Hey all, I just like to ask if anyone has any tips/advice on overcoming anxiety issues?

It's an issue that's been stuck with me for almost seven years now, at this point it's been affecting me pretty much even in my daily life. I've been trying to overcome it but to no avail. I'm aware of the reason mostly behind my anxiety and the day it got triggered but I don't understand how or why it got triggered.

I've also read up a bit on anxiety, how it affects one's thinking and stuff like that but overcoming it is definitely much harder than just reading and understanding what it does.

Also before anyone asks, I have not seen any counselors irl or have been clinically diagnosed. I just don't trust people irl enough or have the ability to speak about my problems to someone in person.

Thanks!

Gah, I have the same problem. Although its a bit different for me. I'm Korean, but I grew up in America during my childhood. I was a happy and outgoing kid, super cheerful and friendly to everyone, even strangers. But I moved to Korea about 2 years ago, and I've drastically changed. The super (relatively) conservative environment has put a heavy damper on my naturally free spirit, and when I go outside, I'm always anxious to act "perfectly", to not be loud, or not to do anything to stand out in any way. I know this didn't answer your question, but I just wanted to let you know that you're not alone, and that there might have been some incident long ago in your life which triggered your anxiety. :)

Hey there Tenshi!

It's nice to know that I'm not alone in this. I can't say that I get you entirely, but I understand that the cultural change has definitely made a rather huge impact on your life and I do feel that it can definitely change a person as a whole.

I have yet to find how exactly mine got triggered, I knew the initial incident that made an impact on my life, as well as the triggering incident later on, but I have yet to understand how it got triggered and why because both incidents happened many years apart.

Thank you for sharing your story and I wish you all the best in overcoming your anxiety!

You need to see a professional at some point, if you really want to improve. Trust me, trying to homebrew your own treatment is not a good idea, especially if the condition is serious.

That being said, the most recommended thing to do is to keep doing whatever makes you anxious in small chunks and work up to bigger things. You might make a list of activities/situations that you think make you anxious, and rate them on a scale of 1 to 10 on how anxious they make you feel. Then, start with the 1s, 2s, etc, and start doing them repeatedly. Since they are low on the scale, it should be hard but not impossible. Then work your way up.

For example, if you had social anxiety, you might stop someone in public and ask for the time, or directions. You could get on the pass and drop your bus pass. Then do that 100 more times. Just keep dropping your pass on purpose so you have to be embarrassed and pick it up. Eventually, it shouldn't make you as anxious.

You really need to get a counselor helping you plan this. They will have a better idea of when something is too challenging and might cause you to burn out. There are many ways it can fail due to individual differences. I can't say whether it's realistic to see a counselor for you, it looks like it isn't right now. But I can say, if you want to see any long-term improvements, you need to see a professional eventually.

Hey Chelsea. All I can say is fake it til you make it. That's basically what this quack^ is saying too but they make it sound like something's wrong with you and there's not. "IRL counseling" or "see[ing] a professional" isn't always the best route because honestly nobody knows you better than you. You know what you struggle with and how hard it can be. Why not choose to make it a little easier by forgetting that you're struggling and just do your best?