Hi. I was a member of another anxiety forum for many, many years. I, like most folks here, suffer with anxiety disorder, more specifically PTSD, GAD and PD. My disorder began physical signs at a relatively early age (stomach problems in my single digit childhood years), grew to more intense physical signs in my teens (like bleeding hands/feet and colitis) and peaked at the age of 30 with a complete physical and mental breakdown.
It was not until the age of 30 that I came to the realization that my physical problems and mental focus was not a common occurrence among all folks. Since that time, I have spent the last 25+ years studying anxiety disorders and learning all I can about this terrible mental problem.
At this point in my life, I am happier, calmer and practically without any serious anxiety problems. That is not to say that they are gone. I am saying that I have learned to honor my anxiety disorder with learned techniques to keep anxiety problems at a minimum. In addition, I take a small dose of Lexapro each day to help in this process. And it looks like I will be a lifer when it comes to medication (20+ years so far).
Anyway, having been a moderator at the other anxiety forum and having lived with these anxiety disorders my entire life, I may have a few positive things to occasionally add to conversations. And I am just that, positive in my outlook when it comes to anxiety disorders. When I was diagnosed at the age of 30, I was listed as severe to extreme in my level of anxiety. And, I had been that way my entire life. These days, I am a happily married man with a great son. I am a teacher and a musician/performer who can get on stage without a breakdown or attack. I have come a long way since the darkest days when I could not leave my home (or even my room). I spent years staring in the face of the demon anxiety and struggling to breathe/think with daily, multiple anxiety attacks, and yet today I can enjoy the fall weather outside like any "normal" person. It was being a part of a forum that helped me more than any other thing to learn to move forward (tiny steps at a time) and get my life back, even better (much better) than before the breakdown.
I am a straight shooter and rarely will mince words. I always work to temper my suggestions with a gentle, but honest tone. I have learned that moving forward, when afflicted with anxiety disorder, is likely the most difficult thing a person can do in their life. So I work to be a positive person, with positive suggestions/energy to help people on this loneliest of journeys.
I am not a doctor, I am just a Bozo on this bus. However, I am a Bozo who has done everything wrong and I hope, has learned from all those wrong decisions. If one of my wrong turns can help keep another person from making a similar wrong turn, I would like to be a part of the positive directions.
Anyway, my story is way too long to list here.If I get into the swing of this new forum, you may actually hear some of the story. Thank you for hosting this forum, these forums are what saved my life and has saved the lives of countless others.
Take care,
Mike
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Mike
My degree is in classical guitar performance, but I performed jazz for about 30 years and currently I am into bluegrass.
Thank you anxietyspace, though!!!!!!
