Hi,
What you are experiencing sounds like long-standing anxiety with deep-rooted fears, possibly including social anxiety and fear of judgment. The fact that these fears existed even before difficult childhood experiences suggests that your nervous system may have been sensitive from an early age, and later experiences only intensified it. This is not about being introverted or shy—this is genuine anxiety that has gradually affected your confidence and sense of safety. When anxiety has been present for many years, trying harder on your own can sometimes increase it, which explains why your anxiety rises when you push yourself.
Next Steps
While self-help strategies can support you, long-term anxiety usually needs structured psychological treatment. Consulting a clinical psychologist would be the most appropriate first step. Therapies like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or trauma-informed therapy help identify fear patterns and retrain the brain’s response to threat. If anxiety is severe or persistent, a psychiatrist may suggest short- or long-term medication to reduce intensity so therapy can work effectively. Medication is not a failure—it is sometimes a support tool, not a lifetime dependency.
Health Tips
• Stop forcing yourself to “overcome” fear quickly; anxiety improves with gentle, guided exposure, not pressure.
• Continue meditation, but combine it with grounding techniques (body awareness, slow breathing, sensory focus).
• Reduce self-blame—this is not a character flaw, it’s a nervous system response.
• Start naming fears instead of fighting them; awareness reduces their power.
• Avoid isolation—safe social contact helps rebuild confidence gradually.
• Keep expectations realistic: healing long-term anxiety is progressive, not instant.
With the right support, these fears can reduce significantly, even if they’ve been present for many years. You don’t have to live this way forever, and you don’t have to handle it alone.