Hi, I'm a Junior in high school, which is stressful/anxiety-filled on its own, but I have other issues as well. I can deal with high school most of the time, but if it gets really loud in the hallways or during pep rallies I totally freak out. I have to back myself up against a wall and just hold my hands over my ears. But that's not my main problem, I don't think. I have major separation anxiety and have since I was ten when my parents split. I know most kids grow out of it by the time they're nine or ten, but mine intensified and I hate it when Mom goes away anywhere for an extended period of time. It's gotten better - it used to be if she went away for a couple hours but now it's just every couple days or so. If I go away, it's not as big of a problem, but the anxiety hovers over me to a lesser extent. Any suggestions as to how I can get out of this abnormal fear?

Paige

It sounds like you do have anxiety. I would suggest you go to your doctor for a visit. They can give you medication to help you out. ALOT of people suffer from anxiety and either they grow out of it or they have it for life. The best thing to remember is that YOU ARE OK and nothing bad is happening or going to happen to you. I have used medication for anxiety and does take all the scared feeling away. Also maybe try talking to a counselor at school, sometimes talking to someone about what's going on in your life helps. Also anxiety doesn't have to be brought on about stress that is happening at the time it can be brought on from thing sin the past. I understand school is very stressful, I had the worse HS experience. Also since most of your anxiety seems to be brought on by something like loud noises or crowded areas the medication will help you feel comfortable in those situations. There also is breathing techniques which can help you relax.

Good Luck!!

I already see a psychiatrist for bipolar disorder...she put me on Klonopin (1.5mg. - 1mg. in the morning and 0.5mg. at night) for the anxiety. She had me on Ativan during the day and Klonopin at night for a while, but she took me off of the Ativan because the Klonopin was more effective. I think I might need a dosage increase or something...either way, I see her early next month so we can discuss that then since she already has up'ed two of my bp meds and doesn't want to increase too many meds at the same time because of side effects. I've tried meditation a few times, but it's hard for me to concentrate on thinking about nothing, if that makes sense at all. :S I'm hoping that as I get the bp under control, the anxiety will settle down, too. It's just a trial and error with meds and all. I'm going to get back into Yoga, which I tried once, because I think that'll help, too.

Paige