Hi there
Firstly, all I can say is wow! Before coming here I would never
have believed that such a caring online community could exist! Kudos to you all
and to BeyondBlue for this. I think it's wonderful.
So, just to introduce myself. I'm a 44-year-old guy, married
with two kids. By any standard I have a pretty amazing life. But I have been
battling anxiety since I was a kid really, although I guess my depression didn’t
really raise its head till my early 20s when I had what I can only assume was a
nervous breakdown while overseas and then spiralled from there. Loads of
therapy and spiritual practice later, I’m still somewhat prone to anxiety
attacks and bouts of depression, but I’ve made a lot of progress.
I’ve observed that a lot of my problems have come from faulty
thinking patterns, whether it be setting impossible standards for myself and
others, resisting what I can’t control, living in the future or past, or
numerous other non-resourceful strategies.
I’ve come to this forum because I have spent the past two weeks
in a state of high anxiety, produced by something that I would never have
predicted. My psychologist was booked out, and in desperation I rang the
BeyondBlue helpline. The woman who answered was incredibly helpful and
empathetic, and I’m very grateful for her time and patience. On the back of
that, I came to the website today for a snoop around and found the forums. It’s
comforting to know that I’m not alone with my struggles, and great to know that
I can access others to share my feelings.
Peace
Matt
