Hey everyone!

[LevBrostein]

So my name is Lev and I was born in Berlin, Germany, but now live in Boston, Massachusetts. About a year ago I developed Generalized Anxiety Disorder, which seemed to appear out of the blue for no apparent reason. Initially, I presumed it to be merely stress due to related personal issues, but soon realized that even after some things had resolved, the anxiety, somewhat, lingered on. I have done cognitive behavioral therapy, which helped immensely, and I take Valerian when I have really bad days. My therapist said that my brain acts on two impressive levels. I am both incredibly anxious and obsessive, but because of my intelligence and willpower I am often able to suppress the anxiety with logical and rational thinking, and remain positive. I know there are plenty of people out in the world who do suffer like me, many less and many worse. Nonetheless, I wish anxiety upon no one because of its ability to really debilitate a human being's life. I have been able to control my anxiety and live a relatively normal life, with the occasional panic attack and small bouts of depression, that I quickly substitute into positive thinking. I also feel that one of the leading causes of my anxiety may be the internet. The internet is a weird Yin/Yang of this world. It has the ability to connect people who have similar beliefs, interests and problems and to also create fear and paranoia through the likes of wikipedia and webmd. I have become a bit of a hypochondriac because of the internet. However, as said I am relatively normal. I love music, playing guitar, writing music and keeping a journal, but I also love to go out and dance, see shows and just have a great time. My anxiety has provided me with the ability to really appreciate the simplicity and beauty of life. I have also learned that I am not afraid of death, but rather pain. I don't want to be in pain. With that said, I don't know why I didn't think about signing up to a forum like this much earlier. I am here to answer any questions and just maybe meet some people who have shared similar experiences!

Love n Light,

Lev