A few days ago i was in a classroom, and my teacher started making every student stand up and say somethings about themselves, and even when he was far from me, my hands started sweating really badly and i was on the verge of tears because i was scared to say something, like what if i mess up? so, he finally got around to me, he noticed my nervousness, smiled but it wasn't a nice smile it was like a 'oh you're scared, that's even better' type of thing and he knows i have a problem talking to a large crowd, so he told me to stand up and i started talking quietly but people could hear, and he was like, louder i can't hear you. and so i started speaking louder, and then he was like lower your voice you're too loud, and i was sweating even worse and so i sat down after it, and i couldn't stop feeling nervous, and i started scratching at my skin. but it's not like that's the only time i've felt like this.
like two weeks ago, we had a family gathering, and i was standing with my cousin and then my aunt started talking to me saying 'go sit down, there's space over there' and btw there's like NO space so obviously i was just standing there being awkward, and so i move away from the kitchen door to a less crowded area, and she's shouting from the kitchen, 'go sit down, sit near your cousin' i don't like my cousin, never did, he's a weird person, he talks too much about my private life too proudly, so i sit near my mum, and my hands start getting sweaty again, and i start hyperventilating so i went to the bathroom, and sat there for a hour trying to breathe normally and keep my hands dry. what is this emotion?
Sam
Hi there,
Intense physical reactions like sweating, hyperventilating, or wanting to cry can feel scary and overwhelming. It can feel even more overwhelming if it’s front of other people. Having a name for these feelings can be helpful as it can make it easier to talk about, understand, and find ways to manage it.
Lots of people would describe what you’re feeling as anxiety. This is the feeling you get when you’re worried or scared about something. When someone feels anxious they can often start to feel different physical reactions, like noticing their heart beating really fast, feeling shaky, their hands sweating, or their breathing changing. Almost everyone feels anxious sometimes, and there can be times when it feels overwhelming. It’s important to remember that the feelings will pass and there are things that can help manage them.
There are lots of things people find helpful when they feel anxious. We’ve got lots of breathing exercises you can try, or you could use the 5-4-3-2-1 technique to focus on things right now and stay in the moment. Stop what you’re doing and take time to:
Look around and name 5 things you can see
Name 4 different things you can touch and feel
Find 3 things you can hear
Focus on 2 things you can smell
Think about 1 thing you can taste
If feeling anxious happens a lot or starts to affect your daily life, going to speak to a doctor can be a good idea to get. It’s also always okay to talk to a trusted adult at school, who might be able to help if you feel anxious during the school day.
You can talk privately to a counsellor online or call 0800 1111 for free.
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