Years of Struggle

[wva...@wmconnect.com]

Hi all,
I am new to your group. One of the reasons I joined your group was to
help with a school project. I am supposed to pose a question to an
online group. What I was wondering is how long have you been struggling
with anxiety and panic? I myself have been coping with this pain for
about half of my life. Any help would be much appreciated.

[Gerry]

You are not alone. One of the problems with Anxiety is thinking that there
is something uniquely wrong. Not so. At least 1 in 10 people you rub
shoulders with are similarly afflicted. You have to know that there is
hope. I'm 59 years old and have functioned more or less normally for most
of my life but always fought shyness and worry. It came to a head about 3
years ago when I had a major panic attack and subsequently started on Paxil.
It has been nothing but improvement since. I've used "positive self talk" -
a homemade form of cognitive behavioral therapy and things just get better
and better. "You've got to accentuate the positive, eliminate the
negative." It's an old song (look it up) that has the answer. We're
bombarded with negatives all day long from every source. It's a faulty way
of thinking. Just look around you and note how much is really positive
including your relationships with others. Fact is you are an extra
sensitive person with insights that many don't have. You're in the top 20%
for understanding other's fears and worries. You really do have a gift that
can help others. (just think, I haven't even met you and yet I know this)
That's because you're NORMAL just like somewhere around 30 million other
North Americans. Probably you don't need an anti depressant. There are so
many better ways available today and the fact that you are an Internet user
gives you information that I had no idea existed. I send you love in your
search, I'm absolutely sure that your life will just keep improving ad
infinitum.

[georgiehopper]

Welcome to the group. I have dealt with panic/anxiety for over 20
years. I finally started Zoloft 3 years ago and that made all the
difference. I can now function again.

[Moon...@gmail.com]

I was aware of the problem for 6 years now. Since 8th grade... im a
sophomore in college now.

[Brattylilredhead]

My name is Pepper. I started taking Zoloft approximately 10 years ago
when I was married to my first husband and having marital problems. I
have also tried Celexia, Paxil and Effexor. After being weened off
Effexor too fast, I had a breakdown and was put on Depakote, Lamictal
and Seroquel. It was only through a lot of therapy that I realized I
have always been "different" - stressed in social situations,
painfully shy, high anxiety. I believe it started for me back in grade
school (probably about 5th grade when I was held back). I am now 34
years old. I would be more than willing to share my entire story with
you if you think it would help your paper (or anyone here reading
this!)

~ Pepper ~

[Moon...@gmail.com]

every person i met doesnt have the same problem as me.
''''

Fact is you are an extra
sensitive person with insights that many don't have. You're in the top
20%
for understanding other's fears and worries. You really do have a gift
that
can help others. (just think, I haven't even met you and yet I know

this)''''

Dude, thats just freaky... I look way too much into things. I am
excellent at anaylzing peoples behavior. I am usually right 99% of the
time too. Makes me think i should be in a career in psychology.

[Roger Cole]

Pepper~ How did the therapy go? Did it work?? I am considering therapy..... I had a bad one today at breakfast.... had to get out of dodge..... seems like this has been going on for too long now............

[Brattylilredhead]

I always thought, before going on medication and being in therapy that
the medication was what "made it all better" but after being in
therapy, I realized that the medication helped ease some tension but it
was the talking and opening up that really SAVED my life. If I had
never gone to thereapy, I would still have all the bad things happening
in my life bottled up inside, still blaming myself for the rapes and
the failed marriage, still calling myself crazy - - i'm not crazy, i'm
just 'a little unwell' :)

Anyhow, i've been in therapy off an on for a long time, more on in the
past 2 years. Last November, I tried my life medication free but I
kept going to therapy. It's what helped me through the transition and
I am happy to say, I am still medication free and doing well.

Additionally, I have been through some self-help workbooks that I think
any can benefit from like I did. These workbooks, which are found at
most major bookstores like Barnes and Nobles or Borders, teach
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). DBT is a technique designed to
counter extreme emotional reactions before they lead to overwhelming
anger, depression, anxiety, and stress-related ailments. The books
contain worksheets and assessment exercises to help teach you to pay
attention to your emotions, how you can control them and how to become
less judgmental of yourself when they lose control, and ultimately
eliminate overpowering feelings. The two I tried were
Don't Let Your Emotions Run Your Life: How Dialectical Behavior
Therapy Can Put You in Control (New Harbinger Self-Help Workbook) by
Scott E. Spradlin and The Borderline Personality Workbook - How
Dialetical Behavior Therapy Can Help You Balance Out Of Control
Emotions by Scott E. Spradlin, Amy Tibbits.

I would also recommend something else, too, that has been EXTREMELY
helpful for me. If you aren't already doing it - WRTIE. Journal your
days, especially your bad days, so you can begin to notice your
'trigger' - what is it that happens in your life that brings on these
panic attacks. If you are better at typing that you are at writing,
like I am, try an online blog or journal. I use Live Journal
(http://www.livejournal.com )This is a free journal and can be open to
the public or locked.

Good luck and have a better day tomorrow!

~ Pepper ~

[Brattylilredhead]

P.S. Just so the masses know, I was diagnosed bipolar, aggrevated
depression and borderline personailty disorder Novermber 2003. Last
November (what is it with Novembers??? lol) I was diagnosed with
anxiety attacks, which I still have some trouble with. With all these
diagnosis behind me, I am still surviving and I guarantee ya'll will to
:) If anyone wants advise, help, a text ear - just hollar and i'll be
glad to help anyway I can!

[Gerry]

November? It's the LIGHT. Google "SAD" (Seasonal Affective Disorder). My
problems have all started in November too.

Last spring I finally decided to buy a light to help me - just about a week
before the skies cleared and the days suddenly were longer. I think it
helped but this winter will be the big test. Anyway I'm sure that sunlight
is a big factor.

Also there is something about spending too much time indoors that gets us a
little too much inside our selves. There's nothing like a walk in the sun
(or rain) to get a little different perspective on things. Exercise is very
important. I'm amazed by the number of conditions that are helped by just
moving around....A mile a day is really nothing if one is in shape, easy to
work up to, if not.

Anxiety is a little like the weather - Wait a while and it's guaranteed to
change.