Well how do you hide your anxiety attacks, I tend to go very quiet and retreat away from a situation if at all possible, avoid eye contact with anyone - I dont want to embarass myself (well anymore than normal) - but of course there are times when you cant hide and then what do you do?

FORD

I wonder what it is you need to hide Ford? What does it mean to you to be 'embarassed' - what is it you are afraid others will do to you if you show your anxiety? Sometimes it is the fear of showing something that causes the attack - perhaps we are afraid of something inpleasant repeating from our past - perhaps showing emotions wasn't allowed? What is the worst thing that is going to happen if you show others you are having an anxiety attack?It seems it is difficult to reach out for the help and comfort of others - i wonder why that is?

You do not have to answer any of these questions here if you don't want to but they might help you to undestand why you are so afraid of showing your feelings - and in turn that might help to relieve the anxiety! Holding in feelings causes us so many problems - and if we don't allow ourself to feel our body has to find another way to dissipate the feelings - often through anxiety attacks. I wonder what your body is trying to tell you? I wonder if you can be kinder to yourself - if you can acknowledge your feelings - your fears - rather than trying to find ways of pushing them away and out of sight? - doing that will just increase the anxiety.

Fran xx

It makes alot of sense Ford - you have explained here all your fears - they aren't necessarily the reality but they stop you being able to reach out to others and from getting the support you need. They are based on what happened to you as a child and how you kept safe but they are no longer helpful to you. Often as adults we will find people who repeat what happened to us without consciously knowing it. That does not mean that everyone is like that, although i hear it is difficult to trust. I think it would be very helpful to worK through this in personal therapy as it takes time and you need support face to face. You are not an idiot - you are human and that means that you need others and that you have fears too. showing feelings takes courage - it is certainly not about being weak ok. It can be worked through so you are not so afraid of what others might do to you if you reach out. Being anxious and afraid is ok - it is something we all experience - it is ok to feel like this and it is also ok to show it. I hope you are able to get the help you need Ford.

Fran xx