I've experienced low level anxiety for a long, long time. During very stressful times in my life, this rose and became overwhelming. I found myself almost crippled at times, unwilling to keep moving, or take a risk in anyway. I did because I had to, and I responded very well to a daily low dose of citalopram.

I have someone close to me who is overwhelmed with anxiety. A young, teen family member. She has told me she worries about dying all them time. She is terrified of death. She is taking medications, seeing her doctor, and seeing a counselor for a few years now, but this isn't relenting. She doesn't like to go out, to drive on the highway, to go swimming, or assume almost any level of risk.

I have practiced some stoic meditations at times, including lowering my guard to think about illness and death, or loss of a loved one. I've written my own obituary in the past. Facing death and loss as an inevitability has been freeing in some ways. I appreciate each day more.

Have any of you used stoic mediations for anxiety about mortality?

Would it be suitable to speak to this kid's parents about this as a possibility, even just to tell them, "I get where she is coming from to some degree. This s what I did."

Thanks,
RDM