New around here? Or old timer? Please READ

[JSGeare]

One thing we've always wanted is a sort of "welcome center" for folks who have recently joined, are thinking about it, or who are just observing for now. Please be good enough to respond to this post and just briefly introduce yourself: a name or nic-name, age, where from, what brought you here, what you hope to learn, have to offer, etc. Just a couple of lines. Don't worry, we won't bite!

If you are already a member, please check here every so often to greet new arrivals and visitors. Who knows, maybe a long-lost friend or family member may drop in. One of MINE did -no kidding!

JSGeare and Greenlydia are your "Community Leaders" (CL, for short) and our job is to make this place as helpful and comfortable as we can. You'll see little purple whirrly-gigs by our names to assist you in locating us if you have questions about how the forum works.

Enough said for right now -so please introduce yourself or say "Glad you're here" to a newcomer.

Thanks!

Greenlydia
JSGeare

[Ravenjack]

First time posting on here. I am a 30 year old male and I have suffered with anxiety and panic attacks since I was 13. It came out of nowhere although I believe the trigger to have been my parents constant arguing and the threat of there eventual split up. I had the racing heart, stomach pain and acid, shortness of breath, and racing thoughts. I would constantly worry that something was wrong with my heart, my eyes, or even that I would swallow my tongue. Very odd things for someone so young to be experiencing. Through the years I have had therapy and tried Klonopin, Zoloft, and currently Paxil to help alleviate this problem. I actually for a few years was relatively symptom free, but as soon as excess stress started my mind seemed unable to handle it. I have missed out on many things in life and have pushed myself to when necessary to not miss out on some of the more important things. Paxil has helped for awhile, but it seems now that I am working again in an office the symptoms are returning just as bad as before. I will probably talk with my doctor and discuss adjusting the meds are trying something else. I also do not like te dependance on medication and hope to find a more natural way of handleing things. To everyone on this board I want you to realize you are not alone. I felt like that for so many years and it drove me crazy. What you are going through is not your fault and it can be controlled. Stay strong!

[callain]

Hi everyone,
I'm Caroline and I live in the UK.  For quite a long time now (years and years) I've been getting occasional semi-suicidal thoughts that really worry me and I'm really just looking for help understanding it.  I don't know if it's anxiety but this looks like the best forum to post on anyway.
I'll put up a separate thread anyway...

[Laurallei]

Hello my name is Laura(Laurallei) I live in Southern California and am 39 years old

I am new to this site and am very happy to have found it.  I have had anxiety and depression for some time but it got extemely bad in November.  I finally got on medication and it has helped.  I am currently taking 10mg of Lexapro that is just being switched down to 7.5mg and I am also starting a small dose of Kolonopin as need.  I am currently under the care of a wonderful Therapist and Psychiatrist.  I am learning to let go of control and allow these wonderful people to help me.  I hope that I can help others and I am sure many will help me with questions and concerns.  It is nice to know that there are others out there who have similiar experiences and are making progress.  So many other web sites are very negative about taking medication.  I think this negativity scares people off and they do not seek the care they need. I can deffinately say that has been the case for me. Thank you all in advance for being so kind and I wish all that join this community the best in there search for wellness.

Best Wishes,
Laura

[LORDINEEDHELP]

hello my name is Theresa(lordineedhelp)  i have been on this site i for a little while now im married live in NH i have 4 great kids i have a huge heart i love helping others it tends to help me alot as well i spend alot of time on the living with an alacholic site latley i have depression and very high related anaxiety for a long time at times i feel im more so confused and wondering if maybe its more then anaxiety or med related and pretty scared of all the meds i have been on seem to cause issues(like ending up in the er on an ekg machine for stress and anaxiety related issues) as well as ease them i do try to reach out to people here sometimes they comment back and alot of times they dont im not sure if its the site or becaous i can be withdrawn my self based on what is happening with me latley every day is different just like my moods i have been so envolved with triyng to get through all the rough stuff with my husbands problem in return it has caused issues with getting more anaxiety hart palpatations bad mood swings paranoia at times i think i need to check out people in my family to find out what has been in this family but i did not know my mother so i cant just call and ask although i briefly know she had some kind of break down and had huge problems with drugs and alachol herslf etc so working on a few issues i have met some wonderfull people here who have reached out and its been great this was a great idea this should be done in other forums would love to meet some new friends to talk to with similar issues im sure it would bennifit all of us
Theresa

[stresshead130968]

Hiya, I'm from England near the lake district (if that means anything to any of you) and i'm fairly new to this site . I have been suffering anxiety for about a year now but it was only through this site that i realised it and it's been my best cure ever since. I don't know if anyone over here would agree with me in saying this but i find that Dr's imply it to me (based on all tests being clear and the fact i've just had the worst year of my life)but they dont actually say it's anxiety they just send me away with a load of self help idea's and tell me i have nothing "sinister" going on which is of course great to hear, but sometimes i come away feeling a bit of a pathetic case when i'm usually such a strong person.

I do feel i'm coming out the other side now due to the varying types of treatments i've actually gone out and sorted out for myself (everything takes soooo long on the nhs)and my recommendations are.....this site (of course)....for the physical symptoms a good osteopath and sport/remedial massage and swimming ......for the mind I have used a counselor which was ok but I really recommend is LAUGHTER , find some of your funniest friends and take the time out to get together as a group and just have a real good laugh it really is the best medicine.

I know this sounds like a very simplistic view but it really is whats working for me especially on those days when you feel at your worst.

Still haven't worked out how to deal with the worrying though so any idea's ,send them my way!!

Great idea this BTW

[gracez]

hi, i am new to this.  i have had depression/anxiety since i was in my 20s.  i am now 52 years old and have been on effexor 75 mg for 6 yrs.  i have been getting anxiety attacks weekly or more often for the past month which are relieved by xanax.  has anyone out there been taking effexor and it stopped working for you?  i do not want to tke xanax too often, i do not want to get hooked on that.  i have been able to take effexor with less than 5 pounds weight gain--really do not want to switch to another antidepressant to felp my anxiety.