A safe place for anxiety sufferers to share.

lastexitlondon said:

That is the key. Kindness and patience most of all for me its belief and trust. Just for the short term. Longterm its gonna be acceptance thats my big goal

please note that acceptance doesnt equal approval. Just an acknowledgement of what is, whether its good , bad or indifferent.

I was hospitalised for 5 weeks due to my dual diagnosis of anxiety and addiction in 2011. I'm almost 7 years clean now. Life gets easier people.

I was very bad about 3 years ago and things got better thanks to medication. But I am still hoping for further happiness which seems like will never happen.

Meltdown99 said:

Thoughts_Arrive said:

I was very bad about 3 years ago and things got better thanks to medication. But I am still hoping for further happiness which seems like will never happen.

Happiness will come.  For many years I never thought I’d be happy.  Now, I am the happiest I’ve ever been...I really regret not seeking help sooner, I wasted a lot of years...now I’m looking forward to the future.

i think you’ll find happiness, because you sound like you want happiness.  If you ever go to speak with someone again, let them know your not happy, they can work you through it.

If you can, find something meaningful that will add to your self worth.  For me, I spend a lot of time helping my widower father...he still lives in own home, wants to stay in his home .... so I’m helping him do that, every time I help him out it makes me feel good, another deposit into the self worth bank.

Try a new hobby.  I took up pen turning, I haven’t turned anything 35 years.  Photography is another hobby I enjoy...

you will get their, stay positive...if an old stubborn guy like myself can seek help, you can to.

just stay positive...

Thank you
Chasing happiness is bad they say as it actually makes you feel worse.
My unhappiness is due to not being sure who I am and what I want to do with life or what I am doing.

I am a full time student and have been doing well in my studies to become a psychologist but lately I've been wondering these past 2 weeks if the ever growing student loan debt is worth it and the 5 more years to become a clinical psychologist. I am 34 soon and still living with my parents and have never had a girlfriend. They are the main things making me unhappy. Plus failed friendships and having hardly any friends. It is not possible to work full time and study full time. I feel like I'll never move out of home and get a job. I just feel useless and a failure.
Also, I'd love to just be an artist but need an income, it's like sacrificing what you love to pay the mortgage and keep your family happy but it's tearing me up. I told everyone after changing career paths so many times in the last 5 years that psychology is it, it is a 100% what I want to do. If I quit now people will shake their heads. I've worked so hard and gotten top marks these past 2 years. I feel like I can't even fix myself, how can I fix others. Hearing people's problems every day might wear me down. Plus many people cannot connect with their psychologist, I feel like I'll be a shit one that people will not come back to. And then there is my growing interest in art.

I have actually taken up painting last year but due to university I had to stop. Resumed this summer and it's great to keep me occupied instead of moping about. I've spent the entire summer break in the garage painting and it keeps my mind on something. But there have been moments where I got angry and started asking myself "why do I suck at everything I do" when my painting was not turning out. My canvas tore yesterday, a week of painting destroyed, I was struggling with it and was getting very frustrated. I was down about it but feel better now as I took it as a learning experience. Learning to paint is a long road. I've gotten help and support from other artists online.

ConorKavanagh said:

I was hospitalised for 5 weeks due to my dual diagnosis of anxiety and addiction in 2011. I'm almost 7 years clean now. Life gets easier people.

Good show, Conor! 

I don't know if this is true for everyone, but I do believe for those of us who deal with severe anxiety and/or depression, if we can hold out and keep living, life does get better because we have more time to learn good coping methods, especially, as SmallestOceans said, we put out the necessary effort. 

Also very helpful is to have some good people in you're life who care and have good empathy.  It's one of the reasons I'm here.  So many good souls here!

Thoughts_Arrive said:

Meltdown99 said:

Thoughts_Arrive said:

I was very bad about 3 years ago and things got better thanks to medication. But I am still hoping for further happiness which seems like will never happen.

Happiness will come.  For many years I never thought I’d be happy.  Now, I am the happiest I’ve ever been...I really regret not seeking help sooner, I wasted a lot of years...now I’m looking forward to the future.

i think you’ll find happiness, because you sound like you want happiness.  If you ever go to speak with someone again, let them know your not happy, they can work you through it.

If you can, find something meaningful that will add to your self worth.  For me, I spend a lot of time helping my widower father...he still lives in own home, wants to stay in his home .... so I’m helping him do that, every time I help him out it makes me feel good, another deposit into the self worth bank.

Try a new hobby.  I took up pen turning, I haven’t turned anything 35 years.  Photography is another hobby I enjoy...

you will get their, stay positive...if an old stubborn guy like myself can seek help, you can to.

just stay positive...

Thank you
Chasing happiness is bad they say as it actually makes you feel worse.
My unhappiness is due to not being sure who I am and what I want to do with life or what I am doing.

I am a full time student and have been doing well in my studies to become a psychologist but lately I've been wondering these past 2 weeks if the ever growing student loan debt is worth it and the 5 more years to become a clinical psychologist. I am 34 soon and still living with my parents and have never had a girlfriend. They are the main things making me unhappy. Plus failed friendships and having hardly any friends. It is not possible to work full time and study full time. I feel like I'll never move out of home and get a job. I just feel useless and a failure.
Also, I'd love to just be an artist but need an income, it's like sacrificing what you love to pay the mortgage and keep your family happy but it's tearing me up. I told everyone after changing career paths so many times in the last 5 years that psychology is it, it is a 100% what I want to do. If I quit now people will shake their heads. I've worked so hard and gotten top marks these past 2 years. I feel like I can't even fix myself, how can I fix others. Hearing people's problems every day might wear me down. Plus many people cannot connect with their psychologist, I feel like I'll be a shit one that people will not come back to. And then there is my growing interest in art.

I have actually taken up painting last year but due to university I had to stop. Resumed this summer and it's great to keep me occupied instead of moping about. I've spent the entire summer break in the garage painting and it keeps my mind on something. But there have been moments where I got angry and started asking myself "why do I suck at everything I do" when my painting was not turning out. My canvas tore yesterday, a week of painting destroyed, I was struggling with it and was getting very frustrated. I was down about it but feel better now as I took it as a learning experience. Learning to paint is a long road. I've gotten help and support from other artists online.

Don't let others prevent you from doing what works for you---you are the one who will have to live your chosen path and nothing is worse than doing a job you can't stand. Are there art therapy psych fields you might be able to pursue? Or special education art class teachers? Maybe you can combine your love of art with your psych studies.

Thoughts_Arrive said:

Meltdown99 said:

Thoughts_Arrive said:

I was very bad about 3 years ago and things got better thanks to medication. But I am still hoping for further happiness which seems like will never happen.

Happiness will come.  For many years I never thought I’d be happy.  Now, I am the happiest I’ve ever been...I really regret not seeking help sooner, I wasted a lot of years...now I’m looking forward to the future.

i think you’ll find happiness, because you sound like you want happiness.  If you ever go to speak with someone again, let them know your not happy, they can work you through it.

If you can, find something meaningful that will add to your self worth.  For me, I spend a lot of time helping my widower father...he still lives in own home, wants to stay in his home .... so I’m helping him do that, every time I help him out it makes me feel good, another deposit into the self worth bank.

Try a new hobby.  I took up pen turning, I haven’t turned anything 35 years.  Photography is another hobby I enjoy...

you will get their, stay positive...if an old stubborn guy like myself can seek help, you can to.

just stay positive...

Thank you
Chasing happiness is bad they say as it actually makes you feel worse.
My unhappiness is due to not being sure who I am and what I want to do with life or what I am doing.

I am a full time student and have been doing well in my studies to become a psychologist but lately I've been wondering these past 2 weeks if the ever growing student loan debt is worth it and the 5 more years to become a clinical psychologist. I am 34 soon and still living with my parents and have never had a girlfriend. They are the main things making me unhappy. Plus failed friendships and having hardly any friends. It is not possible to work full time and study full time. I feel like I'll never move out of home and get a job. I just feel useless and a failure.
Also, I'd love to just be an artist but need an income, it's like sacrificing what you love to pay the mortgage and keep your family happy but it's tearing me up. I told everyone after changing career paths so many times in the last 5 years that psychology is it, it is a 100% what I want to do. If I quit now people will shake their heads. I've worked so hard and gotten top marks these past 2 years. I feel like I can't even fix myself, how can I fix others. Hearing people's problems every day might wear me down. Plus many people cannot connect with their psychologist, I feel like I'll be a shit one that people will not come back to. And then there is my growing interest in art.

I have actually taken up painting last year but due to university I had to stop. Resumed this summer and it's great to keep me occupied instead of moping about. I've spent the entire summer break in the garage painting and it keeps my mind on something. But there have been moments where I got angry and started asking myself "why do I suck at everything I do" when my painting was not turning out. My canvas tore yesterday, a week of painting destroyed, I was struggling with it and was getting very frustrated. I was down about it but feel better now as I took it as a learning experience. Learning to paint is a long road. I've gotten help and support from other artists online.

Thoughts...relationships are hard, people are needy...I suck at relationships myself...probably why my marriage is struggling.  You are an intelligent person. If becoming a psychologist is your goal, go for it...I think psychology needs more people like you...you seem compassionate.  Keep up your studies if you enjoy, the mental health community needs more people like you.  Stay positive. And take care of yourself.

Stay positive...have a great night.

Meltdown99 said:

Thoughts_Arrive said:

Meltdown99 said:

Thoughts_Arrive said:

I was very bad about 3 years ago and things got better thanks to medication. But I am still hoping for further happiness which seems like will never happen.

Happiness will come.  For many years I never thought I’d be happy.  Now, I am the happiest I’ve ever been...I really regret not seeking help sooner, I wasted a lot of years...now I’m looking forward to the future.

i think you’ll find happiness, because you sound like you want happiness.  If you ever go to speak with someone again, let them know your not happy, they can work you through it.

If you can, find something meaningful that will add to your self worth.  For me, I spend a lot of time helping my widower father...he still lives in own home, wants to stay in his home .... so I’m helping him do that, every time I help him out it makes me feel good, another deposit into the self worth bank.

Try a new hobby.  I took up pen turning, I haven’t turned anything 35 years.  Photography is another hobby I enjoy...

you will get their, stay positive...if an old stubborn guy like myself can seek help, you can to.

just stay positive...

Thank you
Chasing happiness is bad they say as it actually makes you feel worse.
My unhappiness is due to not being sure who I am and what I want to do with life or what I am doing.

I am a full time student and have been doing well in my studies to become a psychologist but lately I've been wondering these past 2 weeks if the ever growing student loan debt is worth it and the 5 more years to become a clinical psychologist. I am 34 soon and still living with my parents and have never had a girlfriend. They are the main things making me unhappy. Plus failed friendships and having hardly any friends. It is not possible to work full time and study full time. I feel like I'll never move out of home and get a job. I just feel useless and a failure.
Also, I'd love to just be an artist but need an income, it's like sacrificing what you love to pay the mortgage and keep your family happy but it's tearing me up. I told everyone after changing career paths so many times in the last 5 years that psychology is it, it is a 100% what I want to do. If I quit now people will shake their heads. I've worked so hard and gotten top marks these past 2 years. I feel like I can't even fix myself, how can I fix others. Hearing people's problems every day might wear me down. Plus many people cannot connect with their psychologist, I feel like I'll be a shit one that people will not come back to. And then there is my growing interest in art.

I have actually taken up painting last year but due to university I had to stop. Resumed this summer and it's great to keep me occupied instead of moping about. I've spent the entire summer break in the garage painting and it keeps my mind on something. But there have been moments where I got angry and started asking myself "why do I suck at everything I do" when my painting was not turning out. My canvas tore yesterday, a week of painting destroyed, I was struggling with it and was getting very frustrated. I was down about it but feel better now as I took it as a learning experience. Learning to paint is a long road. I've gotten help and support from other artists online.

Thoughts...relationships are hard, people are needy...I suck at relationships myself...probably why my marriage is struggling.  You are an intelligent person. If becoming a psychologist is your goal, go for it...I think psychology needs more people like you...you seem compassionate.  Keep up your studies if you enjoy, the mental health community needs more people like you.  Stay positive. And take care of yourself.

With me it's been "friends" not being friends. Selfish users or those that just want my company for their own amusement. 
I made two friends last year at university but they turned out to be taking the piss out of me and I was blind to see it for a while.
I ditched others and they ditched me.
I don't think I am intelligent, but thank you.
I did enjoy my studies in psychology. That is why I am thinking what the fuck has happened these past 2 weeks. I think it is that voice and desire to paint growing stronger. The past 2 years I have thrown away my desire to pursue music for university. I consciously made the choice to give up any of my artistic desires for a stable, well paying job (teaching then psychology) so I can pay my mortgage and move out of home.
Thank you for your kind words.