[cantbreathe]

My anxiety gets so bad I find myself pacing around & crying while trying to catch my breath. I have no job, I'm disabled & only 40 years old.No friends closer than 60 miles away & nothing to do all day. The future scares the crap outta me. What does someone do with their time? A whole day? Day after day? It feels so overwhelming.

[birdpumpkin]

Totally understand. I'm 42 and a stay-at-home mom, and I have no friends. I've been suffering ptsd and really bad anxiety since we lost everything in a fire in December. I had 10 cats that my life pretty much revolved around and kept me pretty busy aside from the usual cleaning and caring for the family. Without my cats now, I feel so lost. There's so much spare time that I don't know what to do with myself. I'm terrified of the future, too. I leave most things up to my husband and never thought about it til lately. If anything happened to him, I really don't know if I could handle things. I can't even drive across the river nearby because I'm scared of the new bridge and more traffic now. I was trying to handle the bills because my husband is usually late with a lot of them but it's stressing me out so bad and making my anxiety a lot worse. I'm thinking of handing the job back over to him. I've recently started visiting my parents almost every day. That takes up some time. I read and study some things of interest. I'm adjusting a little now to the extra time but don't feel any sense of purpose anymore. I wish I could be of more help. Just wanted you to know you're not alone and I care and understand.

[shabur]

Hey cantbreathe,
I know the feeling. On days I don't have anything planned I wake up very anxious. I try to get myself out, weather permitting. Sometimes I go to the coffee shop where I'm around other people and read or write. Sometimes it's just a walk.

Can you volunteer at some organization? I volunteer at an animal rescue twice a week as an adoption counselor and it helps. I'm around others who I have become friends with and we have our love of animals in common.

[truebliever]

Hi cant breathe.Just wanted to say hello.I'm 53 and have to stay at home with my special needs daughter and my husband ,Both have health problems.I understand how you feel.Sense you are are the computer,there free classes you can take.or start writing to me or other people.just please calm down.I started having anxiety in jan .so much went on.I was saved then 2 weeks later we had a freak ice storm,i say freak because I live at the beach.A tree came through my home within inches of my husband.We got through it.I do care.

[truebliever]

Hello birdpumkin.I'm Truebliever.I read your reply.I wish I could give you a hug.You sound a lot like me.In Jan I started having anxiety.I had neen working and had to quit because my husband health got so bad and I'm the mother of a 34 yr special needs daughter who also has health needs.My anxiety got so bad I have been to the er too many times.I was saved,yet I still have anxiety.In feb we had a freak ice storm which a tree came through our home within inches of my husband.You talk about your cats,i have pet birds.Please use the computer to talk to people,such as me.and there are free classes to take.There are people who do care.Please hang in You are strong.

[hope2010]

Hi cantbreathe,

I understand how you feel, you are not alone. Coping with anxiety, panic attacks and fears are part of my life too. What help me is to plan ahead what to do every day, even is a simple To Do List like - Do the laundry, clean my desk, write on my Blog, call for Doctor appointments, go to the pharmacy, to the supermarket and so on ...

One of my goals is to join a community near by my home as soon I am recuperated from a surgery and post op treatment. Mean time I am alone at home for hours, the pain post surgery is something else too. Hurts as much as depression hurts.

Still, there is lot of options for us, I believe they are out there, keep writing, breath.

I know is not easy, but you are worth it, so value, keep asking here or there, takes time, for you for all of us ... till we learn how to cope with all this anxiety, fears, and depression.

Mean time, stay well, breath