Just want to say hi: diagnosed with agoraphobia

[Aggy]

Hi everyone. I just signed up and wanted to say hi to all.

I started med treatment from my doc last week for severe anxiety and today was diagnosed with agoraphobia.

I'm a middle aged guy with no friends or family so it's great to have somewhere to come and compare notes.

You all seem very nice and supportive of each other. That makes me feel better already and think I will like it here.

That's my first post, so look after yourselves and I'm looking forward to making a friend or two.

-aggy

[BigBunny]

Hey Aggy, sorry to get off the topic of agoraphobia, but David Gilmour is in my top 10 favourite guitarists. I hope others don't mind but here is my top 10. 

1. Joe Satriani (Satch) he's touring here in November so I will be going out!                     2. Paul Gilbert < this guy is amazing, he's also the guitarist for MR. BIG                         3. Steve Vai                                                                                                               4. James Hetfield < best rhythm metal guitarist there is, my fav. band is MetallicA!)         5. The Edge < because being fast isn't everything                                                         6. David Gilmour < the sound of Floyd, for me anywhay.                                                 7. Jimi Hendrix < a fellow lefty and the reason Satch took up guitar, thank you Jimi!         8. John Petrucci < the guitarist of Dream Theater                                                           9. Kirk Hammett < the Ripper for MetallicA!                                                                   10. John Dyer Baizley < the heart & sould of Baroness                                

so November 11th is my Satch gig and I will be taking my medication with me. my shrink has told me to take my medication before I go out, which I usually do for concerts.

Hi Girl_A - a fellow cat lover! my eldest Ziggy cut off my airway this morning when I was half asleep. she paws into my neck (I think she's making sure I'm hers) anyway today with one paw she cut off my airway o_O *argh* and I sat up straight away to breathe and she flew off the bed! ha ha 

[Aggy]

Hi BBunny.

That's fine to talk about something else is refreshing.Especially my favourite subject, music\guitars\players.

You can tell a good guitarist when you see them play live. The three best I've ever seen are Gilmour, Knopfler, and Clapton.

I've seen a lot of live acts over the years but these guys can be playing a flat out guitar solo and it looks like they are thinking of what to have for tea after the show. They seem to make it look so effortless and don't have to look at their guitar while playing complex stuff.

I like the older type stuff from greats like BB King, T Bone walker, Albert Collins, Ritchie Blackmore, Jimmy Paige, J L Hooker, Brian May, Bo Didley, Carlos Santana, Joe Walsh, Neil Young, Chuck Berry and a few others I cant recall right now.

Of the more modern players I agree about Hetfield,The edge, also Van Halen, Slash, Billy Gibbons (amazing), Angus Young & others I cant think of.

They are all great in their own right for their unique style and sound but I have always been attracted to Knopflers unorthodox style of fingerpicking. No one plays like that and I've heard him make a guitar sound like a violin or banjo or whatever else he wants.

Having said that, if you listen to Pink Floyd's Gilmour solo on 'comfortably numb' and you are not moved by it then you must be dead or tone deaf.

Anyhoo, that's enough about that for now. I wish I was going to see Satch along with the Stones, and the Eagles but of course my illness prevents me.

Hope you are well and it's great to hear from you again.

-Aggy.

[BigBunny]

Hey Aggy, you seem to be really into blues orientated guitarists whereas I seem to prefer what they call the "virtuoso" players who shred and use modes alot. Though I know playing fast isn't everything which is why Satch is my fav. guitarist, he has the skills/speed but also the feeling & soul to make a song. have you heard 'Flying In A Blue Dream'? or one of Joe's most well known songs 'Always With Me, Always With You' from his 1987 album 'Surfing With The Alien'? you should check them out on youtube, my fav. song by Satch is a ballad called 'Love Thing', If he plays it at the Perth show I know I will cry! 

sorry to hear the agoraphobia stops you seeing Slash and other bands. do you have any medication to help you go out? 

have you seen  'Flying In A Blue Dream' on you tube?

[Aggy]

Hi BBunny.

Hope you are doing well & everything's ok with you.

I don't mind the blues, not all the time though. I am interested in the older players as they came from the era when the electric solid body guitar was invented by Les Paul.

It was all new to them and to hear some of the stuff they played gets me back to the roots and the soul of when it all started. It's like a history lesson and I want to know it all to become a better player. It's the inspiration I'm after.

Any one can play a chord on a guitar but there is something that must come from within to play it right in your own style. I am running low on data use, so will have to check out that stuff later.

Well it's a great day outside so I'm going to sit inside and enjoy it from here. Tried to mow the lawn yesterday, nearly made it to the shed, but couldn't do it. Maybe today perhaps.

Good to hear from you and thanks for posting.

-Aggy.

[Girl_Anachronism]

Hi Aggy,

I am glad to hear you a little more positive today. Good on you for challenging yourself.

I managed to do a 12km walk today, which was a challenge. I am resting my foot up now  because I have injured it in the process, but I am glad I got out and did it.

We can do things, we are not broken. You can mow that lawn. Maybe set good tunes playing while you do it, and think of those fingers picking those strings. 🙂

GA

[Girl_Anachronism]

Hi Bunny,

My kitten Elsa likes to jump on my chest at 5am in the morning for food. She doesn't give up either.

GA

[BigBunny]

Hi Aggy, did you manage to mow the lawn? if not don't worry, I use to have a rabbit & 3 guinea pigs that would eat the grass and weeds for me >=:D

I love the look & sound of the old Les Paul Gibson's, Slash has at least 50 of those o_O I love the off white one Edge plays on 'Until The End Of The World'. although my 3 fav. players are all Ibanez players they dig the old guitars. I know Satch met Les Paul several times. 

Hello GA, that is so great that you walked 12km, sucks about your foot. the thing is trying to keep it going. I've been using my treadmill over the last 18 days, used the tready on 13 of  them >=:) lets just say I'm alot healthier then I was a month ago! your cat Elsa, sounds like her and Ziggy have something in common.                                                                                                                                                                 great to hear from you both >=:) BB   

[Girl_Anachronism]

Hi Aggy, 

Thinking of you.

GA

[Aggy]

Hi Girl.

Hope you're doing well.

I am not going ok at the moment. Its all a bit much for me right now.

Catch up with you soon.

-Aggy.

[Girl_Anachronism]

Hi Aggy, 

I know you are not travelling well,  and may not feel up to posting on here right now. That is more than ok. Talk when yohfeel you eed to. I just wanted to say hi, that I am thinking of you and hope you make it out of your trough.

This too will pass.

GA