Is treating anxiety expensive? What can I do to help myself?

Ever since I was very young I can remember feeling very strong and unpleasant emotions coming over me. I would say I can recollect feeling this way all the way back to when I was only 4 years old. I am 25 now and have never been treated for any type of mental disorder. When I was a little girl and I would feel this rush of negative emotion I didn't understand it, and would just sit very still and wait for the feeling to p. As I got older I remember always feeling very nervous around other people. I never wanted to do anything in front of the cl in school, and had a hard time socializing with other children. As I became a teenager I had the same feelings, and began to use drugs as a way to medicate myself. Obviously the drug use didnt help and could have actually amplified the anxiety I was feeling. Now I'm an adult and still live with this constant fear and nervousness. Even when I'm around friends I find myself shaking, and feeling full of angst. I want to see a doctor about the way I am feeling but I do not have much money as we are having rough economic times. I want to know what I can do to help myself and how expensive it would be to try to get this condition treated. I know psychologists are very costly and I dont think I could afford to go see one. What can I do to help myself?