BabyShambles
Member
Hi,
I thought it would be a good idea to post my experience with anxiety on this forum, with the hope of it being a benefit to someone.
OK, I'm 23 and I have had extreme anxiety problems for around 4 years now. During this time I lost contact with all my friends and became very withdrawn from life in general.
I was depressed, afraid, lost, extremely anxious about everything. I also developed a horrible blushing problem during this time which stopped me going out at all due to the embarrasment it would cause me. I have been effectivily house-bound all this time.
I knew something had to be done. I was falling and it was a choice of either having a life or simply dying a lonely sad person.
I started to see numerous psychiatrists etc and taking pills from my doctor. They helped, but it just wasn't enough, I knew I had to take control or end up doing something stupid like suicide(? Why is that word censored?) as it was so bad.
First thing I did was change my diet completely. I started having proper food. No junk. I also started having 3 proper meals a day and fruit in-between. I also began getting up earlier (9:00AM instead of 1:00PM), even if I didn't feel like facing the world I made sure I was up and stayed up.
About a month in I started feeling a difference in the way I felt. I didn't have such huge bags under my eyes, my mind was clearer and I felt more in control generally.
I soon realised I still had the terrible blushing problem and still felt anxious in general. This really got to me. I was trying so hard and still my problems were there. I knew if I gave up now I would end up back at the start. I had to move foward.
So, I bought a rowing-machine. I started exercising daily. Not too hard at first and just half-an-hour a day. Now after a month of exercising I can honestly say I didn't feel that much different. I felt I had a bit more energy but nothing major.
Again, this hit me hard. I was doing everything I could possibly think of to help myself, but I was still anxious and my blushing was still there. So, I gave up. I gave up for about two weeks. I started eating comfort food, I put on all the weight I had lost, I wasn't getting up until two or three in the afternoon. I knew I was going backwards.
In the end I knew there was nothing for it. It was do or die time. I COULDN'T FAIL! This was my one moment. I HAD TO SUCCEED!
So, I got myself back on track. I FORCED myself to get on that rowing-machine daily. I FORCED myself up in the morning. I wasn't going to let this illness beat me.
The first month was hard, very very hard actually. But this was it, this would define who I was. I wanted my life back.
I worked so so hard. One month went by, I felt changes in my mood. Very small at first, but I knew what I was doing was making a difference. Blushing still there.
The next month went by. I felt stronger as a person. I also noticed I could control my blushing a lot easier with my mind. I was winning. I felt strong psychically and mentally.
Anyway, it's now four months later, I've kept to the same routine, my depression has gone, completely. For the first time in a long time I can truly say I'm not depressed. My blushing is totally under-control. I still get that feeling I'm going to blush but, I can control it so easily that it doesn't happen hardly ever now.
Slowly, I'm getting back my life. It's been hard but, for the first time I know I have a future. I'm actually smiling now!
I know I still have a way to go. But now I have hope. I know I can control my life again.
I guess what I'm trying to say in this story is this; YOU CAN BEAT IT! YOU CAN SUCCEED! I'm living proof of that. Last year I was in hell. This year I'm stronger, ready to live again. I'm not 100% but I'm not far off. But understand YOU CAN BEAT IT!
I thought it would be a good idea to post my experience with anxiety on this forum, with the hope of it being a benefit to someone.
OK, I'm 23 and I have had extreme anxiety problems for around 4 years now. During this time I lost contact with all my friends and became very withdrawn from life in general.
I was depressed, afraid, lost, extremely anxious about everything. I also developed a horrible blushing problem during this time which stopped me going out at all due to the embarrasment it would cause me. I have been effectivily house-bound all this time.
I knew something had to be done. I was falling and it was a choice of either having a life or simply dying a lonely sad person.
I started to see numerous psychiatrists etc and taking pills from my doctor. They helped, but it just wasn't enough, I knew I had to take control or end up doing something stupid like suicide(? Why is that word censored?) as it was so bad.
First thing I did was change my diet completely. I started having proper food. No junk. I also started having 3 proper meals a day and fruit in-between. I also began getting up earlier (9:00AM instead of 1:00PM), even if I didn't feel like facing the world I made sure I was up and stayed up.
About a month in I started feeling a difference in the way I felt. I didn't have such huge bags under my eyes, my mind was clearer and I felt more in control generally.
I soon realised I still had the terrible blushing problem and still felt anxious in general. This really got to me. I was trying so hard and still my problems were there. I knew if I gave up now I would end up back at the start. I had to move foward.
So, I bought a rowing-machine. I started exercising daily. Not too hard at first and just half-an-hour a day. Now after a month of exercising I can honestly say I didn't feel that much different. I felt I had a bit more energy but nothing major.
Again, this hit me hard. I was doing everything I could possibly think of to help myself, but I was still anxious and my blushing was still there. So, I gave up. I gave up for about two weeks. I started eating comfort food, I put on all the weight I had lost, I wasn't getting up until two or three in the afternoon. I knew I was going backwards.
In the end I knew there was nothing for it. It was do or die time. I COULDN'T FAIL! This was my one moment. I HAD TO SUCCEED!
So, I got myself back on track. I FORCED myself to get on that rowing-machine daily. I FORCED myself up in the morning. I wasn't going to let this illness beat me.
The first month was hard, very very hard actually. But this was it, this would define who I was. I wanted my life back.
I worked so so hard. One month went by, I felt changes in my mood. Very small at first, but I knew what I was doing was making a difference. Blushing still there.
The next month went by. I felt stronger as a person. I also noticed I could control my blushing a lot easier with my mind. I was winning. I felt strong psychically and mentally.
Anyway, it's now four months later, I've kept to the same routine, my depression has gone, completely. For the first time in a long time I can truly say I'm not depressed. My blushing is totally under-control. I still get that feeling I'm going to blush but, I can control it so easily that it doesn't happen hardly ever now.
Slowly, I'm getting back my life. It's been hard but, for the first time I know I have a future. I'm actually smiling now!
I know I still have a way to go. But now I have hope. I know I can control my life again.
I guess what I'm trying to say in this story is this; YOU CAN BEAT IT! YOU CAN SUCCEED! I'm living proof of that. Last year I was in hell. This year I'm stronger, ready to live again. I'm not 100% but I'm not far off. But understand YOU CAN BEAT IT!
