From what I've read, and my personal experience, stress is the curse of the Twentieth century. Although people being people, I guess it has always been around. Usually, in my experience, chronic anxiety is triggered by an automatic response to percieved threats, real or otherwise. Anxiety has blighted my life off and on for years, and I've never felt wholly free from it. Often there is some depression as well. My usual response is to reach for the xanax, which is a great help when I feel overwhelmed. My psychologist is trying the cognitive approach, and whilst I've been on anxiety management courses, they haven't really helped me to deal with the thing. Personality is not something which can be overturned easily.

Sometimes I just feel like running away from everything, and sometimes changing your circumstances can work, if you can affect a change.
What happens though when you can't run, you can't change, life is like a catch 22 ? you either breakdown or get by in a damaged state, and that's happened to me twice before in a major way. I got through those times by allowing time to pass and taking my meds.

I really don't know why I'm telling you all this, I'm not ashamed by what has happened in the past or that I still have the problem today. I think I just want to say to all with similar problems, your not alone, you really aren't.

And in sharing this, new thoughts on dealing with this disease can be shared.

Regards,

Ian

You are right ian. Stress is one of the biggest, and most frequent problems in the life of people nowadays. I, myself, have been under a lot of stress for quite some time. Do you know what I learned from it? Stress is stress. I can't wish it away. It's there, like a splinter in your palm. The best thing to do though, is to not dwell on it. Don't dig yourself a deep and dark hole to wallow in your depression and stress (not saying you are, I mean in general). I have found that the best way to deal with stress, is to note that it is there. Examine the stress, where did it come from? How can you live with it? Then, embrace it. Don't waste your time and energy worrying about it.

Yes, stress is inevitable. I think life begins at 40 and gets better at 50. In your 20's and 30's your are working very hard to get ahead and some are raising children. I think at 40 you start weeding the things out of your life that don't work. I think one way to deal with stress is exercise. Take breaks during the day and let your mind be free of the stress. Find activities that you get so deeply involved in the rest of the world goes away for a while. I am aware of the "when is the other shoe going to drop?" feeling. Sometimes if you have had alcoholic parents you might have free floating anxiety. I think that's best dealt with by focusing on your own life, taking care of yourself and not trying to change anyone else.

Thanks Watcher and LK. Stress is a part of our makeup, it is as you say, when it gets out of control that rel problems set in.

I'll certainly take note of your great advice.

Regards,

Ian