New member, just wanted to introduce myself

[Cycle_TX]

Hi everyone -

Just wanted to send a warm greeting to everyone here on the forum. I'm a 27 year old male who has been dealing with anxiety/mental illness for the past 13 years or so. Wanted to join the forum to maybe get some advice/knowledge from the experiences of others, and share my own.

I have had some false starts with treatment, thinking I can "just tough it out." But it seems the older I get the more difficult it gets to tough it out. Right now I feel really stuck in life, and I know my mental health is mainly to blame. I have been dealing with depersonalization/derealization/OCD/general anxiety/depression/anorexia/bulimia/and other things that have yet to be identified. Yet, somehow I am still able to function to some capacity in the "normal" world. But I have come to realize that I really do need help, and plan on making it a priority everyday. In the past, I have just pushed through and found ways to adapt. But I have come to realize that it is affecting me more than I realize, and I am missing so much that this life has to offer. I appreciate you guys setting this forum up, and I look forward to communicating with the members.

Best wishes,

Cycle

[Ness17]

Hello cycle, welcome :)

Wow, you must be a strong individual though considering you've been through a lot!!

Have you had any professional help??
I myself am suffering from a chronic anxiety disorder, I'm 19 and this started a couple years ago..
I haven't really been living my life=/ (party teen years)
I get extremely nervous all the time and with that I get bad nausea
But I will be seeking help soon

Well I hope and hope that you get better!!!!!!!

[Cycle_TX]

Hi Ness

Thank you for the kind words 8)

Yeah, sometimes I wonder how I made it this far. My girlfriend and I were talking about it last night (more like she was giving me tough love in that I need to get help.) I have always kept God in my life, and I give him credit to getting me through those times when I thought I was going to lose it completely. My mom always pushed me to keep moving and going with life no matter what I was doing. That helped to a certain extent - but you can only go so far by avioding the issue. And all of the emotion and pain you push aside catch up with you at some point and in different ways. In my case, things just keep getting worse and worse, and it started to really affect my job, my relationships, etc. For example, an event happened that caused my OCD to flare up terribly. It gave me so much acute stress, that I developed gastroesophogeal refulx disease as a result. So I forgot to include that in my list up there ;) But the point is that it got so bad that began to affect me physically. To go on like this without professional help is really a misservice to myself and my loved ones.

Wow, 19 huh? I remember that age like it was yesterday 8) With getting professional help it really depends on the individual. Like certain things work for certain peopple, and every one has a certain tolerance range of what they can deal with or manage alone. It is definitely worth at least trying. Even if it doesn't mean using medication. I strongly believe everyone can benefit from therapy. The therapy I did do really helped me understand myself, and understand what my problems were.

Don't fret too much over the teen party years, it's not what it is cracked up to be. I have had so much more fun in my 20's!

Good luck!