[maze4200]

I just wanted to post a Thank You to all out ther who have helped and who post to this board..i had anxiety and the symptoms have not been back for 5 months now.... This board was a help whne i needed someone to talk to and ask questions....I will be back to check in everynow and again...but to the ones out there suffering there is hope u can overcome it.....with out medecine....it is not a fun time but ther is a light at the end of the tunnel...again a heart felt thank you...and remeber you can beat it with out medicine

[lavendersteph]

how did u do it without meds i'm desperate for a solution i am jobless and rely of the county medical center they seemed to just call u up prescribe u meds then say next it's awfull because i don't want to keep taking meds though they r helping i just don't want to rely on them i could use some advice please steph

[Myzen]

Hi Lavender,

That's a good point. My own belief is that meds can help, but they seem to cover up the anxiety, and we are always afraid that it might come back if we stop taking them. Maybe for some people this is enough.

Therapies such as CBT, take a different approach. They train us to be able to face the anxiety, and by facing up to the unpleasant symptoms the anxiety seems to go away.

Both with and without meds, some people recover for long periods and some people don't. My anxiety recurs, but I have become better at fighting it. My wife describes my ilness as 'serious' but I live a reasonably normal life and sometimes I am even happy!

One thing I am sure of; if we let the anxiety dominate us it will do so and that is the worst place to be. Anxiety is no friend, and we can't give in to it. In the words of the well known book, we have to 'feel the fear and do it anyway'.

Some people get to have easier lives, and others harder lives, we just have to make the best of what we have I guess.

Good thoughts, M

[Sabrina]

I don't know whether I feel sad or not that medication just did not help me. After years and years of various meds (and finally ECT), I snapped one day and said no more. I am so fortunate that despite some dark days, I am coping and have been medication free for more than a year.

Sometimes, I don't know how though.

I do agree that there is light at the end of the tunnel, even when it is covered with a pitch black rain cloud.

I wish you continued good strength Maze.