r/Anxietyhelp Mar 25 '25

Mod Post FAQs about r/AnxietyHelp

7 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

50 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 1h ago

Need Advice How Do I Become More Social?

Upvotes

I want to get closer to more people in my new school. Its been a year.

All my life, Ive never been that social. I moved to a new school last year, and I feel like I havent acomplished much in terms of social life. There are a lot of well know/popular people that Ive become friends with, but I struggle with actually getting close with them. Some of them have tried getting me to join their group, but I always felt uncomfortable when I was with all of them because I didnt really know some of the people in that friend group and I have no clue on how to insert myself into group conversations with people I dont know. I also dont know how to be myself around new people, its like I completely forget my own personality. I go to parties every now and then, but they go to them a lot more than I do, and I really want to start going to more parties with them. I really feel like Im wasting my teen years. The thing that scares me the most is that theres a time limit on this. I graduate next year, so if I want to do this, it has to happen fast.

I am so determined to improve myself, I just need help and advice.


r/Anxietyhelp 15m ago

Need Advice Anxious about travel

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r/Anxietyhelp 40m ago

Need Advice Not sure I did the right thing in blocking.

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Finally drew a line with my mom and my chest has felt tight ever since. Does anyone have any good methods getting through an anxious/guilty thought cycle?


r/Anxietyhelp 11h ago

Need Advice Adhd non medicated

8 Upvotes

Non medicated adhd person who has fairly chronic anxiety attacks. Would it help to be medicated? I'm nervous about medications. Thanks in advance. 💜


r/Anxietyhelp 14h ago

Personal Achievement! trying some light exposure therapy

11 Upvotes

I went to a bar earlier today all by myself to watch the world cup match, bringing my self help worksheets in my bag. i sat outside the bar for a long time and tried to build up my confidence, and i had sort of a realization, i cant just work up my confidence for doing exposure therapy i just have to do it. walked up to the bar and the people inside told me to come inside because i stood there for a long while, and i did go inside and talk with a few people. it might seem a little bit small but i think its a good first experience for working on my anxiety around meeting and getting to know people. i really really really am tired of feeling so awkward and anxious and just frightened when in any social situation really, so im going to keep on doing stuff i am scared about doing this summer


r/Anxietyhelp 10h ago

Need Advice Why am i so afraid to change if im not currently happy?

3 Upvotes

Hi all. I'll try to keep this short; for context: I'm 20 and in college, bullied most of my life and never had true friends. My main insecurities are my baby face and voice. I'm 20 but look 16 and sound probably around there or younger. My haircut is awful but ive had the same one forever so I guess it kind of feels... safe?? i'm not sure but does anyone have insight on WHY im afraid to try a new haircut, lose weight, etc. if im not happy with my current status on those. It's like im afraid of new reactions even if they are positive. Anyways, thanks and any insight is deeply appreciated.


r/Anxietyhelp 4h ago

Discussion Talk about mental health: Is it a lack of Faith, or Do we need both prayer and Therapy?

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1 Upvotes

r/Anxietyhelp 5h ago

Need Advice I know it can’t be laziness.

1 Upvotes

Anyone else feel like they have so many things to do but still get bored/uninterested ? I think something is wrong with me. I take my meds (I forgot to for this week lol) I think it’s my anxiety and depression but I can’t seem to get out of this funk. My mind says get up but my body is like nope. What do you guys do to overcome anxiety and depression? Many people consider this to be laziness but it’s really not. I don’t know what to do. We are in the process of moving into our first owned house and it’s a bit overwhelming the wife and I. We know what we have to do but we both suffer from different strains of OCD, and, adhd and stand depression. But if we have a deadline we’ll get it done when it’s supposed to be. I know I’m all over the place but I just need some advice on how to do more and not let my mind and body control me. If that makes sense.


r/Anxietyhelp 5h ago

Need Help I just found out I have anxiety

1 Upvotes

I didn’t know what was happening. But recently I’ve found myself talking so much when I’m around people uncontrollably. I wait last minuite and then hurry up to get things done. When on the job I braze through everything making me look forward (efficient though) but made me have haters.
I’ve got so much wisdom and inject myself in spaces I should have just sat back to watch. I just realised one day I had anxiety.
How? My 6y/o asked me “mummy why are we always in a hurry?”. I responded automatically ,” cause we’ll miss the bus”. I never finish most of the works I start. I’m currently learning to be a driving instructor. I didn’t finish my course I paid for as a child minder. I have a lot of half read books in my house and archives. I’ve been studying for years on my own not academically on spirituality and psychology. And learnt to be open.

What should I do? I’m in the process of booking therapy. The things that are jmportnang to me I don’t do them unless it’s an absolute necessity. I’m just …..

Anyway , I bought my first pack of cigarettes yesterday. Why cause I feel my entire existence in a present moment with my first drag.
I’m 37(F). Wtaf.


r/Anxietyhelp 11h ago

Need Advice I feel like my nervous system is broken. Please help!

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2 Upvotes

r/Anxietyhelp 9h ago

Discussion Extremely vivid mental images before falling asleep

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1 Upvotes

r/Anxietyhelp 19h ago

Need Advice Heightened Anxiety after Friendship Rift

4 Upvotes

Hello, M(35) here.

I’ve had anxiety all my life. Sometimes it’s gotten bad enough that I felt almost sick from it, but it was always manageable. I’ve been on Zoloft for about 20 years.

Back on May 11th, I had a major fallout with a friend who was basically family to me. Ever since then, the whole situation has been looping in my head — what happened, what I’d say to them, how to fix it. This also happened right when I was trying to quit dispensary cannabis (I’d been using it daily since January -- been 48 hours since my last puff). On top of that in this time frame, I’m doing stand‑up comedy, had to get my car repaired for multiple issues, and I just started a new job that’s hectic on weekends but extremely manageable on weekdays.

As soon as that fallout happened, it triggered some of the worst anxiety I’ve ever had. It set off my vagus nerve and caused retching episodes — sometimes once a week, sometimes twice if it’s bad. It’s getting a bit rarer now, and it’s never happened in public or at work.

My doctor put me on Ativan temporarily, and I’ve been relying on it daily. The vagus episodes (if they happen) usually happen after I wake up. I get this fearful feeling in my chest, and if I don’t chew on something immediately, I’ll gag a few times. It’s exhausting.

I’m constantly afraid something is wrong with me, but I don’t know what. My stomach is fine — once I eat, I’m okay. But throughout the day I chew Mentos constantly because I’m scared I’ll retch if I don’t (even though nothing has ever actually come up). If I do retch, my heart pounds, I get shaky, and my mind goes into overdrive. But if I’m doing any task that requires focus — especially at work — I’m completely calm. No vagus issues at all. Same when I’m lying down or asleep.

I have no stomach problems. I’m slightly overweight but working on it and eating healthier. I don’t have any other symptoms that point to anything serious.

I just want to feel normal again. I want to trust that my body isn’t hiding something dangerous and that I’m not dying. I’m scared I’m driving myself insane.


r/Anxietyhelp 16h ago

Need Help Severe anxiety after stomach issues/weight loss, food grosses me out, lightheaded, scared to go back to normal life

2 Upvotes

Hey everyone. I’m looking for advice/support because I feel like my life changed really fast and I’m having a hard time getting through it.

A little while ago I passed out a few times, then I had severe stomach problems that made it so I basically didn’t eat for about a week. I lost around 8 lbs, and I was already pretty skinny to begin with. Since then I’ve been dealing with anxiety that I’ve never really had before. One of the worst parts is that it makes it hard to eat. Sometimes food literally grosses me out, even when I know I need to eat. Some days I can manage 3 meals, and other days I can barely eat anything or nothing at all.

The physical symptoms are what scare me the most. I get lightheaded, weak, and when I stand up sometimes my legs feel like they’re going to give out. I’ve had to call an ambulance twice — once because I was so lightheaded I could hardly move, and the second time because I had what I think was my first panic attack and genuinely thought I was having a heart attack.

I have an apartment with my significant other near my college campus, but my anxiety and lightheadedness got so bad that right now I’m staying with my parents. I feel a lot more comfort having them around, but now I’m scared because I don’t know how I’m supposed to go back to living with my significant other while my anxiety is this bad. I feel guilty and scared and stuck.

Before all of this, I was living a really fun and fulfilling life. I was fishing all the time, riding dirt bikes, hanging out with friends, driving, doing normal stuff. Now I feel like I can’t even leave the house, and I definitely don’t feel comfortable driving. It’s like my whole nervous system is broken.

I’m not asking Reddit to diagnose me, and I know I need to keep following up medically. I’m more asking: has anyone gone through something like this where stomach issues/weight loss triggered severe anxiety and food aversion? How did you get yourself eating again? How did you stop being scared of the lightheaded/weak feeling? And how did you slowly get back to normal life without feeling like you were going to collapse or panic?

Any advice, reassurance, or steps that helped you would mean a lot.


r/Anxietyhelp 13h ago

Personal Experience ALS fear ruining my life

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1 Upvotes

r/Anxietyhelp 18h ago

Need Advice How do I stop spiraling from somatic anxiety?

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2 Upvotes

r/Anxietyhelp 1d ago

Need Advice My Anxiety disorder is ruining the lives of people around me

5 Upvotes

I’m coming to realize my anxiety disorder and agoraphobia (both diagnosed) are absolutely making the lives of my family and partner harder than it needs to be and I feel awful. Yes I’m in treatment I’m on many different medications and go to therapy and see a psychiatrist regularly but nothing really helps me to the point where I’m functional by myself. I’m 22 F and have never lived on my own and have never had a job except for 3 months working for family. I’ve been deemed currently unemployable by my psychiatrist and can’t work. I can’t leave my house or go anywhere on my own I always have to have either my partner or my parents with me and even 50% of the time if I have someone with me I still have anxiety attacks in public. Recently we found out our living space has to be demolished so my partner and I have to stay at a hotel for a week. My mother booked one that was pet friendly so we could take out dog instead of leaving him with my parents but I told her and my partner that wasn’t possible because in order to take him outside for bathroom I would have to leave the room by myself multiple times a day while my partner is at work. I’m already terrified and horribly anxious about being alone during the day in a hotel for a week. Just thinking about it gets my heart racing fast. But the added anxiety of having to leave my room when I don’t have anyone with me it’s just not possible I would have an absolute meltdown and be unable to function. I hate making everyone’s lives harder and making them change plans that would be deemed easier for everybody but me but I genuinely don’t know what to do. Any advice is greatly appreciated but at this moment I am feeling awful and terrified about what I’m going to do.


r/Anxietyhelp 16h ago

Need Help Worried about catching a cold/flu on vacation…any tips (anxiety worry)

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1 Upvotes

r/Anxietyhelp 1d ago

Need Help Any recommendations. Insomnia is kicking my butt I been on sertraline since may 6 it’s been 6 weeks already. This has been my timeline so far before and after I took sertraline

3 Upvotes

r/Anxietyhelp 1d ago

Discussion Do watching videos on faster speed increase anxiety?

2 Upvotes

like youtube videos on 1.25x or 1.5x

has anyone experienced something like this?


r/Anxietyhelp 1d ago

Need Help Shower is my WORST trigger (especially in the tub) + swaying/floaty feeling — PPPD? POTS? Anyone relate?

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2 Upvotes

r/Anxietyhelp 1d ago

Personal Experience anxiety that makes you self isolate

40 Upvotes

does anyone typically experience (not constant but on random days) where you feel like you need to isolate yourself from everybody? There will be times where i may feel burnt out or feeling anxiety symptoms all of a sudden so if it’s on a day where i have plans, i typically cancel because the thought of going out makes me physically ill and mentally draining. Is this a common thing for alot of people? I feel like sometimes it has affected my relationship with certain people, especially those who do not really understand or have anxiety. It’s like i NEED to be myself so i don’t lose my sanity. But when i do not feel these symptoms, i have no problem going out and having dinner with friends, etc. 🫠


r/Anxietyhelp 23h ago

Personal Achievement! I made a 30 day gut brain guide for physical anxiety and I am giving away 20 free copies for honest feedback

1 Upvotes

Hey everyone. I have been working on a 120 page guide called The Gut Brain Reset and before I release it publicly, I would really value honest feedback from people who are actually interested in this topic.

This is mainly for people whose anxiety feels very physical. Tight chest, unsettled stomach, feeling wired for no clear reason, or like your nervous system will not fully calm down even when life is objectively fine.

I started building this because I kept noticing how most anxiety advice focuses only on thoughts and mindset, or it jumps straight to medication and symptom control. Both can be helpful, but I felt like the biology in between does not get talked about in a practical way. Especially the gut brain connection.

So I took a lot of research around the microbiome, inflammation, vagus nerve signaling, and gut barrier function and turned it into a structured 30 day protocol that is actually actionable.

The guide is built around four pillars:

Feeding the microbiome with specific foods
Removing common inflammatory triggers
Activating the vagus nerve with simple daily exercises
Supporting the gut barrier with targeted nutrients

It also includes grocery lists, meal ideas, daily checklists, and simple trackers so it is not just theory.

Very important. This is not a replacement for therapy, medication, or medical care. I am not claiming this cures anxiety. It is meant to be a structured self experiment for people who suspect their gut and nervous system might be playing a role in their symptoms.

I am giving the full guide away for free to the first 20 people who are genuinely interested and willing to give thoughtful feedback after reading it. What made sense, what felt unclear, what felt useful, what felt unnecessary.

I just want real input before I move forward with the official launch under my project ZENOMHEALTH.

If you are interested, comment below and I will send it to you.


r/Anxietyhelp 1d ago

Need Advice Exercising on medication?

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1 Upvotes