New here, veteran to anxiety, changing my life around

[GenericUsername]

Hello! I'd like to take some time to introduce myself. I've been aware of my anxiety and panic problems ever since I was in 8th or 9th grade in high school. It was so bad and I was so alone in high school that I had to drop out and get my GED. I surpassed that a few years later by quitting my job and enrolling in college. After some debate about my major, I left college for a few years and did the daily grind again. Once again I quit my job and felt really good about myself mentally and physically and after having saved up enough money I traveled around Europe for four months! The best time of my life! I met amazing people and grew spiritually and learned to be self sufficient, I also stopped taking the citalopram that I had been on for some time. After I came back from that trip I began to feel disconnected from the people around me (sad about returning home and disappointed that no one could understand or appreciate what I experienced during my trip) and not much later began to experience what I now know to be severe withdraw symptoms from my removal from the medication. This brings us pretty current and to my current state of mind. After having been so confident and self sufficient for so long I feel like I have regressed even further into anxiety from where I was years ago when first dealing with it. It has been slow going, but I have good days and bad days, like anyone else, and have been enrolled in school again with great progress towards a biology degree, with aspirations to pursue a career in medicine.
I joined this online community because I never ever ever talk about the way I feel to other people and think that its a great start to air my dirty laundry.

[anneM]

Hello! I'd like to take some time to introduce myself. I've been aware of my anxiety and panic problems ever since I was in 8th or 9th grade in high school. It was so bad and I was so alone in high school that I had to drop out and get my GED. I surpassed that a few years later by quitting my job and enrolling in college. After some debate about my major, I left college for a few years and did the daily grind again. Once again I quit my job and felt really good about myself mentally and physically and after having saved up enough money I traveled around Europe for four months! The best time of my life! I met amazing people and grew spiritually and learned to be self sufficient, I also stopped taking the citalopram that I had been on for some time. After I came back from that trip I began to feel disconnected from the people around me (sad about returning home and disappointed that no one could understand or appreciate what I experienced during my trip) and not much later began to experience what I now know to be severe withdraw symptoms from my removal from the medication. This brings us pretty current and to my current state of mind. After having been so confident and self sufficient for so long I feel like I have regressed even further into anxiety from where I was years ago when first dealing with it. It has been slow going, but I have good days and bad days, like anyone else, and have been enrolled in school again with great progress towards a biology degree, with aspirations to pursue a career in medicine.
I joined this online community because I never ever ever talk about the way I feel to other people and think that its a great start to air my dirty laundry.

Hey there and welcome! I am new to this as well and pretty much joined the community for the same reason you did. I've struggled with social anxiety but mainly right now am dealing with health anxiety. I think this community will be an awesome way to be able to openly talk to others who fight the same battles your facing and help get us on a less anxious and healthier path. Congrats on your schooling and think its awesome that your goal is to pursue a career in medicine! Feel free to message me if you ever need someone to talk to. Wish the best for you! Take care!!:)

[solta]

Welcome :) I'm going on a trip, too, next year. We're going to travel around Europe and see as many places as we possibly can in a month. I've always had certain kind of appreciation for people who have seen the world and that's what I want to do. Ever since I started having anxiety I never really thought about money anymore. I just spend as much as I can on myself so I can do the things I want to.

Have you thought about going on a trip like that again?

[GenericUsername]

Welcome :) I'm going on a trip, too, next year. We're going to travel around Europe and see as many places as we possibly can in a month. I've always had certain kind of appreciation for people who have seen the world and that's what I want to do. Ever since I started having anxiety I never really thought about money anymore. I just spend as much as I can on myself so I can do the things I want to.

Have you thought about going on a trip like that again?

I absolutely will go on another trip like that again sometime in the near future! It's the funniest thing that when I travel I have no anxiety at all. I traveled all throughout Western Europe by my self, having never been on a plane I flew from JFK to Frankfurt. I was always afraid to fly and when I did it was the most liberating experience I have ever had. When I traveled around Europe, i met and stayed with random people (also something I never thought I would do). But once I came home the anxiety and self doubt started to surface again. Funny what idol minds are capable of doing to you eh?