Hi Rhapsody,

There seems to be a lot of anxiety for you at the moment. It must be horrible.

I always try to remember (when my anxiety arises) that it is not the particular context or phobia that is bothering me; it is the anxiety itself.

I know that this seems obvious but it's so hard to grasp when we are in the grip of the illness. One test is to ask myself how another person would feel about my particular worry. If I think they could handle it Ok, then this reminds me that it is the illness which is getting at me.

Somehow, it really helps to recognise and face down that old anxiety, each and every time it shows it's ugly mug.

I just say, "Oh, it's you again."

It's a trickster this illness, but it only has the same old tricks, and we can learn to recognise them and overcome them.

Good thoughts, M.