Friday, April 22, 2011
If you're someone who suffers with anxiety the chances are you've been categorized, and not just medically. It's a natural inclination and you've no doubt done it yourself, and even about yourself. Maybe you're viewed as sensitive, thin-skinned or emotionally delicate? Questions may be asked as to wh...
I know my brother and I share a predisposition toward having anxiety. Since my dad never talked about "such things" I have no idea what his state of mind was, although he preferred prescription painkillers to anti-anxiety meds. His doctor gave him a whole jar of Valium back in the 70's (before you only got 30 days' worth) and I think he only took one. I sneaked some of them because my anxiety level was so high. I was a teenager then...and dating meant fear of the unknown; driving made me fearful (it still does); thinking about college meant fear about making decisions; I was a basket case and at the time I thought the Valium was really helping.
Now, my greatest periods of anxiety are family get-togethers. Like Easter Sunday, coming up. I would do almost anything to get out of going, but it is my "job" to help Mom make preparations. And instead of Valium, I'm on Klonopin. It helps me get through a lot of rough days. I guess I am dependent on it, but I don't know if that is unhealthy or not. If not for the Klonopin I would probably spend a lot more of my staying isolated.
I like your analogy of the combination lock. I don't know exactly how mine became totally unlocked but it seems to be permanently so.