Nice to meet you!

[ReneeA]

Hi everyone! I'm Renee. I have been dealing with intense anxiety for a long time, but it's recently become too much to handle on my own. The anxiety itself has made me fearful of asking for help for a long time, but I finally made the decision to discuss it with my doctor. I've started medication, which is truly making a difference, but I need/want something more.

My schedule at home/work/school is overwhelming right now, & therapy isn't an option - although I'm definitely not opposed to it. My goal is to connect with others in similar situations so I have an understanding outlet when I need it & I can learn new strategies for coping from those who know best! I only hope that in time I can do the same for others too!

I'm very interested in making new friends here, so please feel free to say hello!

[Amy1986]

Good morning Renee,
I'm Amy and i have also dealth with it for a long time. I have taken both routes of meds and therapy and it was therapy that taught me how to deal with it and overcome my fear (which meds cant do, meds only masks the problem) i did a course of CBT which worked wonders and helps you to understand that its just a feeling, a chemical imbalance that we have no control over and is something, however hard we have to accept but by no means give in and stop living a normal life. Do you have fears? When did this start happenening?

Your not alone, everyone here has been through the same thing and feels how you feel. All we can do is offer a ear and hopefully advise you or if you need to vent you can do that too!!!

Take care

Amy

[ReneeA]

Do you have fears?

I think I've got enough for the both of us! Mine started out as social anxiety, especially after I got out of high school. I was nervous to go to public places where I'd never been before. And even if I was in a place I was "comfortable" with, I felt out of place. For example, I didn't want to order my own drinks in a bar or tell a hostess how many people were with me at a restaurant. Once of my stranger fears was using coupons, because I thought cashiers would think I was annoying.

Although the social anxiety still lingers, it's gotten worse in the last few years as my life has gotten more stressful. My fiance is disabled, so that has it's own challenges. We're in the process of buying our home, & have had a lot of bumps in the road through that process. I switched jobs/careers within the last year. And now I'm starting nursing school in a few weeks. Indivually all those things would be stressful for anyone. All of them together, coupled with my chemical imbalance, makes it really difficult for me to function. I find it hard to make easy decisions without wasting time weighing all the possible outcomes & worrying about what everyone else will think. And I live in constant fear that something will go wrong in every situation.

It got to be too much to deal with, which I why I finally made the decision to discuss it with my doctor. I'm really glad I've taken that first time, but I know I've got a long road ahead of me too.

[Amy1986]

It is a long road but it does get easier to deal with, i am still learning new ways five years on. i still have anxiety all day, everyday and attacks pretty often. Is comforting to see you have a strong willed partner like me. When is the wedding? :) a new house, new career all sounds very exciting although probably a bit daunting. Change seems to all happen at once doesnt it?? I am in the process of changing my career as mine was bring far too much stress and pressure.

[ReneeA]

No date set yet because I'm starting nursing school on September 13th. That'll be a year & a half, so we're planning on getting married after that. We'll probably wait until it's a little closer to that time to pick a date.