My favorite movie (Spirited Away) is playing in theaters this weekend for the 25th anniversary and I have no one to go see it with, so I want to go alone and have a little solo date. Unfortunately, I'm starting to let my anxiety talk me out of it. I just need some words of encouragement!

I'm too anxious. Everything causes me severe anxiety and dread.

If I could, I would never, ever leave the house. My ideal life is to be holed up between the same walls. I would have no issue with that at all.

Unfortunately, people need a "job" to survive so, yeah.... I have no choice but to suffer. I often dream of winning the jackpot at the lottery or finding some mysterious source of income just so I wouldn't have to leave the house anymore. Completely unrealistic and dellusional but that's the only dream keeping me sane.

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I'm 29 from Chennai,India. I am autistic, and honestly, I'm scared of what my future holds. I've been trying to stay positive, telling myself that things will eventually get better and that I shouldn't worry too much about situations beyond my control. But no matter how much I try, I keep falling back into anxiety, fear, and uncertainty.

I don't know where my life is heading anymore.

My job situation is uncertain because I'm a contractual employee. I don't know what will happen to my employment, whether I'll find something stable, or how I'll manage financially if things don't work out. The thought of having to start over without any guarantee of stability genuinely frightens me.

My personal life isn't where I hoped it would be either. I'm struggling with loneliness, and I wish I had someone with whom I could share my worries, happiness, and everyday experiences. I want companionship, emotional support, and a sense of belonging. But sometimes these things feel so distant that I wonder whether my situation will ever change.

Being autistic makes dealing with uncertainty particularly difficult for me. I tend to overthink situations, imagine different possibilities, and worry about things that haven't even happened yet. I know that not every negative possibility will become reality, but knowing that doesn't automatically make my anxiety disappear. Sometimes my mind just refuses to settle down.

What frustrates me the most is that I genuinely tried to be positive. I've tried reminding myself of the things I've managed to accomplish, focusing on the present, and hoping that the future might be better. But when I look at the uncertainty surrounding my career, personal life, and relationships, I find it difficult to hold on to that optimism.

I'm not expecting a perfect life. I just want some stability, a secure job, meaningful relationships, and the feeling that I have a future worth looking forward to. I don't think those are unreasonable things to want.

Sometimes I feel overwhelmed when I think about getting older while important parts of my life remain unresolved. I see time moving forward, but I don't feel like my life is progressing in the way I hoped. It scares me to think about where I'll be in another few years if things remain the same.

And I'm exhausted from constantly trying to reassure myself that everything will be okay when I genuinely don't know whether it will be.

I'm not writing this because I want people to tell me to think positively or stop worrying. I've already tried doing that. I'm writing this because I'm afraid, emotionally exhausted, and tired of pretending that I have everything under control.

I want to believe that my future will be better than my present. But right now, fear is louder than hope, and I don't know how to quiet it.

Writing this because I feel so ill with anxiety that I can’t sleep, I’m just paralyzed with fear and have no one to talk to.

Very long story short, I posted in another subreddit, and the responses I got from people scared me so much.

I was venting about my feelings, and got multiple replies of people saying it was a fake post, and just for engagement. That it didn’t seem like a real post a teenager would make (I stated im 17f, which is true), so it must be fake. I also had someone impersonating me just for the purpose of mocking me, but had many replies discussing things “i” said but it wasn’t even me. I know Reddit isn’t a very positive platform, but I’ve never had such negative responses.

My post wasn’t fake. I wrote it on my own. But now I’m second guessing myself. I keep having the same thought. Everyone thought my post was fake, therefore my feelings are fake, therefore I’m fake too. I feel like I’m not even in control of my own body anymore. I feel like I don’t exist, and I’m some ghost and everyone around me isn’t real either. I’m so hyper aware of everything right now it’s so scary. I feel like I can feel everything and nothing at the same time. I’ve struggled with this before, but it’s never been this bad.

I’m so scared I’m not a real person.

I was always a nervous wreck when I had to fly anywhere but I always managed to push through and do it anyway.

I've found that since turning 40, it feels like a full blown phobia and I get into total panic at the mere thought of booking tickets. It's so weird I feel like I'm losing my mind.

Anyone else noticed an age correlation? Or maybe I'm just not as resilient as I was a few years ago.

all my life, i always was scared of heart failure/disease, im only 24 with no history of heart defects, heart attacks, heart inflammation, all that, but its seriously, RUINED me life, to the point i start crying about the made up scenarios that i lowkey made myself believed happen

i was literally on my way to make EKG appointment, but i know they wouldnt help, as i will only get "temporary at peace", if i got it done, a few weeks later ill be back to square one on the "oh fuck i have heart disease", and waiting on the appointment would just make me so so much worse, so i decided not to go with it, nor waste my time, my doctors time and my insurance, i've made my own annual doctor listen to my heart 2 TIMES back in july of 2026 due to this fear, he heard nothing concerning, nor alerting

i know that deep down in my heart (no pun unintended) is doing what its suppose to, and working fine, my blood work, my blood pressure, even my chol are all heathly, i dont even have a single symtom of said heart disease/failure, yet my stupid mind randomly starts saying "hey...soooo.... you know about that heart failure/disease thing???" and it just WONT stop.

idk what else to do, but i love to know your horrid cardiophobia experience, i feel so so alone.

Anyone, if you got some supportive words to say - I’ll be so appreciative

Just like anything, I’m struggling right now and it’s hard to type

I’ve been going to the doctors the past 3-4 months for issues (unrelated to heart) and every time my heart rate is clocking at 130 average! They’ve been concerned and pulled ekgs on me (all normal) but now I’m stressing cause I know that the heart rate is not normal! Ive had a really stressful year but does anybody else experience this?? I asked the doc to put me back on lexapro (on no psych meds currently) and he agreed cause it tbh has helped me the most out of any meds. If my heart rate doesn’t go down with that we’re gonna start on beta blockers. I’m 30f, need to lose some weight but not excessively overweight.

Basically just being a beg really, I’ve avoided this medical appointment for 2.5 years and finally did it today and it really wasn’t that bad, with good news having done it. And I’m really proud for doing something I was so worried about!!

I’ve been avoiding a blood test for 5 years because of the same health anxiety, and today has inspired me to finally book it. After that is to book the cervical smear test I’ve been avoiding for 6 years and then I’ll have done all the scary appointments I’ve been avoiding 🥳

Is anyone else burnt out from managing their anxiety. I cried to my girlfriend on Saturday because I just cannot handle it anymore. I cannot handle dealing with my anxious thoughts. There are so many worries that I have that lead into spiraling. The energy that it takes to keep myself from spiraling is a lot. I’m so exhausted from having to reroute my brain from catastrophizing just because I made a mistake that feels like it’s life threatening. Like, I am the worst person in the world because I have made this mistake. And the worst part is how easy it is for me to believe my anxiety. So much of my days are just managing anxious thoughts and I’m just so tired. I won’t have health insurance until January and I can’t keep pushing through this. Even when I talk to my close friends my anxiety is convincing me that everything is going terrible and that I am not safe, or that I am in trouble. And these are friendships that I have had since I was a kid. Honestly this is just a vent, and advice isn’t necessary. But I’d love to know that I am not alone

I’ve had quite bad anxiety for the last year but in the last few months it got pretty severe, which I think led to an almost complete loss of appetite what started like 4-5 weeks ago. I’ve never really felt hungry since and I usually just force myself to eat small meals or snacks but I usually feel quite sick during or after I ate it, but I’ve never been sick. My doctor said it’s probably just an anxiety thing and I should wait until my therapist talks to me (which is in weeks). I just want to know is this normal? I’ve lost well over a stone (6.35kg, 14lbs.) and I don’t wanna end up losing more weight and get health issues. If it is normal, can anyone give advice on how to deal with it?

I'm 25 and my anxiety is so bad right now. I can't get my mind to shut up, I can't stop catastrophizing and i can't stop all these intrusive thoughts. I can't sleep or eat or function like a normal person because of it. Then there is the panic attacks and chest pain and the breathing problems and inability to focus and the brain fog. I'm suffering and I don't know how to deal with it anymore. Sometimes I fantasize about dying or getting injured and brings me peace. I don't want to die and I'm not in a crisis right now but just the thought of it brings me peace and comfort.

I regularly get anxiety induced nausea so I finally tried Pepcid Complete.

I didn't realize until I'd taken two within several hours there's a two tab limit per day. I had also taken many menthol-eucalyptus cough drops, getting over a cold.

Turns out, the warning includes confusion and hallucinations as rare side effects! I felt high? idk if that's the right word? Tried to sleep and heard full, original music. I couldn't sleep. Bruh, I started dancing. Had to stop myself from singing, I don't even do karaoke but I had earworms for a solid 45 min, lwky frantic. Mind you, I still have bad sinuses. With the timing it could be the meds kicking in? Or a sickness phenomena??? wtf

who would’ve ever thought anxiety could change your whole life? i’ve always heard of it but was almost certain i didn’t have it. turns out i did and now im experiencing imposter syndrome.

when you experience anxiety itself, it really changes you as a person and your perspective on things. my whole life changed for the worse beacause of it. i feel like i can never win.

i’ve tried many medications and it just makes me feel impure. i feel terrible for putting all sorts of things into my body just for it to not work. and everyday i experience the terrible symptoms and it really messes with my mood most days.

i’m so grateful that i have family for support but it’s really hard to deal with. i’m still working with all kinds of doctors.

i know that some day ill get better but right now it just feels really hard. but that’s life

Just as the headline says, my (46 M) anxiety has gotten soooo bad that just getting through every day life has become almost impossible. I have social anxiety and some kind of anxiety that makes me feel like I’m going to get or be in trouble. It’s cost me jobs, relationships and everything in between. My car just got repossessed and I haven’t been to work in 2 days and I can’t even bring myself to call them and explain that I won’t be there. Therefore, my job is in jeopardy now too… I just feel sooo broken and my nervous system is ALWAYS in overdrive! My thoughts never stop and I’m constantly thinking of checking out… I have two young kids that are 5 and 3, they’re the only thing keeping me here… I just feel soooo overwhelmed all the time and soooo tired at the same time… I just don’t know what to do and I wanted to get these thoughts out…

I had dinner planned with a friend tonight. I was looking forward to it and was 10 minutes into my commute there when I started feeling myself going into that anxious mindset. I couldn't get my heart to settle down. I went back home thinking I could calm myself and just be a little late, but I immediately started dissociating like I do right before a panic attack (which I have been having frequently this year). Unfortunately my friend was already at the restaurant at this point and I couldn't get myself to chill out. Being in a busy restaurant would just make it worse and this is just something I have to wait out on my own when it happens.

She was frustrated but very sympathetic of my situation. I genuinely feel like a horrible friend. I told her I would make it up to her and pay for dinner next time but I hate feeling like a flakey person. I keep reminding myself I am not this type of person usually and I do show up for people, but I'm feeling very pathetic tonight that I had to stand up my friend because I made myself anxious for no reason.

Does anyone else deal with situations like this? Were you able to make it up to them?

I got diagnosed with anxiety last week (completely unexpected, i was going for adhd diagnosis), i got prescribed Wellbutrin, what do you guys take? Does anyone take this? Should i ask for a different one? I don’t feel a difference yet but i read that it takes 2 weeks at least to see effects, but I’m having really hard time breathing but idk if it’s related to the medication or not because i do have physical issues with my nose but this feels unusual i feel like i have to keep breathing hard and my heart feels weird, i’m not sure if it’s the medicine or if i always was like this does anyone know if Wellbutrin does that?

I’m sorry if it’s a dumb question i usually get made fun of in other subs and i delete lol i just need some assurance

Hi all

I have emetophobia, which is the source of every panic attack i’ve ever had.

I was thinking about that, and I realized that i’ve never had a panic attack that hasn’t not been related to emetophobia. Therefore, I have no idea what people feel or think during a general panic attack - because emetophobia panic attacks and general anxiety attacks are very different.

What are you scared of during panic attacks? What do you feel? What is the biggest thought in your head?

I thought pushing through high school was the right decision, my family made it seem like it was normal. I would wake up every day 4 hours before I was supposed to and I would just lie there, painfully waiting for the sun to peak through my window and my mother to come crashing down the hallway and wake me up. This was the pattern for 2 years between the ages of 15-17, I would go to school, strain though my classes, try to be as small as possible in order not to be caught out of line by my peers who all hated me (for good reason), go to work for a couple hours, come home repeat.

I hallucinated semi regularly at around the one year mark, I would get tension headaches and started shedding hair rapidly. I stepped out onto an open road on accident. When I mentioned this to my mother and/or sister they would just assume it was normal teenage stress, and I had no reason not to believe them, so I kept going.

I subconsciously knew what I was doing to my brain, but it didn't seem real during it, I felt like dropping out for a TAFE course was admitting I was what they all thought I was and so I kept going. I managed to rank near the highest in most of my classes, getting by by writing all the variables and steps on my paper in maths and physics, but my anxiety and by proxy my sleep kept getting worse. It was to the point where I would accept I would never get more than four hours relinquishing myself to studying until I passed out at my desk.

I've long since accepted the fact I probably didn't develop all that much neurologically during that point, but it still kind of just sucks. The entire reason I kept going to high school was to get my WACE and get an engineering degree, but now that just isn't feasible. I thought I was garbage but at least the degree would mean I'm a better kind of garbage. I'm not brain damaged, I'm not stupid, I have basic reasoning skills but I am incapable of complex problem solving. The gap between my understanding of content but my lack of ability to apply it is actually infuriating.

I didn't quit when my father died in 7th grade, when my mother almost died in 10th, or when I broke my back and couldn't walk for almost a month, but it doesn't matter anymore. It's over for me.

Hi, I would like to say that I have dealt with lifelong anxiety and I'm diagnosed with panic disorder and just severe anxiety in general. Went to the doctor two weeks ago and my blood pressure was 132/88, I was nervous that day like I always am when I go to the doctor. Today, I had a dentist appointment which was early in the morning, so I only had two hours of sleep and I was anxious because I HATE the dentist as well. My blood pressure was 158/115 and it has scared me so much that I have cried and worried all day. I want to point out that I am a woman so I'm also trying to start my period on top of all of this and my thyroid has recently went underactive which I know those things on top of lack of sleep and anxiety can all increase blood pressure but I am terrified. Does anyone else have blood pressure spikes from intense anxiety?

I have like general anxiety and was medicated for it but stopped taking it about almost 2 years ago. recently i’ve been having really bad intrusive and overthinking thoughts of health anxiety. 4 days ago I was just sitting in class and it randomly started to hurt when taking a deep breath. A sharp pain on the right side of my chest. i started freaking out internally because then i felt immediately light headed and felt as if i was gonna pass out, cold sweat and the pain spreading to my arms making my body feel weak. On my way to the ER an hour or so since that happened I felt slightly better but the pain persisted and moved to the left side of my chest were my heart was at.
I got to the ER and they did all the tests and x-rays on my chest and everything came back normal. They said it could’ve been a mix of Costochondritis and a panic attack possibly? honestly the pain has been coming and going and is in the same areas as before and idk what to do.
Honestly my anxiety and specifically health anxiety has worsened because of the pain worsening sometimes and feel like i’m not actually okay.

I called back the hospital today and they said my pain would maybe also be from stress and cause a flare up so i think that plays into it… should i get back on my meds?
Any advice or insight or if u have experienced this would be appreciated.

I’m on Effexor XR 75 mg (planning to increase to 150 mg next week) and mirtazapine 30 mg. I bought L-theanine 200 mg and magnesium glycinate 210 mg for anxiety, but now I’m nervous to try them after reading mixed experiences.
Has anyone taken these supplements while on these medications? Did they help or make your anxiety worse? Looking for personal experiences and advice!

I am 22 year old in india

I am a 22-year-old living in India, and I want to get the rabies vaccine purely for peace of mind because I struggle with severe anxiety.

I live near Nagpur and would like recommendations for a good hospital to get vaccinated.

Please guide me if you know of any reliable hospitals for this.

Could you suggest reputable private or government hospitals in Nagpur or within a 50 km radius? I would also like to know the approximate cost of getting the rabies vaccine at a private hospital.

I want a hospital where patients are treated with dignity and care, rather than a commercial facility that treats healthcare like a business and hands out exorbitant bills.

I do not trust rural government hospitals to follow standard rules and protocols. In my experience, they tend to be negligent because there is no oversight, accountability, or routine inspection.

About 20 days ago, a dog was standing roughly 50 cm behind me. When I bent down to tie my shoelaces, I felt a drop of moisture in my right eye. Because of my heightened anxiety and tendency to hyper-focus, I notice sensations like this all the time, even when I just step outside. Deep down, I know with absolute certainty that it was not the dog's saliva. However, over the past 20 days, the worry and stress have completely consumed me. I can hardly eat, I have stopped going outside, and my hair has started falling out rapidly—around 200 strands a day—causing my hairline to recede by about half a centimeter in just under three weeks. I feel completely lost and unable to live a normal life; this anxiety is draining the life out of me.

Whenever I consider visiting a private hospital, I am held back by the fear of being mistreated or dismissed. I am very skinny and self-conscious about my appearance, and I constantly worry that people will be rude to me or neglect me because of it—something I feel happens to me everywhere, every single day.

Here is what worries me the most:

While I have the financial means to visit a private facility, I worry about whether private hospitals adhere strictly to cold-chain storage guidelines and proper regulatory standards for vaccines.

On the other hand, government hospitals feel unmanageable to me. Visiting a public hospital often feels like you go in with one issue and come out exposed to ten others. There is often a complete lack of basic civic sense or personal space; people crowd the lines and shove from both sides as if they will never get another chance to be seen.

Furthermore, I question whether rural government facilities maintain vaccines properly. Staff frequently seem indifferent and rude, behaving as though they only show up to collect a paycheck at the beginning of the month. All of this keeps me from visiting government hospitals in smaller towns.

I actually visited AIIMS to consult a doctor about this, but the general medicine physicians were on strike at the time. Due to the severe staff shortage, only one or two doctors were handling an overwhelming number of patients. The queue was chaotic, with people shoving aggressively without reason. To make matters worse, someone sneezed directly into my face, and droplets got into my mouth. Instead of apologizing, the person just smirked. It was the worst hospital experience I have ever had.

Now, I am completely at a loss about where to turn. I do not know which private hospitals are trustworthy, nor do I know of any decent public hospitals to visit.