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[Gwendolee]

Hello: I have been suffering with Anxiety for about 4 years. The first three years, I was at my worst. I couldn't drive or be left alone. I have caused so much stress to my family because I depended on them every waking hour. I lived in Hell waiting for death but death never came. I went to see a counselor who recommend a psychiatrist. I refused to see psychiatrist to avoid being prescribed drugs because I have two small children 3 and 7 years old. I got bold one day and decided to drive again. I am lucky I can take the service road to my job which takes me over an hour to get to work compared to 30 minutes on the highway. Then little by little I started getting on the highway and exiting off the first exit. Then one day I didn't get off the freeway and made it to work in one piece. I was told it can take you twelve good experiences to overcome a fear but one bad will set you back to one. That's what happen to me. I had one bad experience on the freeway because I let my fear overcome me and now I do not want to drive anymore. I am going back to my worrying and fear. I absolutely hate it.

[Frishup]

I know for a fact that your family wants to help you, they don't want you to be unwell, and I'm sure that they want to do everything to help you, this is something you should NEVER have to tackle alone.

I do firmly believe that seeing a professional about it is the right thing to do here, you don't have to say yes to meds, but talking to a psychologist on a regular basis can help a lot.

About your freeway situation, I think you should just continue taking baby steps until you feel comfortable driving again, it might also help to be in the passenger seat while someone else is driving but that's just a theory.

You seem like someone who's a lot stronger than you let yourself believe, and so I'm confident that you'll overcome these obstacles and fears of yours.

[Gwendolee in reply to Frishup]

Thank you for replying. I am searching for professional help. I have come a long way this year to be go back to that dark place. I want my kids to remember me healthy not sick. Thank you.

[one-love]

I know your pain I have my good days and my bad days a lot of my anxiety attacks I thought were heart attacks in the beginning because of the physical symptoms I was always having (heart pounding, dizzy, impending doom feeling, breathing difficulty) but after years of having them and talking to doctors and therapists I realize now when I have them they are just anxiety attacks but they can be very scary for sure if you don't know what it is in the beginning. I hate taking RX meds too so it's a double edge sword, I feel like I trade one problem for another when I take the pills the doctors give me and all the side effects that come with them. To be honest I have been using medical marijuana for the last few years and I feel it really helps me and doesn't have near as many bad side effects. I know it might sound crazy but look into it and try a sativa strain it really helps with mood, anxiety and depression. But use a low does if you never tried it before

[Gwendolee in reply to one-love]

Thank you for replying. It took me a long time to realize I wasn’t having a heart attack but an anxiety attack. I have stacks of medical bills for ER visits and paramedics coming to my house. I have thought about trying medical marijuana but I have no idea how to go about getting it. Thanks!

[one-love in reply to Gwendolee]

What state do u live in?

[Gwendolee in reply to one-love]

Texas

[one-love in reply to Gwendolee]

Yeah, your state I believe has a medical cannabis program you would just have to ask your doctor about it and do some research to verify