I honestly can't take it anymore. I have been taking meds for approx. 7 years, although they do help, there are side effects, and I still suffer. I suffer on a daily basis. I have severe anxiety and irrational OCD thoughts, not too many OCD actions though. One of my greatest fears is thinking that I'm allergic to anything. New medications, nuts, shellfish, fruits, anything. I know this doesn't make sense to most people, but I know that I DO NOT have any allergies, but my OCD still makes me think that I JUST MIGHT. It drives me crazy, living in fear everyday. My fear is that my throat will swell and that I'll die. I also have fear of any pain, headaches, chest pain, anything will make me anxious and make me think that any pain, leads to "the worst". I tend to keep most of my anxieties to myself, most people don't understand. I need help, I honestly can't take living like this anymore!

dear friend

do not fret
as i am 51 i too suffer
the same affliction
to fight OCD is
never ending
i see a doctor
mine is not noticed
by others as i do not
explain my ways to others
continue to speak with a
professional who can help
you understand
for me at the moment
my hangers are still
are separate a finger apart
and i too have wipes all around
i make no light of you disease
it is real and very disturbing

someone who cares

The only advice I can think of, from someone who suffers a lot of anxiety for no apparent reason as well, is to try not to focus on that sort of stuff when it happens, because it'll compound on itself. For example if you have some kind of pain try to distract yourself with something like music or something that really takes your attention. I submerse myself in things that make me forget I even exist for a little while (a good show or a song) ... it's not really getting to the "root" of the matter but it helps me, and I'm sure it has to be some kind of good for your health. My anxiety led to digestive issues and those physical reactions get better when I immerse myself in something I'm passionate about.

I wish I could help more, that's all I got for you and myself at this time.

Bless your heart ~ I can understand -- I really can.

Have you ever had therapy? I've been in and out of therapy most of my adult life, and believe me it's basically SAVED my life!!! I really recommend it, and I hope you'll consider it. It can be kind of "scary" at first, but after you break the "ice" so to speak, it gets easier and easier.

Please think about it and call a good therapist -- you won't regret it. It will release you from those bonds that are tying you now. Or at the very LEAST it will loosen them. LOL

God bless you and please take care. My prayers are with you. Hugs, Lee

Thanks, Lee

Actually, I've tried therapy, and even meds-- it helped while I was a teenager because anxiety on top of moving a lot (mom had a stalker) led to a depression that I couldn't get out of by myself, but as for continued therapy, I'm kind of broke LOL. I just deal with the high levels of anxiety now pretty much but I'll definitely keep that in the back of my mind as something to seek again if I get to a point where I can't handle it anymore. As for now I think I'd only really be able to get to that if it really screws up my physical health again or my emotional health becomes unspeakably bad. I couldn't even BELIEVE it when the reason for it all actually boiled down to stress. I thought my doc was nuts lol.

But I definitely get what you mean about loosening the binds if you can't get rid of them. I'd recommend therapy to anyone as well. I wish I'd have done it sooner, I've got a couple years of my life that are just a complete blur that I really wish I'd have had the courage to face earlier on, if I'd have just reached out earlier.

I took Effexor, by the way, which didn't help much with my anxiety either even at higher doses, hence the art/internet/television thing to focus on instead. One thing I have learned from all this though is that when you hit rock bottom there's nowhere to go but up. And it always will get better. Even if your tunnel is really long.

Thanks again, I hope you feel better. God bless you back.

Therapy, such as CBT can treat OCD, Basically it uses exposure techniques, however, a lot of initially work is done in understanding the situations so an appropriate hierarchy of anxiety provoking situations can be formulated, this is the key to successful therapy