I Hate Anxiety But I Wouldnt Be Me Without It..

Like you, I also struggle with GAD and depression. I wasn't dx until 5 yrs ago when I was 45. I spent my whole young-adulthood afraid to take chances, having diarrhea (sorry) in response to anxiety, feeling like I never measured up, doubting myself. It got unbearable when I had children. Had my first full blown anxiety attack when my 2nd child was 12 weeks old. I ended up in the hospital, separated from my newborn, for 6 days. The drs thought I had a blood clot in my lung b/c I had had recently given birth and had chest pain. Made it thru that nightmare, without a dx of GAD, and struggled on for 4 years. Finally, I was having chest pains constantly, unable to sleep. My dr. suggested meds. My mother told me to just "be strong" and not buckle under it. No one knows what it is like -- unable to control your thoughts, lying in bed all night agonizing and worrying obsessively. That's when I first tried Wellbutrin and had an awful response to it. Detoxed from that and my dr really encouraged me to try Cymbalta and I haven't looked back. After the GAD was relieved, I thought to myself, "why didn't I do this sooner?" It has changed my life.



Don't give up. And yes, the recognition that our anxiety can have its gifts is true. We are aware, sensitive, and thoughtful. Embrace what it good and get help for the rest.

So wise for someone so young too....I've realized it will be a part of me probably forever. As the saying goes...It's not the situation, it's how we handle that situation"..

i wish my boyfriend's anxiety and depression will end like yours

WOW! This story is sooo inspirational. Everything you said is how I feel about my anxiety. For so long I allowed my anxiety be my weakness, I used it as excuses, I used it as to get away from my fear. I completely let it control my life and I still have problems with it but I used it less in less in a distructive way. We have to fight EXTRA hardd but I believe in the end it'll make us stronger than we imagined ourselves to be. If it wasn't for my anxiety I don't believe I would be me either. I've had it for so long and I came to realization that this will always be apart of my life. I know with the right tools and god that it'll get a little easier but it'll nevver go away its apart of me now. I really appreciate your story. Shows how much faith can help someone and it inspired me. I wish you all the best =)))) May you grow stronger with evveryday through yourself and through god.

It sounds like you made a breakthrough that can give hope to other people. Meditation, spirituality and finding what I love to do in life helped me deal with my anxiety as well. Congrats!