New Here

[anxiousashley]

Hello. I am new to this forum. I have spent many many months reading various forums on anxiety but finally joined this one today. I suffer from anxiety disorder and currently see a therapist and just started a new medication. I am joining to find support from people who understand what I am going through and who are also actively working to improve themselves.

[em1]

Hello. I am new to this forum. I have spent many many months reading various forums on anxiety but finally joined this one today. I suffer from anxiety disorder and currently see a therapist and just started a new medication. I am joining to find support from people who understand what I am going through and who are also actively working to improve themselves.

Hello and welcome to the forum :) what Meds you on and how are you finding therapy?

[Dcoito]

Welcome!

Learning as much as you can about anxiety is the best defense! Your not alone here! Feel free to tell us your story!
Anxiety effects everyone differently, but its still the same! ( ANNOYING! )

[anxiousashley]

Hello and welcome to the forum :) what Meds you on and how are you finding therapy?

Hi em1. I was started on Lexapro about two weeks ago now. I used Celexa a few years ago, but my new doctor suggested Lexapro saying she has a lot of success with that in her other patients. I was also given Klonopin on an as-needed basis, but I avoid using it as much as possible. I am honestly not sure how I feel about the therapy. It's my first experience with it and, because of finances, I am going through a college graduate program. It's all students in training basically. I like my therapist OK but I'm not sure if I am seeing any improvement. The program ends in 4 weeks and I am going to see if I can find a real practice to go to if it's affordable with my insurance.

[em1]

Hi em1. I was started on Lexapro about two weeks ago now. I used Celexa a few years ago, but my new doctor suggested Lexapro saying she has a lot of success with that in her other patients. I was also given Klonopin on an as-needed basis, but I avoid using it as much as possible. I am honestly not sure how I feel about the therapy. It's my first experience with it and, because of finances, I am going through a college graduate program. It's all students in training basically. I like my therapist OK but I'm not sure if I am seeing any improvement. The program ends in 4 weeks and I am going to see if I can find a real practice to go to if it's affordable with my insurance.

How long have suffered from anxiety ?

[anxiousashley]

I have been slightly anxious since childhood but ended up with a full-blown disorder in 2007. It started driving my car once and I was having dizzy spells to the point of blacking out. I eventually went to a doctor and his best guess was that I had vertigo from a possible ear infection. For me in spinned into hypocondria and I spent more than a year convinced I was dying (my sister got married in 2008 and I was positive I wouldn't live to see it). While that seems to have improved greatly for me the anxiety disorder just increased. I am terrified of highways and long-distance driving and rarely drive at night. I also became very shy socially and since 2007 have had very little social life. Even going to work sometimes has been a nightmare for me. I have spent a lot of my time home and usually alone. I avoid most plans with friends and loved ones. I have seen in the past year or so how much this anxiety has robbed me from having a full life so I am finally taking the steps to control it. As Dcoito states, it's annoying! I hate it! Sometimes I even just hate myself and just want to be normal. I know now that I can't be "normal" unless I work on it and that's what's put me in therapy. It's a very slow and very hard process but I want to be better! I just want to have my life back.

[em1]

I have been slightly anxious since childhood but ended up with a full-blown disorder in 2007. It started driving my car once and I was having dizzy spells to the point of blacking out. I eventually went to a doctor and his best guess was that I had vertigo from a possible ear infection. For me in spinned into hypocondria and I spent more than a year convinced I was dying (my sister got married in 2008 and I was positive I wouldn't live to see it). While that seems to have improved greatly for me the anxiety disorder just increased. I am terrified of highways and long-distance driving and rarely drive at night. I also became very shy socially and since 2007 have had very little social life. Even going to work sometimes has been a nightmare for me. I have spent a lot of my time home and usually alone. I avoid most plans with friends and loved ones. I have seen in the past year or so how much this anxiety has robbed me from having a full life so I am finally taking the steps to control it. As Dcoito states, it's annoying! I hate it! Sometimes I even just hate myself and just want to be normal. I know now that I can't be "normal" unless I work on it and that's what's put me in therapy. It's a very slow and very hard process but I want to be better! I just want to have my life back.

I know just how you feel and it will get better,like I said I've had mine for years and it comes and goes,which is a pain as you feel fine one min and not the next but the good is longer than the bad,it's good that your getting help and don't be hard on yourself anxiety is a hard thing to live with,take baby steps everyday and don't worry to much if you go back a step we all do it,you will be fine it's not going to kill you,I know it feels like it is at the time but it won't,this is such a good forum to come everyone is so helpful and nice so you will never feel alone :)

[anxiousashley]

I know just how you feel and it will get better,like I said I've had mine for years and it comes and goes,which is a pain as you feel fine one min and not the next but the good is longer than the bad,it's good that your getting help and don't be hard on yourself anxiety is a hard thing to live with,take baby steps everyday and don't worry to much if you go back a step we all do it,you will be fine it's not going to kill you,I know it feels like it is at the time but it won't,this is such a good forum to come everyone is so helpful and nice so you will never feel alone :)

Thank you em1! This is why I joined! I need the support and encouragement just like the rest of us! It's been a hard road. My family has been very supportive but I know they don't completely understand. And yes some days are better than others. I definitely understand the steps forward than the step back. I know I just can't give up. It's just been more stressful lately than normal because many things are changing in my life right now. I don't handle change well. Is that normal for anxiety sufferers? One thing is that I just started dating someone after way too many years of being single. He's such a great caring guy, but my anxiety has been making it hard for me. But again I will not give up!

[em1]

I think sometimes it just goes like that,change can put your mind in to thinking Uncertainty and then that could give you a Anxious mind yes of course I understand that,it's good that you have got someone in your life we all need love :)