Am I having an anxiety crisis or am I just overreacting?

Psychology & Well-Being
1

Lately, I’ve started to constantly feel guilty, even when I do nothing. Everyone smiles at me, but inside I feel like they are judging me. Even my partner asked the other day, ‘Doesn’t putting so much meaning into everything wear you out?’ Should I go to therapy, or are these feelings temporary? Do you ever feel this way too? What should I do?

2

It seems like you have a lot on your mind. Don’t hesitate to go to therapy, find a clinical psychologist and talk about it. I went once, and they told me, ‘No one is blaming you; you are blaming yourself.’ It helped me. I think you should start somewhere.

3

If you’re thinking about therapy now, decide first whether you’ll look for public or private options. If there’s a financial issue, there are free consultations available at university hospitals. I think you shouldn’t postpone going because these feelings can be exhausting.

4

But wait a minute, what your partner said might actually make sense; maybe you’re blowing things out of proportion. I don’t want to sound like I’m taking the easy way out by suggesting therapy or anything, but have you tried to calm down and trust yourself a bit?

5

This situation may generally indicate anxiety. “Assigning meaning to everything” may feel like a loss of control. But I can’t say for sure, it would be healthier if you get professional support. Also, think about any previous traumatic events if there are any; there may be connections.

6

Let me update you: What my partner said might actually be true, sometimes I do overreact, but some things just don’t make sense to me. For example, especially in crowded places, it happens very often. It’s as if everyone is seeing something that I don’t.

7

You mentioned it’s a crowded place, so what do you do during those times? For example, do you feel better on your way home or does the effect linger? So, is this anxiety tied to being outside or does it persist when you’re alone?

8

You might be acting like a really critical person. For example, if you constantly look at others and say, ‘Why is this like this?’ people might feel tense. Maybe your feelings are more about ‘reciprocation’ rather than being judged.

9

I completely understand what you mean by feeling like you’re being ‘judged’ in a crowd. It feels like everyone’s eyes are on you, and even if your head turns somewhere else, you can’t really focus. Your heart starts racing and it feels like it’s almost audible. I definitely recommend seeking help because it’s tough.