I'm new to this board, and just had a few questions to start off. First, a little about me. I'm a senior in college, and have been dealing with anxiety and/or depression for over two years now. I've grown very isolated, and I feel like life is passing me by. Oh, and I'm a man, if that is of any interest.

1) My anxiety is somewhat cyclical. I'll go for no longer than a week where I feel quite normal; my problems remain, however, but never reach a boiling point. I have negative thoughts but they are easily swatted away. Yet, some series of stressors, seemingly ordinary, will push me into quite a state. I have intense anxiety, look at everything in extremes, and as a result, I appear a horrible person, pathetic, weak, etc etc. Once this state of mind begins, it lasts for days, and is very hard to dispel. I have racing, but vague, thoughts, and the temptation to surrender is very strong. So, then, I have two opposite states, one normal, the other completely consumed by anxiety. My question: does anyone else experience this, does it sound like an anxiety disorder, or something else?

2) Has anyone tried Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy? Can anyone describe the direction of CBT with medication? If so, please describe your experience with it. I'm very suspicious of medication, and so far, my counseling experiences, though somewhat helpful, have never got at the root problem. I've had very passive counselors. Is this common or unusual?