You ever wonder if you have anxiety problems!?

[Pezzle]

It's 11:07 EST... 5 hours until I have to be at work, I cannot sleep for the life of me. I live on the road that connects a major shopping mall to Circuit City, Best Buy, Wal Mart, Sams Club, Home Depot, and Target... you bet your arse there's going to be traffic, it will be faster if I walk as opposed to drive! So to avoid incident I'm leaving at about 2:30 AM.

Now I'm noticing something strange, as I have on busy days.. My arms feel weightless and my chest is literally pounding, I'm hyperventilating! Black Friday has me so worked up after memories of last year that I don't feel like even getting up, bloody hell. I just started crying my eyes out because I realized the moment is getting closer and closer.

I'm starting to think I not only have a depressive mood disorder, but some sort of minor anxiety disorder. I HATE being ENGULFED by people. I hate them swarming around my personal space, it makes me angry and want to lash out at them. I've been like this for a while but it feels worse as of late.

Anyone else dreading the big 5 AM opening time?

[BookstoreEscapee]

Ugh. I'm so glad I don't have to deal with the Black Friday madness. I was on my way home from dinner at my aunt's around 10:30 tonight, and the line outside Best Buy when I passed by was about halfway around the side of the building already (including at least 2 tents). Nuts.

B&N didn't get quite the madness of other stores, though, at least. They don't have special hours, and they don't have special sales, so while they get a lot of people because people are out and about, they don't get quite so many crazy people.

Deep breaths. It'll all be over soon enough.

If you really are concerned and/or this is happening a lot, I would suggest talking to your doctor. He/she may be able to give you some coping exercises, or if it's more serious a referral to a therapist or possibly consider medication (I took Xanax for anxiety for a while; it really does help but your doc can help decide if it's right for you). I would also recommend checking out a book called Don't Panic by Wilson.

[Pezzle]

If you really are concerned and/or this is happening a lot, I would suggest talking to your doctor. He/she may be able to give you some coping exercises, or if it's more serious a referral to a therapist or possibly consider medication (I took Xanax for anxiety for a while; it really does help but your doc can help decide if it's right for you).
.

Lol yeah I have a few behavioral health specialists I see. The problem is, I recently lost my health insurance >>; So unfortunately I can't afford much more than my wellbutrin!

[wagegoth]

That sucks, Pezzle. I ended up on state disability for a year (that's the limit) and never went back to a job because of the stress. I was sleeping only two to three hours a night. It wasn't retail; I had an abusive boss from hell.

It worked out in the long run. I ended up getting into the field I'm in now and I make a lot more money than I ever did before.

[edible_hat]

Now I'm noticing something strange, as I have on busy days.. My arms feel weightless and my chest is literally pounding, I'm hyperventilating!

That sounds familiar... if it happens often, see a doctor and get a referal to a psychologist or counsellor. I was on anxiety medication for 6 months while my counsellor taught me how to change my thinking... the point of the meds was to reduce the symptoms (not eliminate them) to a level where you can manage them. Then when you've got that down, stop the meds and keep using your newfound thinking skills. Of course all this should be done with the help and supervision of professionals.

Also get your hands on Power over Panic by Bronwyn Fox, it's mostly about panic disorders but it's useful for anxiety too.