Welcome McreathB. I know what you mean about feeling alone with anxiety I've had anxiety on and off since age 3 at least. Depression on and off since 16. My depression has been gone for quite awhile, I am battling anxiety now but not as bad as let's say, the beginning of this year.

What are you doing to feel better?

Hi, I too wish to be normal and not have anxiety. I'm trying to accept the fact that I may never feel "normal". Some days are better than others. Since joining anxiety-related groups on DS, I've found some comfort in knowing I'm not alone with this feeling. Welcome to the group, everyone here understands what you're going through.

you're not alone. we understand what it feels like. I was recently diagnosed with anxiety & it's been beyond hard to live normally. most of the people in my life don't understand & that's why I came here.

You're definitely not alone. I always want to feel "normal". I'd give a lot to not be on anxiety meds, but here I am. Meditation and breathing, along with yoga might be helpful for you to help clear your head. As for meals, I would try to eat regular meals throughout the day. Even if you are feeling less hungry than usual, your body still needs food. This group has been very helpful for me.

Wow, thank you for all the wonderful comments. I am relieved to know I am not the only one with anxiety issues. I am grateful for you taking the time to help me out. I'm glad that I joined the group!

It used to make me mad when my husband said"normal" is a setting on a clothes dryer. You've got to look to new people in your life to understand. Someone that has never experienced an anxiety attack isn't going to know what you are talking about. Aperson w/o diabetes isn't going to know what it is like to have that disease. It is a disease, a malady, a condition over which we have no control just like heart attacks etc.It's not some grave moral failing. So called normal people may think you can just get "over it" or use your will power. Like another program I belong to try using your will power next time you have diarreha. I was reading self- help books as far back as I can remember and a 12 step program w/ spiritual parts to it, along with meds and counselling have helped me to learn and grow and deal with life on lifes terms. Hang in there.

Definitely not alone, MB!! May I just point out something that I remind myself of ALL the time - especially when I am alone and my mind is not distracted- we can literally use our own minds to scare ourselves to death! In fact, today I was "going into some fantasy of the future" and I said to myself Stop! You KNOW where this is going (cause once you get on that train - you are no longer the conductor, you are a passenger!) And I deliberately refocused and was so thrilled that I did it.
Just try to remember when you are in the pits - these are just feelings, they come from thoughts that aren't true, they are not me, and they are NOT real! My mind is VERY powerful (scientists are just now discovering a tiny fraction of the power of the mind) AND I
can know how powerful I am just by witnessing the effects of my own mind and the seemingly real reality it has just manufactured = but since that feeling isn't always there - it can't be the truth- just an illusion in my mind. If I allow myself to relax and notice what's REALLY going on (instead of watching the picture show in my head) I might start to feel a little better - and that would be nice to feel a little better! True thoughts create true feelings, false thoughts make false feelings. And as "A Course in Miracles" states "only loving thoughts are true, all else is unreal -
Breathe happy, loving thoughts in through your heart area and as you exhale send that love to the world - we all need to send love and peace to each other
Peace Brother,
Pursah