One symptom today... A different one tomorrow...

[Devin76oh]

Hi everyone!

I've been on this site for about 5 months now and I have a question. I love that everyone offers advise and their own personal experiences on here.

This is an open ended question for everyone.

Does knowing that others are going through the same help you cope better and accept the symptoms you have? If so, why?

I've benefited tremendously from reading posts on this site and giving my success story. It is my hope that others can relate to my experience and have the hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Don't get me wrong, I still have symptoms (headaches, chest pains, quick instances of fear) but from where I started to where I am now is a HUGE improvement.

One thing I noticed is that people have little to no hope in over-coming this issue. But what did you do or how was your life before all of this? If you've lived OK before what makes you think you can live OK now or in the future? I never stopped believing that I would get back to a "normal" sate of mind.

What am I saying? I am saying that the reason why many people are successful in anything that they do is because they have hope even when things are at their lowest.

Again let me emphasize that I still get symptoms every now and then BUT I don't let it control what I do, what I think, or even how I feel. It is all controllable.

Prayer. Hope. Patience. It worked for me and I know it can work for you.

message me if you need anything. Im here to help and talk whenever. And I encourage you WHEN you get better to reach out and help others also. Cheers and God bless.

God Is great! Trust him!

Philippians 4:6-7

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

=)

[Momwifedaughter]

I love this post. You are so so right. I believe in God and am a Christian yet still rely on meds for help. Is that wrong?

[Sunshine54321 in reply to Momwifedaughter]

I'm a Christian too yet I've been stressing with my symptoms and anxiety. I don't think it's wrong to use meds. God can use doctors and meds to help heal. Then once you are feeling better and stronger you can gradually lessen the meds. I find that overthinking my symptoms makes them worse. Picture yourself as being held in the palm of Jesus' hand and that God is holding Jesus. Meditate on Psalm 91 (NKJV). It is about being under God's protection.

[Momwifedaughter in reply to Sunshine54321]

Thank you.

[Devin76oh in reply to Momwifedaughter]

Oh no not at all! If meds help then great! Some of the things that I notice is that those that choose meds, only do just that, the meds. I have found that counseling coupled with the meds words very well. Counseling in general is a great way to get over anxiety. Just talking to someone that understand the way you are and helps you is great.

God has been my biggest supporter and my biggest relief. Before this, I believed in God but did not have a true relationship with him. Now I do! And it has been great! Again, I still feel symptoms, but I do't let it get to me.

[Agora1 in reply to Devin76oh]

Devin76oh, your words are so wise. I agree that at one time or another, we all may need to rely on meds for a short time. Meds alone won't do it. They work hand in hand with therapy. Believing in God or something bigger than ourselves further helps us to heal and go forward. Like you, the symptoms may always be with us but feel as if they are under a blanket and no longer control our lives. I enjoy your responses.

[Devin76oh in reply to Agora1]

Thanks Agora! I am truly blessed to have progressed so quickly on the anxiety/health anxiety. For me God has blessed me with guiding me into this issue and guiding me through this issue. I honestly believe that this is my testimony to share with others of the power of faith and beleiving in God.

I also made a promise that what ever I can do to help other over come this I would. So anything that I can do to help I will.

I am by no means perfect and still live with some of the symptoms (like right now I have dull headaches) but I know that is my anxiety trying to peak back in, BUT I wont let that happen. =)

We are all strong, it just takes time to notice it and use it.

[sunnyg]

How long did you suffer? What steps help you recover? Are you on meds? God bless and thank you. I have hope, not sure if I have the strength, but I have hope!

[Devin76oh in reply to sunnyg]

I prefer to say I have lived heavily with anxiety since June. To be completely Honest I've always had anxiety but did not have it hit me so strong until June. I have had anxiety attacks before but didn't know what they were.

The first step I did was talk about it and seek help. Both spiritually and mentally. God used my Mom to get to me to have a personal relationship with God. I then looked out for a therapist. I didnt know what was happening and so I wanted to talk to someone that could help me understand.

I never went on meds. Thanks to God and Jesus I did not have to. I used Xanax a couple of times but I did not like the way it made me feel and the side effects of other meds scared me. I vowed to not use them and try my hardest to not go that route. It is not a bad route, I just felt that my God and faith were stronger then those.

I used t walk around with a xanax in my pocket "just in case" but I never used it. I then would just leave it by my bed next to my Bible, and every morning make a choice, either the xanax or the bible. Truly liberating when you begin to see that you are getting better everyday and that you are getting stronger.

You have to start somewhere, and see that you are progressing everyday. With that, the negative seems to go away more and your anxiety lessons.

If you have hope then you have strength. Hope is Strength.

[Sunshine54321 in reply to Devin76oh]

Devin, Thank you for posting . Faith in God will keep you strong. A house built on solid rock will not collapse. And we will not collapse because our minds and hearts are kept on God who is our rock.

[Sunshine54321]

Thank you for posting the Bible verse. With God everything is possible.

[Sunshine54321]

Thank you for posting. All things are possible with God. Keep our eyes on God.

[Angep Star]

People have little or no hope because they have given up believing they can get better. The illness gets the better of them sometimes. So it needs people to give them hope!! Anxiety and depression is a lonely frightening despairing place. So for people to see others feel the same makes them realise that they are not mad!!! Not the only one!!! So there plants the seed of hope!!! And hopefully by reading others stories and asking what helped them people can begin to find the strength to beat these illnesses and yes there is Always Always hope 🙏🏻

[Luzcristy]

This is me. This site has help me so much and relating to people stories it's a sense of hope , I still struggle from time to time . But I can truly say it's better. Lesson learned today don't check my pressure to many times, it scares the heck out of me , and the scripture right on the nail For me God my family and and a place where actually find someone who truly understands it's great .

[Maribee]

WOW !!!