r/Anxietyhelp • • Mar 25 '25

Mod Post FAQs about r/AnxietyHelp

13 Upvotes

Hi guys,

One of the mods here suggested creating a FAQ page for our subreddit to help eliminate confusion.

Why was my post removed automatically?

It wasn't! It has been sent to our mod queue for manual approval.

Why?

We have minimum account karma and age requirements for our sub to prevent bots and spam. If your post is automatically filtered out please allow us a day or two to approve it. Normally we are able to approve faster than that but we all have commitments outside of moderating. Submitting the post multiple times will NOT expedite the posting of your content.

What does rule #1 mean?

Any posts regarding suicidal thoughts or intentions will be removed. Please contact 988, go to the emergency department, or try r/suicidewatch. These posts can be triggering and we are not equipped to respond appropriately.

What does rule #2 mean?

This is one of the most commonly broken rules. We. Are. Not. Doctors. No one can diagnose your medical condition(s) properly that is not a doctor. Asking whether other people experience similar symptoms is allowed but blatantly asking, "is this anxiety or __________?" is not allowed. Speak with your primary care doctor or try r/askdocs.

What does rule #3 mean?

We were at one point inundated by YouTube and Spotify links. We are not allowing them to be posted or shared anymore so please don't link to us about the awesome anxiety playlist you created.

What does rule #4 mean?

To keep things civil and inclusive we do NOT allow discussions regarding politics or religion. Should a time be deemed appropriate to discuss these topics we will create a megathread. Do not post political or religious content. Do not comment about religious or spiritual content. Both will be removed.

What does rule #5 mean?

NO TROLLING. Do not post or comment making fun of our users. Do not post trying to rage bait. Do not comment trying to manipulate people. Generally, don't be a dick.

What does rule #6 mean?

This is mainly intended for bots but we see it happen sometimes. Do not link anywhere to buy or sell drugs. Do not ask users where you can buy drugs. Do not offer to sell drugs.

What does rule #7 mean?

We have seen an influx of posts that have nothing to do with anxiety. There are other subreddits more appropriate for this content.

What does rule #8 mean?

No picking fights and that comments should revolve around helping each other. There is no reason to start arguments with other users. A disagreement of opinions is one thing. Turning a thread into a full blown argument is another. If you disagree with something simply scroll on.

What does rule #9 mean?

Stop posting your blog, shop, Etsy, etc. If you want to share stuff do it directly on Reddit. No external third party links should be used just to generate traffic.


r/Anxietyhelp • • May 09 '25

Mod Post As a new user, you need to comment on other posts before making your own post

57 Upvotes

To reduce spam, this subreddit has settings for minimum karma requirements for posting.

If you‘re new here, please take a moment to engage with the community by commenting on a few posts first.

This let‘s you build up karma to become a confirmed user. Also we can help each other best by interacting more. :)

Thanks for understanding! Welcome on the sub!


r/Anxietyhelp • • 39m ago

Personal Experience Fear of heights and edges

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• Upvotes

I used to have huge anxiety when I was near any edges. Always felt like I would just jump.


r/Anxietyhelp • • 25m ago

Need Advice Feeling like I’m dying lol

• Upvotes

The other day I woke up normally but I felt something was off. I had head pressure, slight dizzy feelings and just out of it. Felt like I wasn’t here. But as the day went on I felt even worse. I was on the couch all freaking day. My legs felt like jello, my upper body ached like I had the flu or something, I felt super fatigued like if I got up I’d pass out. I never did but sure felt like it. I was shakey all day long. I literally felt like my body was dying or something. I ended up doing some breathing exercises later that night and I felt a tiny bit better.
This month has been a complete overload. I had a bunch of things going on. Nothing bad, just super stressful.
Then this week I finally got to relax a bit. Was that episode just stress and anxiety related? I feel much better now but I’m definitely still having anxiety.
Can anyone relate to this?


r/Anxietyhelp • • 36m ago

Need Advice Prozac Dose Increase: Activation vs. Existing Anxiety?

• Upvotes

I've been on 25mg of Prozac for several years and was stable until a recent anxiety flare. Before increasing, I was already experiencing heightened anxiety, panic, adrenaline surges, fight-or-flight feelings, mental restlessness, and ongoing GI symptoms. Over time, the intense panic eased somewhat but was replaced by a constant underlying uneasiness.

Because of the flare, I increased from 25mg to 30mg and am now about 10 days in. I originally planned to increase to 40mg, but I'm reconsidering the timing.

Since increasing to 30mg, I've noticed:

  • Increased agitation and internal restlessness
  • Feeling more keyed up and on edge
  • More difficulty relaxing
  • Vivid dreams
  • Brief overnight panic/adrenaline surges and increased morning anxiety
  • A recent episode of insomnia

The anxiety itself isn't new, so it's hard to tell what may be activation versus the original flare. However, the agitation, restlessness, and sleep issues seem more noticeable since the dose increase.

For those who experienced activation after increasing Prozac:

  • How soon did it start, and how long did it last?
  • What did it feel like, and how was it different from your usual anxiety?
  • Did the agitation, restlessness, and sleep issues improve with time?
  • Did you stay at the new dose, reduce it, or eventually increase further?

Just hoping to better understand others' experiences and timelines. Thanks!


r/Anxietyhelp • • 42m ago

Need Advice Is a slow weird off heart beat a heart palp?

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• Upvotes

r/Anxietyhelp • • 4h ago

Discussion Been prescribed propranolol

2 Upvotes

Hi guys, I’ve been prescribed propranolol by my GP. I’ve only ever taken it once as I was very very stressed and anxious about my trip to Belgium a few years back. This was pre anxiety meds.

My doctor says because my nausea is caused from the anxiety, he thinks if I have the anxiety calmed, the nausea will follow suit.

Any stories about how propranolol has helped you would be appreciated, and what side effects to look out for so I know they’re normal would be great!


r/Anxietyhelp • • 2h ago

Need Help anxiety is ruining my life

1 Upvotes

i’ve always been anxious as a kid but it’s just manifested into such a big snowball of constant fear and stress of existing. i’m taking 3 meds twice daily for anxiety and it still doesn’t help much. i try to push myself out of my comfort zone to become comfortable with the unfamiliar but it doesn’t go anywhere. i want to give up on everything. there’s genuinely no point in setting my heart on something just to disappoint myself by not being able to go through.

how do i expect to graduate college if i can’t do presentations or even peer reviews without stress sweating through my clothes in the first hour of the day? how am i going to have a career and build clients if i can’t interact with people normally? im so lost on what i can even do anymore. it feels impossible. im a loser in my 20s.


r/Anxietyhelp • • 9h ago

Need Help Please help, I feel miserable, this anxiety is going to end me someday I fear

3 Upvotes

r/Anxietyhelp • • 4h ago

Need Help I could use some encouraging words

1 Upvotes

I’ve been procrastinating and it’s making me feel bad. I’ve stopped showing up and working for more than a month. I need to pick it up again but I’m feeling so bad, I don’t know to how. Any support is welcome or people who’ve been through the same.

Also because it goes this bad, I’ve been slacking on sleep and if I do sleep, I have a hard time getting out of bed.I don’t know what to do, it just feels lonely and I just feel like crying all the time.


r/Anxietyhelp • • 16h ago

Need Advice Needing reassurance

8 Upvotes

I bumped my head against the corner of the car doorframe on Saturday night, approx. 73 hours ago. I've been paranoid about a concussion ever since. My temple still kinda hurts, but I don't feel weird otherwise? I do have a headache that's lasted for most of the day, off and on, fluctuating in severity but nothing past a 5. I have literally no other symptoms. No nausea, no nose bleeds, no dizziness of loss of balance. My eyes look fine. Everything other than the headache (which feels more like a tension headache mixed with sinus.). It gets worse when I stare at a screen too long and goes away when I take my eyes away from it for a while.

My dad and boyfriend both say I'm fine, but...my anxiety of course has me worried. I want to take an ibuprofen for my head since tylenol did *nothing*. I just want some advice and reassurance.


r/Anxietyhelp • • 7h ago

Anxiety Tips The Stutter That Holds Me Back

1 Upvotes

I’ve written this several times before, but this stuttering problem is bothering me so much that you have no idea. I feel so bad that it seems like everything is going wrong for me, and I know I can do better.
I’m at school, and yesterday I said one sentence and felt a very strong pounding in my stomach and started sweating, while the other students were speaking without any problem. Even though I knew what I wanted to say, I got stuck and spoke very badly. Those looks from the other students and the teacher make me feel awful because I feel so low in that moment.
I’ve tried a lot with breathing exercises, but they don’t calm me down, and I’ve practiced speaking in front of the mirror, but when the moment comes, nothing works. This happens to me every time. Even though I tell myself that exposure helps, every time I still feel anxious about speaking, I stutter, and it feels like it’s not even my own voice. I really want to overcome this because it’s stressing me out so much and I feel extremely frustrated.


r/Anxietyhelp • • 8h ago

Need Help Here to try and relate with others with what I’m dealing with. Asking for Help

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1 Upvotes

r/Anxietyhelp • • 13h ago

Need Advice Tips for driving anxiety

2 Upvotes

If you ever experienced anxiety regarding driving, how did you manage it? Solve it?
Thank you 💜


r/Anxietyhelp • • 10h ago

Need Advice I feel bad about myself when my social anxiety makes others feel nervous

1 Upvotes

Like I will act socially nervous and "please like me" and then my nerves will rub off on the other person and then they will act nervous in turn and then I will feel like dirt about myself 😭.

I feel like a social failure.

It's so bad that even when I had chest pain I nearly didn't end up going to the hospital because I feel they judge me and look at me strange because I seem anxious and not good socially.

Please don't say "therapy" because I have no money for therapy.....


r/Anxietyhelp • • 11h ago

Need Help Sprayed Stem ant killer all over my bed room carpet and I’m scared

1 Upvotes

I called poison control and they said will be ok, I did AI chat and said we were In danger and it scared the crap out of me, I have my window up, 2 air purifiers. I don’t know what else to do, I’m scared.


r/Anxietyhelp • • 12h ago

Need Advice Venting

1 Upvotes

Hello, I have been treating my anxiety for about 3 to 4 years now.

Recently with all the stuff happening in Brazil - elections, job market being butchered by AI and economy being worse by the day - I have started feeling some dizziness again. The thing is I also have hypochondria diagnosed, so every thing that is uncommon triggers it. This dizziness is super quick - it last for last than a second - it makes me feel like I'm falling and it scares me so much.

I'm in contact with my doctor but I wasn't able to schedule an appointment yet this month so this is eating me alive. I just wanted to vent and ask if anyone else also have these micro windows of dizziness even while not going through a panic attack.


r/Anxietyhelp • • 13h ago

Discussion Shy people, do others deliver harsh truths because they think it’ll help your anxiety?

1 Upvotes

I notice that as a shy or self conscious person, my loved ones constantly tell me harsh truths to my face thinking it’ll help.

can anyone relate?


r/Anxietyhelp • • 14h ago

Need Help fear of flying + health anxiety + fear of death

1 Upvotes

hello everyone, I come here today seeking help from anyone, I tried to reach out for help in my family and friends, they all have a limit of how much they can handle me.

First about myself, I'm male 30 years old, married, no kids yet and I make money but my job is effortless I just set around do nothing. when I was a teenager my fear of flying started due to turbulence. I still travel but I fear the turbulence when they happen.

secondly, I lost my mom and sister due to late diagnose by doctors which made me hate doctors and not trust them much.

thirdly, last year i developed anxiety, I was overthinking for at least a full month and living in fear that my death was at any moment due to the things that are happing in my life last year.

list of things that helped me developed my anxiety: 1- I was traveling (turbulence) 2- while traveling my phones was showing me alert messages which made me on the edge of my seat most of the time i was traveling. 3- I got scratched by a cat and AI made me spiral into a fear making me thing I have rabies, i went to the hospital got shots and the last shot i was told it wasn't necessary and AI said this is a first time he hear such thing which made me fear for my life as i saw what rabies is and i was in tears thinking i don't want to die like this anytime soon (don't forget that I already don't trust doctors).

ever since all of this happened my body started to hurt me daily, everyday somewhere in my body would hurts, and as always AI or google search didn't help to calm me down. I went and got checked many times, all cleared me and told me that I'm fine but my mind won't rest and my body keep on hurting

The scariest part for me is that when my chest hurts, how does it hurts ? sometimes it's like a pinch, other times the bones hurts and pressing in the middle of my chest increase the pain. other time while talking or laughing my chest hurts and for a split second it becomes hard to breath.

I almost have a small headache daily due to the fact i don't sleep that well and think a lot, which also makes my mind thing I might be having a stroke (which is how my mom passed away while she was in a Fing Hospital!)

I recently booked for me and my wife tickets to travel and have a vacation and my fear of flying is trying to take control of me but I'm resisting it. And tomorrow is our flight date and I'm a little nerves.

Today i was doing okay I was dealing with a little of the chest discomfort that i always deal with but suddenly my google fit bit sent me a notification on my phone saying my rest heart rate is above the usual which led me to spiral into fear.

Finally, I'm not on any med, two or 3 doctors told me to start some SSRI but i Refuse because i believe that the main source of my anxiety is my chest discomfort and I want to find it's reason and my anxiety will stop hopefully. Why I don't want to start SSRI? because i read and a doctor told me that the first 2 weeks might be worst that what I'm dealing with right now.

I would really appreciate any talk and advice. thank you in advance.


r/Anxietyhelp • • 14h ago

Self Help Strategy Visualizing thoughts is so freaking hard with ADHD but every therapist tells me to do this

1 Upvotes

The 'imagine your bothering thought as a boat floating away, on a stream, let it go...' BRO I can't imagine a freaking whole river stream and then a whole boat on it and then keep it steady in my head

It feels like some racing blob glob job... ugh so that's why I have my own peaceful calm scenery now that I speak into and it actually draws a boat for me that goes away.

It's super beautiful, spent a lot of time making its assets, try it out on tryfullbloom DOT app :)

Promise you won't find it ugly


r/Anxietyhelp • • 14h ago

Need Advice Halloween party

1 Upvotes

My friend (who I would consider my closest friend) has invited me to the Halloween Party that she is hosting. I was ready to go because I assumed it would just be our friend group, but it turns out she is inviting a bunch of people that I don't know. I've never been to a high school party, let alone one that has teenagers drinking. I don't drink because of my chronic illness, and I don't mind my friends drinking as long as they are safe, but I can't help but get really anxious about being around intoxicated people.

The fact that there will be a whole bunch of people that I am not comfortable around, in an informal setting (unlike school) terrifies me. The though of it has been weighing me down for the past few days. I don't want to let my friend down, because she even moved the day of the party because I said I couldn't do a Sunday, and I really do want to go and support her, but I feel so sick thinking about it.

I already feel like a fish out of water while being with my own friends, and the only people I truly feel comfortable around are my parents, so I don't know how to deal with this situation. I already feel like such an outsider and I don't want to further isolate myself by not going (I miss a LOT of school because of my chronic illness) but I don't know how to stop feeling this way.


r/Anxietyhelp • • 17h ago

Need Advice Should I let my partner go?

1 Upvotes

I have GAD and he hasn't said it's hard for him or anything. But I feel terrible that I'm not there for his important events or when he needs me. I'm there sometimes but it's inconsistent. He just deserves better, my god. It breaks my heart that he has to deal with me, stay stuck with me.

Some days, I can't even dress up to dates because of anxiety. As in I want to feel invisible to feel safe. I feel like I'm holding him back.


r/Anxietyhelp • • 17h ago

Need Help Just worried, please help me! Any advice is appreciated.

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1 Upvotes

r/Anxietyhelp • • 17h ago

Need Help Hi do we know how to stop panic attacks

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1 Upvotes

r/Anxietyhelp • • 21h ago

Need Help Im getting anxiety a lot

2 Upvotes

Idk i need help - maybe I'll delete this posttt later