A little backstory about me, I am a 25 year old female who was first seen by a doctor for generalized/social anxiety and panic attacks when I was 8 years old. Anxiety runs heavily in my family and manifests very similarly in all of the family members who have it. I dont often have full blown panic attacks anymore, but I feel like I'm in a constant state of mild anxiety. Its really wearing on me. There was a time period where my anxiety was the worst it has ever been, about two years ago. I couldnt leave the house. I was living off of takeout and from the time i ordered the food to the time the delivery driver arrived i would agonize over having to meet them at the door. That was a really bad time in my life. Since then, i have worked very hard to improve my mental health. I am now a full time nursing student, i work in long term care and have the most amazing and supportive family and best friend i could ask for. I take care of myself, and essentially do everything "right" but there is always this cloud of anxiety. Its constant. Unless my mind is 100% occupied, it's there. And the second i acknowledge it (which I try not to do), it bubbles up and my heart rate starts to increase. I start to feel short of breath. I also wake up with anxiety almost daily, which usually drives me to vomit. Sometimes I can connect the anxiety to certain situations, like having to go into a store or walking into my shift at work (where i have been employed for 2 years comfortably and i still have anxiety before EVERY shift.) Other times, I'll just be relaxing home alone. Cooking dinner. Lying in bed about to go to sleep. Most of the time, there is no apparent reason. And i know this is how anxiety works, but I'm so tired of this weighing me down. I feel like I am missing out on my life because Im stuck in my comfort zone. I never meet new people, and I avoid change at all costs. Ill stay in situations I dont like such as jobs or relationships, just to avoid having to adapt to change. None of my family members treat their anxiety, and have learned to live with it, but I am so tired of the control this has over me. I guess what I'm looking for here is any input or guidance or anything really. Ive never taken medication for my anxiety partially because i feel like my family looks down on it, and partly due to fear of side effects. I'd really like to try therapy or other options before medication, but dont have insurance and I'm a broke student, so thats not really an option. I just dont really know what I can do to help myself here, but I'm tired of being stuck in my own head and feeling like my life is passing me by because I am controlled by my mental illness. If youve read this far, thank you. My apologies if this is a disorganized mess of thoughts, but I'd appreciate any feedback or suggestions or personal situations that may relate. Thank you.