A safe place for anxiety sufferers to share.

Firstly, lastexitlondon, I want to give you kudos for courage to speak about you anxiety.  Anxiety and depression are really tough to deal with and they are both more prevalent than ever in this high stress world.  I'm tempted to say, "You're not alone," but I know better.  Each one of us who have anxiety (I do in spades) can only feel what we feel, not what someone else does.  But what we can do is reach out, share our experiences, lend each other support and empathy, and offer suggestions.

I've had "clinical" anxiety for the better part of the last 25 years and probably have had anxiety to some degree much of my 66 years.  I went through a long period of time taking meds, changing meds and finally letting go of prescription meds all together.  During the late 90's I was hospitalized twice involuntarily and once voluntarily.  But somehow I kept working to get better and learned some decent coping methods.

I'm not against meds, especially when they are needed in critical times but my own experience has been that learning ways of coping have been, for me, the most useful. I never found a really good counselor so I enrolled in a counseling training program and made an effort to learn as much as I could.  The program was based on the work of Carl Rogers and what he termed "client centered therapy".  It's really great and makes a lot of sense.  A lot of the focus is on taking action (DOING!) which is what you did by speaking out here. That was smart thinking.  Rogers' work avoids delving too much in the past but instead focuses on learning good coping skills.

I find getting out and walking, keeping a good diet going, and keeping my alcohol consumption low has helped a lot.  I try to find things that break my "spin cycle" when anxiety hits be it (what Henry Rollins refers to as) "medicating with music", playing card games on my computer, watching a good movie and things like that to get through the most difficult periods.

I don't know if this is available where you are but I'm currently doing some exploration into using cannabis with high percentage CBD and low percentage THC.  Many strains of cannabis are prone to making my anxiety worse but the high CBD/ low THC do the opposite for me.  So far, I'm very pleased with the results.  I can only speak for myself on this because like almost all meds, pharmaceutical or natural, we all react a bit different.  I can only suggest to proceed with caution.

Most of all, I just want to say hang in there and definitely, best wishes.  These forums and the good people here have been a great help to each other.  You mentioned keyboard warriors and trolls (I've also heard the term "thread crapping") and on a public forum, that's somewhat inevitable.  But I find most folks here are really good souls who sincerely care.

Keep us posted and beat wishes!

I suffer from extreme anxiety from time to time, which currently is almost every day. Today was a good day. I'd even dare to call it great. I'm so grateful for these rarities. I'd like to share what started my good day, and hopefully the laugh that followed. 

My 9 y.o.'s latest assessment of her 6 y.o. brother, Avery....

RogueStoner said:

I suffer from extreme anxiety from time to time, which currently is almost every day. Today was a good day. I'd even dare to call it great. I'm so grateful for these rarities. I'd like to share what started my good day, and hopefully the laugh that followed. 

My 9 y.o.'s latest assessment of her 6 y.o. brother, Avery....

Lacey: Mom, I think Avery needs a therapist. 

Me: Sweetie, I think we ALL need a therapist. 

Lacey: Yeah, I guess you're right. But he goes first!

What a bright and insightful child!

I laughed out loud!  Great story RS!

lastexitlondon said:

As a parent my daughters have and do suffer in fact one has come out the other sidw and i a strength to me. My other im actually on my way to take her to a charity called youth talk here in england. Started councilling 3 weeks ago and its going well so there is hope
 How old is she? 

She's 20 will turn 21 this coming february there was a time i really thought i was gonna lose her for good she's doing beter but still needs therapy and meds i'm really afraid of meds and side effect & mood swings but at least she's still fighting thru it ....