Does anyone here suffer from an anxiety disorder?

[PVarck31]

I know I have brought this up in other threads, but I am kinda looking for people(s) who suffer the same stuff I do.

I guess I am outing myself here. I know a lot of people don't believe in these types of disorders, or disabilities, so if you want to just tell me I am weak and need to man up then please don't post here. I got enough of that from my dad.

[SHO]

*raises hand*

[PVarck31]

Quote: Originally Posted by NOBLE

*raises hand*

Would you mind talking about it in here? Damn I feel like a group therapy leader. lol. Although they do say group therapy can do wonders.

[SHO]

I was diagnosed with SAD a few years ago during a rough bout with depression. I was at a point where panic attacks were an everyday occurance and it really sucked and affected how I functioned. After some therapy and being placed on some medication temporarily, I learned my triggers so I knew what to avoid and some techniques to help ease my anxiety in situations like school and work. Being able to work through the stuff that bothers you with someone who 'gets it' does a lot of good.

It's not the end of the world, but it still sucks. However, I now have a better grip on the attacks and they are less common for me. I can get through life just fine for the most part now.

[PVarck31]

Alright, I guess I will tell my story so that others may be comfortable enough to do so. It all started with me in early 2002. I was completely normal and never felt anxious about anything prior to that. I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Panic Disorder. I have tried tons of meds and none of them seem to work well. More recently, I was prescribed Ativan. It helps, but it also makes me super tired and I lose motor skills.

It really sucks because I didn't ask for this to happen to me. Over the years It has caused me to lose friends, jobs, and money. I am very lucky to have a wife who understands what this is, and helps me through it.

The anxiety isn't 24/7. It can get to that, but mostly it comes and goes with no ques. I have good days, bad, days, and in between days.

One of the scariest things that happened to me, I was in Columbus on my way to pick up my sister from her dorm to go out and eat. I had a panic attack coming on, for no reason. I tried to fight it, but it kept getting harder to be aware of my surroundings. Next thing I know an OSU campus police officer is calling an ambulance right outside my door. I ran into a light pole. Luckily I was ok, and no one else was hurt either.

At times, I feel like this has destroyed my life. But I have a great wife, who helps me get through it.

Wow, Ok well I just told my darkest secret. I hope no one will bust my balls.

[Gizmo]

^ It's always good to talk about things you have been through.

I also suffer from anxiety. I never knew of this disorder or any of the symptoms until last year. I'm 24 years old and never had any problems up until last year. I'm not sure when it started, during the holiday break in 07, my aunt passed away and during that time I was feeling depressed. Come January and I started to have headaches and started going to the doctor, because I didn't know what was wrong with me. Well, one day I was at work, and I started to have the headaches again and I just felt the side of my face go numb. I got started to panic and had one of my co-workers rush me to the hospital. They did test and everything and found nothing and said it could just be stress related. Thing was, my daily life wasn't that stressful.

After that incident, I was prescribed Niravam and Lexipro, but I was hesistant to take them. For the next month, I started to think everything was wrong with me and had another panic attack one day day before going to work and was told the same thing about the hospital. So I finally decided to take the pills and they helped me until I finally decided that I didn't need them.

As of today, I learned how to manage my thoughts and not get too carried away. I still have my medication and will take one every now and then if I feel I need to, but I try not to rely too much on them.

As pjv31 said, it's not easy talking about these kind of things, but once you talk to someone about what you're going through, it's amazing to see there are other people that have this same issue.

[elicoleman]

Nothing ever diagnosed here but I'm 100% sure I have something. I'd say that I've got Pure-O, which is OCD that's strictly in the mind. It's not something you can visually see, like obsessive hand washing or door checking.

I've always had some form of anxiety but I just assumed it was me. Never really thought much to it until I got together with my current girlfriend.

I started having insanely irrational anxiety about her cheating, drugs, alcohol, etc and but I managed. Then in October, I started freaking out because I thought I was gay. The thought seemed so real. I couldn't shake it. I was playing softball at the time and I felt so uncomfortable in the dugout.

I finally got online and came across something. It was called HOCD (Homosexual Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). Basically, your mind tricks you into believing something you're not. In this case, being homosexual. When you try and tell yourself that you're not gay and try to prove it wrong, it makes it worse because then you start thinking that you're just in denial. It's a never ending cycle that made days hell.

Luckily for me, that only lasted 4-5 days and I was able to get past it.

However, shortly after New Year, I had something come over me. I had been with my girlfriend for 8 months and was very happy. I started to feel bored, so I asked how people if they dealt with the same things. I got different responses and I figured it would go away. Nope, it didn't. It slowly got worse.

For the last three months, I've been dealing with a daily struggle known as ROCD (Relationship Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). I wake up doubting whether I'm in love, I go through the day constantly testing my feelings, I go to bed still doubting.

I know for a fact that I love her but when these irrational feelings take over, I can't escape. The anxiety overwhelms me. I feel like a fraud. I feel so guilty for feeling this way. Over the last three weeks, the anxiety has turned into depression which makes it even worse because I feel apathetic and numb to the situation. I feel so disconnected from the world like I'm having an out of body experience.

Most will read this and just think it's all made up but it's never felt so real. The constant doubt that runs through my mind is emotionally draining. I can't seem to stop thinking about it and when I actually do, I feel like that's a sign that I don't care and should get out.

I doubt anyone on here has dealt with this but if they have, I'd love to hear your story. Going to stuckinadoorway.org has basically saved my life. Otherwise, I probably would've broken up with the love of my life.

Wow man that sounds terrible. The gay part was a little funny though. The thing about your girlfriend sounds bad, good thing you found that site!