let's make a promise!

Treatment and medication
1

Hey guys,

I've never had an experience of anxiety until March this year, and since then I have crippled myself with daily excessive worry and fear, I have diagnosed myself with every horrible fatal illness (including ebola, despite never being in contact with anyone with it or travelled to any countries with it!) I have had a number of blood tests, ecgs and frequent trips to the doctor, I convinced myself that I would need brain surgery or something equally horrific.

Each time I saw the doctor (who I have to say has been extremely supportive) he has given me the exact same diagnosis, ANXIETY. I refused to believe him as there was no way that the symptoms I was experiencing didn't mean I wasnt seriously ill, and really is anxiety that powerful it can produce all physical symptoms?!

Answer is yes it absolutely can and is! 

All each and everyone of us wants is to get better and have our life back, I have always been an extremely impatient person and wanted a quick fix and really didn't anticipate it being as much of a struggle as it has been.

I've been very lucky and have a great support network, which makes the struggle easier, but also I've had great support from this site and wanted to give back in any small way I can.

I read every post and there is always one common theme, despite the different struggles we all have, we are all very strong people because we are still here and we are getting better. Whether it be through medication, therapy or both, we've all taken that first big step forward and acknowledging what we have, anxiety, and it's 100% curable. 

I'm aware that this post may be a bit gushy and cringy but sometimes we need to give ourselves a break and a bit of a pat on the back, and that's just what I want to do to you all now.

Anxiety is just a sign that we've remained strong for ourselves and others for so long. 

Keep on going you're all doing a fantastic job

2

Hi and its nice to read your post! Yes , we ARE strong people but sometimes the medical profession lets us down and we have to fend for ourselves in certain situations. However, its good to know that we are not on our own and that people certainly DO suffer, no matter what the problem is and that together, we can give a little bit of back up and support to others who need it at the time. There is nothing gushy about your post (!) but it shows that with help, we can get our lives back. The one thing that I do wish however, is that when these drugs are given to us, we were made aware of the side effects of them which can be so terrible in themselves, sometimes more so than what they are given for at the time. Keep posting your replies as someone, somewhere, needs the help just as I do now!! 

Lots of thanks for your post.

3

Great post!  Thank you!

4

Bambi..read this article in The Atlantic Magazine by Scott Stossell..its called surviving anxiety. I dont know this person, and he is the editor of the magazine and I saw him on a show speaking about a book he had written regarding his own anxiety and something I so related to.

I have always had anxiety and palpations from it..Every morning I wake up , feeling a sense of dread. I wake up in the middle of the night, heart pounding, worrying..its constant. And you are right, because we all still get up and go to work or take care of our children, or whatever function we need to perform, we are doing it no matter how the feelings are affecting us.