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First, some background:
I've recently been diagnosed with both depression and anxiety. My doctor prescribed an anti-depressant to take daily and some anti-anxiety pills to take as needed.
The anti-depressants work like a charm and I haven't had a problem with my depression since I started taking them (yay!
). Each time I went into public though I suffered an an anxiety attack and had to take one of the anti-anxiety pills. Being in crowds of people would set me off every time.
It got to the point where I didn't want to leave the house because I was afraid of triggering another panic attack.
I ended up going on medical leave from work to get things straightened out. (Can't be having panic attacks at work, you know.)
My doctor sent me to see a specialist and he's been working with me to get it under control, teaching me coping techniques, etc.
TMI Stuff:
Also, I'm dealing with a physical ailment that my doctor thinks is either IBS or celiac disease. It's another reason I'm stuck at home. I keep having to run to the bathroom but only go a bit at a time, and it comes out as pellets rather than the usual-sized pieces that it does.
It can happen at any time and I never know when I'll have to go, so I need to stay near a toilet constantly just in case. I can't risk going somewhere and needing to use the bathroom and not having one available.
/End TMI Stuff
/End Background
My doctor sent me for some blood work to see if it is celiac. I went around 9:30 in the morning and it was packed. The number I drew was 82 and they were still only drawing from the 30's when I got there. (Apparently the lab was backed up that morning, explaining the huge delay. I've gone for blood work dozens of times and I've never seen it that bad.)
Normally such a large crowd would send me into an instant panic attack and necessitate the taking of one of my anti-anxiety pills. This time, however, I was there for two hours in the large crowd (people kept coming even as people were called into the room) before I got called and it didn't faze me one bit!
I was able to sit there in the crowd and stayed as calm and cool as a cucumber the whole time. I even struck up a conversation with the lady next to me for a few minutes. Weeks ago such an act would have been out of the question, but I had no trouble initiating the talk and keeping it going.
I was so thrilled about staying relaxed that I didn't even mind getting my blood drawn when it was my turn (normally I'm wishing that I was anywhere but in that room).
Knowing that I can now go out in public without suffering an attack brings me such indescribable joy. I'm so happy that I could burst.
Now if I could just get the digestive issue under control I'll be absolutely perfect.
I've recently been diagnosed with both depression and anxiety. My doctor prescribed an anti-depressant to take daily and some anti-anxiety pills to take as needed.
The anti-depressants work like a charm and I haven't had a problem with my depression since I started taking them (yay!
). Each time I went into public though I suffered an an anxiety attack and had to take one of the anti-anxiety pills. Being in crowds of people would set me off every time.It got to the point where I didn't want to leave the house because I was afraid of triggering another panic attack.
I ended up going on medical leave from work to get things straightened out. (Can't be having panic attacks at work, you know.)
My doctor sent me to see a specialist and he's been working with me to get it under control, teaching me coping techniques, etc.
TMI Stuff:
Also, I'm dealing with a physical ailment that my doctor thinks is either IBS or celiac disease. It's another reason I'm stuck at home. I keep having to run to the bathroom but only go a bit at a time, and it comes out as pellets rather than the usual-sized pieces that it does.
It can happen at any time and I never know when I'll have to go, so I need to stay near a toilet constantly just in case. I can't risk going somewhere and needing to use the bathroom and not having one available.
/End TMI Stuff
/End Background
My doctor sent me for some blood work to see if it is celiac. I went around 9:30 in the morning and it was packed. The number I drew was 82 and they were still only drawing from the 30's when I got there. (Apparently the lab was backed up that morning, explaining the huge delay. I've gone for blood work dozens of times and I've never seen it that bad.)
Normally such a large crowd would send me into an instant panic attack and necessitate the taking of one of my anti-anxiety pills. This time, however, I was there for two hours in the large crowd (people kept coming even as people were called into the room) before I got called and it didn't faze me one bit!
I was able to sit there in the crowd and stayed as calm and cool as a cucumber the whole time. I even struck up a conversation with the lady next to me for a few minutes. Weeks ago such an act would have been out of the question, but I had no trouble initiating the talk and keeping it going.
I was so thrilled about staying relaxed that I didn't even mind getting my blood drawn when it was my turn (normally I'm wishing that I was anywhere but in that room).
Knowing that I can now go out in public without suffering an attack brings me such indescribable joy. I'm so happy that I could burst.
Now if I could just get the digestive issue under control I'll be absolutely perfect.
He is my Black Dragon (and yes, a good one) strong, protective, the guardian. I am his Silver Dragon, always by his side, shining for him, cherishing him.
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