New girl

[Bridget Goddard]

I just wanted to reach out and "introduce" myself. I've never taken the opportunity to speak with other sufferers of anxiety. I figured now is as good of time as any. I'm completely off meds and doing relatively well, all considered-- but I still have my ups and downs. I really look forward to communicating (and commiserating) with you all. That's it for now. Thanks!

[NixonRulz]

Hi, Bridget. Welcome here

Glad you are doing well

Keep on the course

Well done

[jessed03]

Hey, Bridget,

Welcome to the club. :)

We're a friendly bunch, even if we do write one sentence per paragraph here.

One thing that always helped my anxiety was my dog. Seeing that little guy's face, so innocent and non-judgemental. Awesome. Have any pets yourself?

[Bridget Goddard]

jessed03- I have two dogs actually and you're right, they help a great deal. I don't know what I'd do without the buggers. They get me out on some of my crappier days. Thanks for responding!

[NixonRulz]

Jesse never stops about that dog of his

My dog didn't help me a bit. She has a bum leg and has become somewhat of a non contributor to the household

I still like her though. But she hasn't helped me with anything

I've decided she is a taker and not much of a giver

[jessed03]

Haha, I guess I do. Well, dog man here, everybody. Guilty as charged. :)

It's been a while since my first panic attack. Several years, actually. A lot has changed since then. What I'll never forget though is the pain of those initial few attacks. Goodness gracious. I've had tattoos before, a few actually, but wow... nothing compares to that moment when you wake up in the night and feel like the earth's about to explode or something.

I don't know if you have ink or anything. Shut me up if I'm talking about something alien here. It's just those tattoos on sensitive skin had to be the second most painful thing I've experienced. A panic attack? Number 1 by a long way!

I'm really glad to hear you're doing relatively well.

[Bridget Goddard]

I'm guilty of blathering on about my dogs too. Fortunately my friends are all "dog people" or at the very least- as decent liars as they are decent friends.

I don't think I've had a knock down drag out anxiety attack in maybe a year. Just that almost ever present cloud of lingering doom. Ha. That sounds quite dramatic.

Actually, I do have lots of tattoos. Much to my parent's chagrin. But in my experience I'd rather face a few hours under the needle than holing myself up in my house for no rational reason!

Anyway I feel I've digressed. But I want you both to know how much it means to me that there are people out there in cyber space spanning the globe that are actually willing to engage in conversation with me about this. Thank you, thank you thank you.

[NixonRulz]

I haven't had an anxiety attack in a bunch of years but I remain hopeful that they will return someday so I can once again have the enjoyment of crying whilst at work and trying to convince people it is just hay fever that just so happens to make me pee my pants and shake uncontrollably

I had one tattoo. "Had" is the key word here. I had a stupid tattoo in a stupid place. Finally had
5 laser sessions to remove it. Now that hurts like hell. I like tattoos but I am just not the proper canvas

Lots of people willing to talk to you here about anything, Bridget. We really have nothing better to do :o

[Im-Suffering]

.......that almost ever present cloud of lingering doom. Ha. That sounds quite dramatic.

........Much to my parent's chagrin. But in my experience I'd rather face a few hours under the needle than holing myself up in my house for no rational reason!




The majority of your anxiety, attacks, and the present 'cloud' are due to that second sentence above (which contains 'volumes' of suppressed trauma/hurt). Go into it, face it.

Start off with 'why' questions.

[Kuma]

Well, maybe I-S is right that your comment about your parents being upset by your tattoos "contains volumes of suppressed trauma/hurt." Or, alternatively, maybe it is not such a big deal. I mean, lots of young people have tattoos and many of their parents think it is a dumb idea. Most of them get over this difference of opinion without deep psychological scars. I have no basis to conclude that this has caused you "volumes of suppressed trauma/hurt." In any event, you did not ask anyone here to psychoanalyze you.

Anyway, welcome to this Forum. I don't like dogs but I am still a nice guy. Usually.

[Im-Suffering]

Well, maybe I-S is right that your comment about your parents being upset by your tattoos "contains volumes of suppressed trauma/hurt." Or, alternatively, maybe it is not such a big deal. I mean, lots of young people have tattoos and many of their parents think it is a dumb idea. Most of them get over this difference of opinion without deep psychological scars. I have no basis to conclude that this has caused you "volumes of suppressed trauma/hurt." In any event, you did not ask anyone here to psychoanalyze you.

Anyway, welcome to this Forum. I don't like dogs but I am still a nice guy. Usually.

No.

"I'd rather face a few hours under the needle than holing myself up in my house for no rational reason!"

Within that statement. Nothing to do with body paintings.

"Anything is better than being at home." -

[Kuma]

Yea -- a tattoo is less painful than a panic attack. Physical pain is often less painful than mental pain. That does not surprise me. But I'm no shrink; just a random guy on the internet.

[gypsylee]

Welcome to the forum Bridget :)

[Bridget Goddard]

I can assure you that my anxiety has nothing to do with my tattoos.

My parents might not be huge fans but it's certainly a nonissue as far as our relationship goes. And not a manifestation of my anxiety, just an aesthetic I enjoy.

Thanks for making an earnest (albeit, a stretch) attempt at some sort of explanation?

Again, thanks to everyone who has responded and welcomed me. Gypsylee!

[Im-Suffering]

My response in this thread for clarification, had nothing to do with the body paintings. For anyone else that reads this thread in the future.

If the OP wishes, take out the word tattoo from everyone's vocabulary, and reread the thread from a different perspective.

From the OP, in the OP's words, no changes :

"I'd rather face a few hours under the needle than holing myself up in my house for no rational reason!"

Now, lets translate that into feelings, or your truth, since it slipped out conveniently:

Id rather face a few hours of physical pain, or be anywhere, under any duress, than feel trapped and barricaded in that house with them"

How's that? Can you feel it?

Good, because that's your anxiety introducing itself.

[Bridget Goddard]

I'm 30. I don't live with my parents.

[Im-Suffering]

I'm 30. I don't live with my parents.

You did. (make the connection).

Tell me Bridget. If you could put into words that 'lingering cloud of doom' that you speak of, what would it say?

Hint : The 'lingering doom' has nothing to do with the fear of recurring attacks.

[gypsylee]

Im-Suffering, stop making grandiose assumptions about people! It's offensive and probably puts new people off coming here.

[Bridget Goddard]

Thank you. My sentiments exactly.

[gypsylee]

For example:

"Id rather face a few hours of physical pain, or be anywhere, under any duress, than feel trapped and barricaded in that house with them"

Nowhere does she say "barricaded in the house WITH THEM". You are twisting her words to fit this assumption you have that her parents are the problem.

Same with the tattoos. 99% of parents don't like their kids getting tattoos.

Do you understand?

[Kuma]

I have to agree with Gyp here. It does not good to make wild guesses or unwarranted assumptions about what may be causing people distress, what may have transpired in their childhood, etc. It is (at best) presumptuous. And the fact that you say it with an air of certainty does not make it any better. (As my mother used to say, "just because you are confident does not mean you are right").

Bridget - we do not really know you so we will not guess what motivates you or what you are feeling or even why you are here. But we would sure like to get to know you better and to offer our support and to benefit from your wisdom.

[Bridget Goddard]

Kuma, thank you. I'd like to get to know all of you a lot better as well.

[jessed03]

We better do it soon, I'm not sure we'll have much time!

Sorry, I'm going by the stereotype that Oakland is more dangerous than the Middle East.

[NixonRulz]

We better do it soon, I'm not sure we'll have much time!

Sorry, I'm going by the stereotype that Oakland is more dangerous than the Middle East.

I think I agree

I'd rather take my chance walking through Baltimore city at night wearing my white ghost costume screaming "the south will rise again!"

I watched the A's play the Orioles in Oakland. They make Philadelphia Eagle fans look like choir boys:o

[Bridget Goddard]

Statistically, yeah- oakland is pretty unsafe.
There was a shooting across the street from my apartment not too long ago.
I really live in one of the safer areas (believe it or not) aside from the hills, where all the rich folk gather and let's face it, that will never be my scene. There are a lot of great things about this city too (i.e. art, music proximity to nature).
But I'm ready to live in a a quieter, more rural coastal town. For sure.

[NixonRulz]

we should just live in here. AnxietyLand.

No killings. No politicians. No taxes

And we are all good looking here!

[jessed03]

And we are all good looking here!

Haha, yeah. Although, some of the people who were here when we were voted best looking anxiety forum in 2014 are gone now. At least a few of us still remain!

I'd kind of like to go to the Colosseum. I did drive around Oakland a few years ago on vacation. I sort of ruined my trip though as I got lost and ended up in the ghetto.

[NixonRulz]

I was in the ghetto once. I was introduced to something that I like to call "crack."

The crack was good. The crack was fine. Even better with a bottle of wine

[gypsylee]

Haha, yeah. Although, some of the people who were here when we were voted best looking anxiety forum in 2014 are gone now. At least a few of us still remain!

LOL@best looking anxiety forum. We should release a calendar :)

[jessed03]

LOL@best looking anxiety forum. We should release a calendar :)

You'll have to do one of the winter months. Your smile could brighten up the rainiest of days.



http://38.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ly1ouz5Ucc1rnw18xo1_400.gif

[BrookeLynnnn]

Welcome Bridget! Oakland? I have another Cali friend here! & you're really close. I'm in Modesto :)

[Bridget Goddard]

Jesse,

The coliseum? Why? Baseball? Do you have many friends who like baseball? Call me naive or even stupid but it's just something I never considered the english enjoying…. sweeping generalization. I KNOW.
Other than for games there's really no reason to go out that way...

[Bridget Goddard]

Brookelynnnn

Yep! We're practically neighbors.

[BrookeLynnnn]

Brookelynnnn

Yep! We're practically neighbors.

We are! I've never been to Oakland but Frisco I have. Have you ever been to Modesto? Not sure why, it's no fun here lol

[Bridget Goddard]

Actually, I have. Not in a few years though. I think I used to have soccer tournaments out that way when I was younger. I have a couple of friends that are originally from there too.

[superchick22684]

I'm several days late to the game but oh well. Welcome to the forum Bridget!

[Bridget Goddard]

Thank you, Superchick! It means a lot.

[NixonRulz]

Thank you, Superchick! It means a lot.

Aw, look at you, Bridget. You do have a bunch of tattoos as you said. Just didn't think that many but they are great

By the way, there is a cat contemplating killing you behind you in your pic. Just in case you don't have a cat

[Bridget Goddard]

Aw, look at you, Bridget. You do have a bunch of tattoos as you said. Just didn't think that many but they are great

By the way, there is a cat contemplating killing you behind you in your pic. Just in case you don't have a cat


I don't have a cat! Thanks for the warning.

[gypsylee]

It won't be my smile brightening the rainy days ;)