try to stay awake and ddon’t sleep it will create even more anxiety. There have been times when I don’t sleep because of college work and one week I slep like 1-2 hours a night!!! for a week and then felt like a zombie like I was literally going to collapse and die I blanked out on a test on a subject I was good at I was literally in a daze b/c of lack of sleep was so stressed I walked into the walk-in counselling sessions for emergencies and was sitting there shaking and crying hysterically and hyperventillating as I was trying to explain myself and like figure out why I was that way a lot of it was stress and sleep-deprivation I went to my dorm slept the afteroon away woke up and felt more stable. Have you been keeping yourself up? Because that can also contribute to your anxiety!!! you can google it if you don’t believe me look up side effects of severe sleep deprivation if you like. well I don’t want you to get more paranoid about getting more side effects so if you think that you will get paranoid and think you’re getting more symptoms then please don’t look at it! but if you want to confirm that sleep deprivation causes extreme anxiety and could cause paranoia then you can. It’s up to you. I really think you should see a counselor or just talk to your doctor and ask him for a referral to a psych specialist because it seems liek this is really affecting your life and making you uncomfortable. I’m not sure if you have actual psychiatrists or psychologists in your HS? I know in college there are but I’m not sure about your HS but seeing a professional could definately benefit you. I feel more in control of my stress and anxiety though most of it is b/c my dad died but I had problems with stress before that his dying just made it worse. but seriously I do feel therapy is helping me understand my feelings and rationalize them. I think you feel like you’re probably going crazy for feeling this way but there are things causing this. there have been changes in your life that have caused you anxiety and therapy can help you see that you’re not crazy and it’s ok to feel stress when stressful things happen and they can help you realize that you will NOT die. That’a characteristic of a panic attack but you aren’t dying. Please get lots of sleep. It’s how your brain rests and rejuvinates itself. When your brain is tired and over worked it means more stress anxiety and crazy feelings. I know you are scared but set an alarm for like 9 hours from now go to bed and it may take you a lil while to fall asleep but set an alarm for when you want to wake up but make sure you’re getting enough sleep! don’t set it for just 1 or 2 hours away because then you will wake up tired and feel worse set an alarm for late morning tomorrow and remember that it’s ok to sleep because you won’t die. the alarm will bring you back =) It’s just a suggestion. I hope it helps. And tomorrow you will write sing and DANCE =)
Thank you again. I am not sure if I have one in my school. And no I don't keep myself awake. It just happened last night.I passed out around 12 and woke up around 6. I feel much better and now I can't go back to sleep because I am in a good mood. Maybe I will take a nap later because of the lack of sleep last night. I am going to my Bestest Friend's house tonight and that may explain the good mood because the more I get out of my house the better. Plus, I don't get all panicky over there much. Her mom is a Nurse and I feel safer over there. I think too much stress from babysitting caused this and it got worse with my dads ex gf. Well, I will talk to you when you respond lol.
ohhh so glad to hear you’re going to you best friends house! that’s great. I feel better when I’m away from home also lol my mom drives me nuts!!! I’m glad you got some sleep and feel less anxious today. I hope you have fun let me know how it goes =) Can I ask why you don’t feel safe at home? and do you babysit for money or are you babysitting a younger sibling?
I don't feel safe at home because If I was dieing no one would be able to tell and help me but at my friends house its the opposite. They would know and it is so fun over there. I don't get paid its my 12 year old sister who is a brat ans my 10 year old brother who has asbergers syndrome. The main problem is my sister.. I love her but she has a bad atittude. And thanks for everything. Lol.