Just want to be normal and calm

Dear Jen,

 

First of all, I'm glad you found your way to AnxietyConnection.com. You are one step closer to feeling better! It's important for you to know that you're not alone, nor are you the only person suffering in silence from your anxiety. Doctors and scientists estimate that approximately 20 million Americans have some form of chronic anxiety.

 

It's so tough when your spouse can't understand what you're going through. An anxiety disorder is a legitimate & REAL medical condition, but our friends and family expect us to just "snap out of it" or something! It's so frustrating when a loved ones tells us to just "relax", as if that's going to cure our anxiety! To me, it's like telling someone confined to a wheel chair to "just get up already!" -- it really illustrates a lack of understanding and compassion.

 

As for your constant anxiety about health and death, you're not alone on those concerns either. In fact, you wouldn't be human if you didn't think about those very real and unpleasant facts of life. It is especially normal to feel consumed by these negative thoughts after the death of a loved one or a major health scare. However, it becomes problematic for us when we are so preoccupied by these thoughts on a daily basis that we can't get past them and live in the present.

 

I just posted part 1 of a blog entitle "I tamed my anxiety and YOU can too!" about how I've tamed my own severe anxiety problems. I started with medication, followed by therapy 1x a week and some pretty major lifestyle changes.

 

Warm regards,

 

Your friend, Madison March

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I've been there. I had my first panic attack when I was in University and I had them on and off for 20 years. 3 years ago they came back with a vengeance as I attempted to face some issues in my life. I took medication for 2 years and am now off of it. I have felt only mild anxiety since and have been able to control it with prayer, meditation and belief in a loving God. Trust Him and hold on. I think learning to control the fear is like a muscle - the more you do it the stronger you get. The medication may be necessary for a while to help us in a bad spot but long term I didn't want to rely on chemicals to feel normal.

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Your not alone. Although I am on meds and I've been working on it for some time I struggle to through also. I'm also 39 with two sons and have struggled with thoughts of a bad illness taking my life. My husband ahs been supportive but he can only help to some extent. Really a professional is what I need. Looking in to getting therapy is where I'm at right now, It's finding the right one that is covered by my insurance. Juggling the appoinments around the family schedule is the hardest part. Needless to say....you are not alone and you're not crazy. I know when I talk to my husband about some of my thoughts when I am not sounding rational. He looks at me with sincerety but I can see he is more concerned than anything, He asks me questions to help me see how irrational my thoughts are. I just need to give him and break and find an outside source of help and listening ear. Not alone.
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