You're right, people really don't understand. I feel like, because every person experiences anxiety and sadness to some degree, they think that people who suffer from anxiety and depression are just being dramatic or should be able to handle it the way they do, or just turn the irrational fear off-- like theres some kind of switch.

Yup! I wish it was easier to educated people about this. It makes it really hard when you suffer from it. And the media doesn't help. I don't even know what to expect out of friends and family anymore. Especially my boyfriend. Its just getting really hard trying to fix this alone.

I totally agree, I feel extemely alone in my suffering. I find asking for help very hard because I feel like no one could possibly understand what Im feeling and If I try to explain it I feel like they will think Im crazy or something. But trust me i know how you feel, as soon as I stop thinking about one thing I find something else to worry about. I feel like I dont know how to not worry, it is impossible for me to ever feel relaxed. I so badly want to feel normal and I often feel like I never will know what its like to be ok.

Yep, so true. People who haven't had anxiety, don't really understand it. They think their normal "anxiety" is the same thing as what we have. The difference between theirs and ours, is that they can put theirs aside and live normally. Ours brews and stews beneath the surface, invading every nook and cranny of our existence, even if we try to concentrate on something else! It is extremely annoying and difficult to appreciate if you haven't experienced it yourself.

But don't worry - you aren't alone. There are lots and lots of people just like you (and me) who can understand what it's like to try to be "normal" when your brain is running at 100mph about something you don't even want it to be working on.

Once I was on a weekend getaway in Chicago. I was walking down the street and suddenly anxiety hit me. It didn't cause any physical symptoms, however my brain just starting whizzing through scenarios of worry and frustration. I was worrying about dying old and alone, while in the midst of a shopping trip with my family! How silly is that? I didn't ask it to be there. I wasn't thinking of that when I set out on my trip. It just invaded my brain and tried to take over. Very frustrating indeed.

I'm very pleased to have the friends I have here, who understand what I'm talking about! :-)

Something you said struck me: "It is your job to fix it and only you can." It's not your job to fix it and I don't think you are broke! Its a medical condition. Yes, we can use tools like meds and counseling to help control our anxiety, but don't make it an obligation to correct your anxiety. Just work on coping. Every human is programmed with the ability to have anxiety to help us in possible dangerous situations. Yes, somewhere down the line, our anxiety went a little overboard. My counselor helped me with this by telling me to politely listen to what the anxiety is telling me and then nicely ask it to step aside so that I can feel other feelings. It sounds cooky, but it works for me!

Vienna02. I think yours is the best comment on anxiety I've seen here. It;s wrong to tell people it's up to them to fix it. They need help in the same way they would with any disease like diabetes or cancer. A good therapist,the right meds and some courage is the way to go.