Anxiety

To me, a survivor of trauma was someone who had been in a gruesome war or was violently abused or someone who was trafficked. I was just in a really bad accident, no one intended to hurt me. I should be happy that I survived when others didn’t and yes I was in pain all the time and I felt lousy, but I was one of the lucky ones. How could I be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder? 

At the core of all this social anxiety was the shame of not being good enough. Not being successful enough. Not being smart enough. Not being perfect enough.  Shame drove anxiety, which then drove perfectionism.

Due to the lack of awareness and understanding when people get (panic attacks) for the first time, they can think they are having a heart attack since your heart beats so vigorously while it's happening.

I have severe anxiety disorder with agoraphobia and panic disorder. These disorders made me have to change my life in many ways. You gotta keep fighting, stay positive, do things that don't frighten you until you beat the fear.

I work as a freelance illustrator. It is very difficult for me to fit into a team and I prefer to work from home and communicate only with close friends. I often feel lonely, sad and anxious, but drawing helps me. I put my feelings on paper. 

I became successful as an electrician but would self sooth with alcohol. Once I gave that up, the emotions had to go somewhere but where?