Peer support wanted! Apply within.

[g8rluver]

I feel like I am writing a dating profile ... what is a catchy title to this post that will attract the most viewers. lol Yet another thing to have angst over. 😀

I am a 50 year old divorced female with one teenage child. I have depression and anxiety, coupled with significant codependency and anxious attachment style. Life is a joy and adventure ... I never know what the day holds, and each moment has a potential to shift to something new. I have been dating a wonderful gentleman who is 56 years old and divorced with two adult children. He is a PhD candidate and looks to have about 2 more years of grad school left. When I started dating him, he was already in grad school and I knew that his #1 priority was grad school. But dating a grad student is NO JOKE! They have very little time ... then add to that he is older and trying to do WAY more than he should do be as appealing as possible when he graduates and starts competing for jobs with people 25 years his junior. My #1 priority is my son, so on the weeks I have him, I may see my partner once for dinner. Our main communication is by text. I am involved in Codependents Anonymous for 2 years and have been actively working the 12 steps for about 9 months. I have other co-occurring addictions with the most significant overeating, but I have a history of alcohol and sex addiction. So, I have an addict brain. I have started practicing yoga and have found that to be extremely helpful also.

Basically, I struggle ... a lot with anxiety and depression. I have seen a therapist for almost 20 years (I am just starting with a new one this week after firing my last for telling me what SHE feels) and have been on psychotropic medications for over 20 years. Recently I was treated with TMS for depression with fairly good success. I am weaning off of my FOUR antidepressants slowly (I'm down to two now). My anxiety seems to be my biggest challenge now. I frequently have feelings of something being terribly wrong and I don't know what it is. I blame it on my relationship frequently but that is just a scapegoat. It is my brain and possibly my chemical make up. I am perimenopausal and I am on bioidentical hormones for over two years. Regardless, living with anxiety is just a BITCH! I have people in my support network for my codependency recovery but they don't get the effects of crippling anxiety.

I would love to have someone to just be able to talk to and support in this life filled with anxiety and unease. Is there anyone out there that would be interested in being a support for each other? I'd love to be able to chat with one or more people.

[Marysblue]

Yes I would. I've had anxiety uncontrolled for awhile. I'm taking the herb ashwagandha for six or seven years and it was really helping but it started to quit . I just found out about on here about using gabapentin and pregablin for anxiety.. it does seem to be helping some.

[g8rluver in reply to Marysblue]

Hi Marysblue! Thank you for reaching out. My name is Bea. I have been taking Gabapentin for anxiety and have had pretty good success. It does sedate me a lot so I can only take it at night but it helps with the anxiety that I feel what I first wake up in the morning. I have not tried any herbal supplements. I recently tried CBD and just got tired.

[Marysblue in reply to g8rluver]

Maybe you might want to look into ashwagandha. There's a lot on the internet you can read about it. I took it with other medicine. The Gabapentin doesn't sedate me but the 300 mg gave me tachycardia so I'm back down to 100 twice a day. My doctor also let me try pregablin which is very similar. You can message me if you like.

[wesleybilbo]

i’m a divorced dad with 2 kids and single. i also struggle with sexual addiction. and anxiety. and depression. i would be willing to connect on here. i am new. so i’m not sure how this works

[LifeIsThePitts]

books.google.com/books/abou...

This is a book by Melody Beattie called Codependent No More. I started reading it yesterday and it's the game changer I've needed.

Your post is two years old. I hope you're still active here.

Your story is so similar to mine. I'm 50. Ongoing TMS patient. ADHD, treatment resistant depression, anxiety, PTSD, disordered eating patterns and weight issues, childhood trauma and abuse, dysfunctional family dynamics...

Been married 25 years, together 30.

I weaned myself off all pharmaceutical prescriptions in 2018. I use med marijuana primarily as my only medication.

Anxiety and codependency are my main focus these days. How are you coping today?