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I can definitely empathize with this person. Anxiety issues are no joke. I've had panic attacks and they felt substantially more terrifying than the times whe

I can definitely empathize with this person. Anxiety issues are no joke. I've had panic attacks and they felt substantially more terrifying than the times where I've been in legitimate danger. And the triggers are so mundane. I once spent 20 minutes sitting on the floor in a grocery store after seeing an old friend, because, one of my triggers is seriously seeing people outside of the context where I normally do. This is emotionally equivalent to your coworkers putting you in a room with a lion as your birthday celebration. I'm sure people won't believe me. Even if you don't, if someone ever tells you that they don't like being the center of attention, just take their word for it.

jjeaff 5y ago
That is so interesting that you can react worse than when in real danger and I think that probably matches some of the people I know who struggle with anxiety. I wonder if that is simply because most of the time one gets into real danger, there is no lead up to it, it just happens quickly and unexpectedly - no time to dwell on it.
- foxyv 5y ago
  I've nearly drowned, been hung by the neck, threatened with a knife, jumped by a gang, strangled to unconsciousness, been stuck in a hole and almost fallen off a few cliffs. An anxiety reaction feels nearly identical to a near death experience except it lasts way longer and there is no point where you escape to safety. However, I think the near death experiences were worse because they would cause even more anxiety later. I still freak out near knives and hate when anyone comes up behind me. People touching my neck will send me off kicking and screaming.
  - jjeaff 5y ago
    My goodness, well I think I know where your anxiety came from.
    - foxyv 5y ago
      This kind of stuff is more common than you would think. My room mate had it MUCH worse than I did as a kid. As the Buddha said: "In life there will be suffering/stress/pain/dissatisfaction."
- joquarky 5y ago
  The accounts of being waterboarded resemble my experience with a panic attack. And then there are the panic attacks caused by thinking you may have another panic attack coming on.

jjeaff 5y ago

That is so interesting that you can react worse than when in real danger and I think that probably matches some of the people I know who struggle with anxiety. I wonder if that is simply because most of the time one gets into real danger, there is no lead up to it, it just happens quickly and unexpectedly - no time to dwell on it.

foxyv 5y ago
I've nearly drowned, been hung by the neck, threatened with a knife, jumped by a gang, strangled to unconsciousness, been stuck in a hole and almost fallen off a few cliffs. An anxiety reaction feels nearly identical to a near death experience except it lasts way longer and there is no point where you escape to safety. However, I think the near death experiences were worse because they would cause even more anxiety later. I still freak out near knives and hate when anyone comes up behind me. People touching my neck will send me off kicking and screaming.
- jjeaff 5y ago
  My goodness, well I think I know where your anxiety came from.
  - foxyv 5y ago
    This kind of stuff is more common than you would think. My room mate had it MUCH worse than I did as a kid. As the Buddha said: "In life there will be suffering/stress/pain/dissatisfaction."
joquarky 5y ago
The accounts of being waterboarded resemble my experience with a panic attack. And then there are the panic attacks caused by thinking you may have another panic attack coming on.