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BrnEyedGrl said:
Hi All. This is a great post.
I have suffered from GAD, depression, and panic disorder for oh...about 15 years now. I am so bad at this point that I cannot work, (and I have a teaching degree), and do not leave the house much.
I have to say that both the depression and anxiety are awful, but the anxiety is constant, every minute of every day....and I feel so many physical symptoms because of it, they drive me crazy.
Do any of you find it hard to sleep and if you do, how do you keep yourself occupied? Even on this site Im going crazy!!!

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Hi, BrnEyedGrl

I have lived with insomnia for years now. The only time I get a "real" night's sleep is with prescription sleeping pills and then they lose their effect after about the third night.

I spend a lot of time on the computer. I joined the 3D community SecondLife about a year ago and it is such fun! I used to play games like EverQuest, but SL is a real community and you can do whatever you want and pursue pretty much any interest and find others who share that interest. For me, I take a lot of classes, go to ballroom dancing places, there are a lot of self-help type groups there...and more than I can even name. I've built a home there and shop to furnish it, buy clothes, have a dog I'm training...in short...all the things I used to do before my illness made me more housebound.

I have a Master's Degree in Mental Health Counseling and used to work for Hospice. I have not been able to work now for 3 years and that often makes me feel (a) totally worthless and (b) like I am wasting my education and abilities.

I just pray (Oh, and I belong to a church in SL too *smiles*) that I will get better and be able to join the world soon.