I (29/M) have always been someone who has a low frustration tolerance and I get very overwhelmed easily. However, as I get older it seems to be getting worse. I do not understand why am I like this. Could it be some kind of childhood trauma?
Simple things like buying clothes I get so overwhelmed. It’s like my brain sees so much choices and I have to always pick the most perfect thing. Another example is I have been planning my trip to go aboard next week. The planning has made me feel so overwhelmed I feel physically sick. I get intense headaches, racing heart and brain fog. I start to panic that maybe I am making the wrong choices or not planning effectively.
It’s like my brain can’t cope with any kind of pressure. Again I do not know why I am like this or why it happens. But I have noticed that whenever I am put in a situation where there is uncertainty, for example, if I am cooking something I have never tried before which means it might come out good, or not so good I start to feel anxious and panic. It’s like my brain sees uncertainty as a a threat and it triggers the fight or flight response.
Everyone around me seems cool and level headed, but I am in a constant state of worry and stress. I seem to just get burnt out really quickly. Looking back even at school I was like this. If I could not learn or grasp things quick enough I would have a meltdown and give up. Probably why I never really excelled at school or anything else really.
The older I am getting I can see how much this problem has held me back. I am worried about my future and staying employed. My inability to handle stress and pressure is really having a negative impact on my quality of life.