[hamster-bamster]

My gosh, what those folks (Anxiety, Panic, and Phobias) go through! Fear of leaving the house... fear of talking to people... fear of pretty much every step of living. 1mg of Klonopin 4 (!) times a day for years...

I guess I will shut up about my anxiety attacks - they fade in comparison. I better go feed my kitties and do the dishes. My anxiety is not so debilitating as to not allow me to do that.

[eloquentdisaster]

I don't know. I've never been one to compare one person's problems with another's. We all have our problems, and we all need to talk about them, no matter the severity. I don't think there is anything wrong with you sharing about your anxiety, even if you see it as less debilitating that other's.

[BlackPup]

I agree with eloquent disaster- the worst thing you have experienced is still the worst thing in your life no matter how it compares to others. However there are definitely different degrees to which our disorders (anxiety or BP) affect us?
I used to have anxiety problems when i was younger but now can't remember or even imagine how it feels to be trapped by anxiety.

I tried to go onto the anxiety boards for my GAD... but it takes days before anyone responds! the activity level is so low on the boards... and I really am too impatient for that lol

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by landskaperdan

I tried to go onto the anxiety boards for my GAD... but it takes days before anyone responds! the activity level is so low on the boards... and I really am too impatient for that lol

I've noticed that, too. And I am thankful for Eloquentdisaster's response. Indeed, I myself was up in arms recently when someone tried downgrading the suffering of BPII patients in comparison with BPI; what is the difference?

We can only know what it is we feel. When it feels like the world is crashing down around us, it really doesn't matter that the other guy has a worse diagnosis cuz our world is falling apart. lol...

[faerie_moon_x]

I had good luck asking about anxiety attacks on there when I thought my gallstones might be panic attacks while asleep... actually now that I think about it I should go over there and update them all on what it was. They were very helpful.

Hamster: just because anxiety isn't fully debilitating doesn't mean it isn't important to address. I actually get physically sick when my anxiety gets too high. I've learned to manage myself so I don't have attacks like I used to when I was younger, but I still have a lot of low lying anxiety, and it still causes issues at times. Anything that disrupts your life is worth facing and resolving.

[moremi]

I have dealt with anxiety and panic attacks since I was a teenager. I was on benzos to help for years but became tooo dependant on them for them to help anymore and now have myself an addiction problem. Doc had me up to 4 2mg xanax and 3 2mg clonipins daily. Towards the end they caused the anxiety more than anything because there never was enough meds.
Now my anxiety and panic attacks have returned after beeing free from them for a couple of years. My pdoc obviously isnt going to give me a benzo. I havent asked but I know better. What do others do about this without the heavy benzos?

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by moremi

I have dealt with anxiety and panic attacks since I was a teenager. I was on benzos to help for years but became tooo dependant on them for them to help anymore and now have myself an addiction problem. Doc had me up to 4 2mg xanax and 3 2mg clonipins daily. Towards the end they caused the anxiety more than anything because there never was enough meds.
Now my anxiety and panic attacks have returned after beeing free from them for a couple of years. My pdoc obviously isnt going to give me a benzo. I havent asked but I know better. What do others do about this without the heavy benzos?

High heart rate cardio exercise, for me. Provides temporary relief.

I have a phobia of birds, I always have, and I kinda suspect I always will. I also by chance have a bird sanctuary literally in my back yard. There are blue herons, two bald eagles, humming birds , owls, wood peckers, black birds, robins, stellar jay's and god knows what else is living in there. The humming birds are one of worst because they making a scary noise, and they get too close.

This might sound really stupid to some people, I have been teased lots over it, but I cannot get past their talons and beaks, and the fact that they can fly. I don't even like to be near butterflies. I gotta say tho, that I would rather have a phobia of something else, something less populated, and less mobile haha.

Living here has helped, but there have been a few times I had my head dived at and one got in my hair, they are black with yellow and red stripes at the tip of their wings, I really will not go outside If I see one of those around. I was in tears and screaming when it was in my hair, I thought I was going to die, it was sheer terror. I didn't go near my back yard for months after that. Anyone know what those birds could be?

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by Anika

I didn't go near my back yard for months after that. Anyone know what those birds could be?

No. How unusual! It is exactly the opposite for me. A view of a heron can dampen my anxiety. I mostly love waterfowl. I like going to SF Bay to watch them. That alone helps with anxiety. Where I live now, my patio opens on an artificial ponds with ducks and mallards. I just love them. I am moving to another apartment within the same complex away from the ponds. I will miss my ducks terribly. And in late spring when they have ducklings... heavenly!

How different we all are! I am a member of livestrong.com - that is where I track my calories, carbs, etc., and my username is a word play on the word "bird".

Your backyard sounds like a pure paradise to me. Yes, we are all different!

Hey Anika, this is the first one to come to mind, though the red and yellow are more on the "shoulders" than the tips:
http://animals.nationalgeographic.co...ged-blackbird/

It's from a site where you punch in gradually refining info (Canada/US, Region, Color etc) You may not want to look, and I'd get that, but if you want to. It's only got the most common 150. So many guides are overwhelming with "too" many (birders of course will disagree, lol!)

Btw, I'm phobic about chickens. Never had one in my hair though. Was buzzed by a hummy coming out a door once. Scared the bejeebers out of me, even though I normally like them.

I have panic attacks apropos of nothing (well, sometimes something, but often nothing) and anxiety. Both tend to fluctuate in severity depending on where my BP is (both more common and with more effect with depression). Currently, anxiety has had me afraid to leave the yard, and if night, the apartment. Sucks. I know I have to force myself to get out there, or it will not get better. The anxiety boards are pretty quiet, and I read sometimes, but don't think (?) I've ever posted there.