Welcome to the group. I am new here myself and have been struggling with depression and anxiety for years. I want to start by saying that it is commendable that you are working and in school. It can be very difficult to work and attend school while struggling with depression, anxiety, etc. I would drop out and go back to school many times, and had many jobs and never stay at one place too long. I understand it can be difficult. I also had a bad experience with the meds so I am trying to get through this without medication which has also been difficult. I think it is great that you are pushing yourself forward and you should give yourself credit. It can be hard to get support from family and friends because even if they mean well, if they don't suffer from it then they don't understand. I'm here if you want to talk.

Have you tried taking valerian root? It can interact with other meds, so check with your doctor first. It seemed to calm my mom down. I can't take it because of med interactions. It's supposed to be calming. I've heard that chamomile tea can help. Also, some anti-depressants can help too, with the OCD, have you tried those with any success?

I am on the same boat as you, I have been battling anxiety and panic attacks since I was about 14, so almost 10 years! Sometimes I think it would be best to just give up and die but I know its not the correct answer. It has been almost a month since my last panic attack and I used to have them almost every day!

.There are a few exercises you can use to help control the panic and anxiety, they have helped out tremendously for me. They do not cure you by any means but it does help.

Take a look at anxiousreview.com

its a good read :) hope I was helpful and remember that you are not alone.

I have found that if life isn't coming up to expectation ditch the expectation.

Sounds callous? I don't know. It certainly hurt to do.

I had to go from wishing people knew my inner me to knowing I couldn't afford it if they knew about me.

I learned to fake it, and be proud when I managed a really good fake day without any reality seeping through.

I learned never to tell anyone but my counsellor anything I felt, and if I had something that was killing me I would write it down and say 'I will tell my counsellor' and that managed to get me through. I hung onto that poor sod with the grip of death. :D

I spent most of my time with obsessive thoughts. It was very strange how I found out how obsessive I was, prior to this I had no idea. I remember replying to someone at work who had spoken to me about something. Except that I replied something like an hour later. I didn't realise this.

I think hope is bad. Because you cannot hope and accept at the same time, and I think curing anxiety is all about acceptance. Accepting where you are. Accepting things as they are, where you are at, what you have got. Getting together with the reality of here and now, not the future, no hopes for tomorrow: what is going on today? What have you got today? nothing? okay, let's build something.

But without hitting that rock bottom you can never grow and recover. So when you are going down, remember you're going through. You have to go down into the valley to get up and out the other side. Just keep on walking, and you'll be fine. :p

and fake it till you make it. ;)

One thing that HAS helped me ( it may not for some people, but you might try it to see if it does) is when you are feeling panic or anxiety, sit down or find a quieter area and close your eyes. Breathe, think of something you like. Do this until it passes.
I am kind of claustriphobic to a point.
I used to live on a sailboat and a hose came off one day in a SMALL cubbyhole. I had to fix it because the boat was taking on water. It was right at the waterline level. The cubbyhole was just big enough for me to get my head and shoulders into. I had to exhale to get in there. Yep..tight!
My daughter freaked out and thought I was stuck. I told her to be quiet for a few minutes. Adrenaline made me repair the hose clamp. Then the fun part came when I needed out. So I closed my eyes and took slow breathes till I relaxed. Then I was able to exhale and slide back out. Everything was ok then.

Another time when I was diving. We were in a open cave..not closed. We were not certified for closed cave diving.
we were swimming through a tighter area than I liked. My tank touched the top of where we were. I began to feel really uncomfortable. So.... I closed my eyes and took slower breathes till relaxed. I was okay then.
I had learned to use this method when feeling panicked. It worked for me.
Maybe this might help someone. Think of something you like or would like to be doing...just concentrate and breathe.
Yoga also teaches you the breathing too. I've found it helps me.
I hope this might help.
L.

Or if you feel down or want something to cheer you up....

Here is a good site to get lost in:

http://icanhas.cheezburger.com/
The pictures with captions are funny too.

Or:
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quote_pictures.html

Or just google funny pictures.
It helps. :)