I hope you start feeling better . It's hard and I know it's not something you can shake off whenever you want . Feel free to message me if you wanna chat . Are you currently taking anything? Meds help but I think therapy helps alot more .

I hope you feel better. Therapy does help as cognitive behavioral therapy works well too if you stick to it. Every day is a new day and yes it is challenging but you can get better! ❤️

I really understand what you said about not being able to live in peace. I can't imagine life with anxiety even though I haven't had to too long: it's also nice that you have your Dad for support. My Dad is my biggest source of support, always has been.

There were so many words you used that I can relate to; resistance, dread, tense, defeated. But you are not alone, there are so many of us struggling with the same feelings. I think we engage in the negative self-talk and keep filling our own heads with negative thoughts. Lately, I have been trying to make myself give a positive thought to every negative one. Sometimes it helps to me to not to get swept up in the downward spiral of negativity, which only makes the anxiety worse. Also, being able to talk about my feelings in a safe space like this helps. I don't feel that my friends or family would really understand or be able to help, so I just don't mention anything to them. I know this is probably not the best solution, but I am working on it. My husband listens and tries to help, and I am satisfied with his efforts because I know he is doing his best. I am glad that you have your Dad to lean on when you are struggling. It's go have someone who loves you and supports you to get though the bad days.

Try not to overthink this stuff or see yourself as disabled. Everyone, driving on the motorway for the first time, poos their pants so to speak. that is a thing everyone does.

Merging on a motorway takes gumption: more than that, it takes accelleration. You have to be going as fast as everyone and the slower you are going compared to them, the more horrifying and utterly dangerous it is. So you have to push that foot down on that floor as soon as you hit the merging lane, and get up to equal speed as the traffic, and then go slightly forward or backward to be 'in line' with the other traffic prior to moving into their lane. It's counter-intuitive if you are afraid.
- And a very good lesson in mind over emotion. it's profoundly good for us all, a kind of 'trick' as it were; and when we learn that trick we can really feel good about ourselves.

It is certainly terrifying to learn though - and if you have a naturally sensitive nature you can take a caning. But you have to change your way of talking about yourself and thinking about yourself.

instead of "I drove over the turnpike but couldn't finish because I was havinga panic attack" how about

'far out. I drove over the turnpike. This gave me such a massive adrenaline rush from the stress I sat it out on the return journey while the chauffeur drove me home. I needed to recover. But heck, i drove over that turnpike and none of us died. We are all still alive, I am a success. Next time I do it, I will have less panic.'

Accentuate the positive. Eliminate the negative. Latch on to the affirmative. ;) Don't mess with Mr In Between.

Thank you all for the positive thoughts and advice! I am eliminating the negative little by little....I really appreciate each and every one of you and I feel like I am not alone. <3

The most important thing is you are putting yourself out there and trying. Give yourself credit.