[erysichthon]

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?

[SeptemberMorn]

Your symptoms sound quite a bit like mine; anxiety mixed with depression. They usually do come hand in hand. My fears weren't that easily gotten rid of. Even now, I can still go for weeks being afraid, mostly a physical health fear.

Not being able to cope with normal, every day stressors is usually a sign that your brain isn't putting out the right chemicals. It comes up as anxiety/depression. Everything negative intensifies.

I've had a smattering of CBT and what I saw, I really liked. The therapist I was with the longest was rather passive until I decided I was done beating around the bush. I told her to either get the ball rolling or I'd find someone else. Not in those words, but she got the idea and got the ball rolling.

We found that I had some unknown, unresolved issues up until then. We dealt with the issues, but it didn't do anything for the anxiety/depression. I've been on anti-depressants for 20 yrs. Usually, anti-depressants also take care of anxiety.

Hope this helps some.

[UpsetinMN]

Your cyclical description of anxiety is my case exactly. It puzzles me as well that I can be absolutely functioning well, handling stress just fine, and something comes along that doesn't even seem as stressful as other things I've handled just fine, but it sends me into a tizzy! This usually lasts a few days as well, where I just am not able to function. Then I usually go back to functional after that.

I would recommend any type of cognitive behavioral therapy..and REBT is a good one...I believe it was designed by Albert Ellis. I think it will depend on whether it works for you. The other, more general form of CBT was designed by Aaron Beck...so you can look that one up too.

I had more psychodynamic therapists too and they didn't do much besides let me get through that episode...but the cognitive therapy actually works on the root of the issues (thoughts anyway...)

I hope the best for you!

Dawn