New here

[Laura_Zepam]

Hello, I am new here. I am been suffering from Anxiety since my 20's. Panic attacks that come and go. Depression the last 5 years or so and really severe depression the last year. I'm just looking for a support group online as I am not ready for one in person. I have a therapist I see. So hello everyone.

[Laura_Zepam]

Hello

[Laura_Zepam]

I can't really drive much further than a few blocks on my own. Having to ask people to take me places wears thin on both me and the person I ask. I'm practicing driving again. It's hard. I freak out stopped at a stop light for too long. I feel trapped in my own car. So that's the not going out in person part.

[Laura_Zepam]

Yes fear of driving, just being out. I am better in that I can go out assisted. Years ago I could not even walk to my mailbox. It's all been triggered again with two deaths in my family. It's like I thought I was cured a few years ago, but I didn't see that nasty culprit depression sneaking up on me as family members were becoming ill. I just lost it last winter when I lost two people I loved. All the stuff came back but along with the anxiety came terrible, unrelenting depression this time. I don't even know how to laugh anymore. Laughter sounds strange to my ears now.

[Marshall64 in reply to Laura_Zepam]

I can relate to your last sentence. When I was at my lowest, I would see people laugh and wonder how they could do it. Work was very stressful and one co-worker called me "Dr. Death" because i didn't even smile.

There are many people who will be able to relate to you here.

[roseanxiety]

Have you tried reading the book DARE by Barry Mcdonagh and implementing his techniques to get rid of anxiety?

[Laura_Zepam in reply to roseanxiety]

Never heard of it. But I will definitely look it up, because new ideas help me. Thank you very much for the book name.

[roseanxiety in reply to Laura_Zepam]

yes, it always saddens me when i see people who have been struggling with anxiety for a long time and haven't at least tried this book, so definitely give it a try! a lot of people have completely cured their anxiety with it. I'm in the process of getting rid of mine.

[Angie1777 in reply to roseanxiety]

I have that book! I read up to page 61 so far (chapter called Guve up Thinkinh You’re Abnormal). The first few times I tried the dare response, the anxiety actually got worse. Did that happen to you as well? I stopped reading it after that. But I’m contemplating on continuing it...

[roseanxiety]

its gotten a lot better from the supplements I've been taking, reading this book and exercising and trying to take better care of my health. its still there but I'm hopeful its almost gone.

[Angie1777]

Hi!