Hi! My name is Melanie; I am 30 years old and live in Cape Town South Africa. I'll just give you a brief over view of my life as I feel that it has all contributed to where I am at in my life now. I came from a very happy, loving family, mom, dad and an older brother, unfortunately my dad passed away suddenly when I was 12 years old, I can remember having my first bout of anxiety/depression then, I developed a "separation anxiety" problem in that I was afraid to leave my mom, even to go to school in case Something happened to her too.
Posted by: littleredman on Wednesday, May 19, 2004
From my earliest memories, I remember being abused. I don't seek pity, but just wish to share. I believe sharing will help me to heal, and may help someone else who has been there. Both my parents suffered some sort of mental dysfunction .Father tormented mother and children and mother tormented children.There are so many memories of abuse, I could compile a book. It was consistant.I believe I not only endure anxiety, but post traumatic syndrome, as well. Much of these symptoms occured after the death of a close friend, then truly manifested into something greater the day I buried my mother.
I know I have suffered from anxiety since I was a child, but never really knew what it was until I reached 27 years old. My mother suffered terribly from agoraphobia for many years. She could not even walk to the mailbox without someone next to her.
Posted by: antidepressantbarbie on Thursday, July 13, 2006
Ok, here we go. This story is never-ending and I don't realistically expect to be free from my issues ever. But I am managing very well these days. Let me start out by saying that anyone who claims depression and anxiety isn't hereditary has not met my family!!! All of us are on meds for either depression, anxiety or both. All of us have found that weight gain is a significant side effect of the meds.
Well, I think I'm finally ready to tell my story. It has taken some time to get the courage to do this. It's a petty typical story, much like what I've read on this site, but I'm not a writer, and it's hard for me to get my thoughts organized.
I have been suffering with anxiety for the past 30 plus years. For a very long time I kept this information to myself, even my husband who I had been married to for seven years at the time didn't know.
May I introduce myself to you. I am DeBee, a wife, a mother, a sister, a nurse..... and I am someone who has GAD and PD. It wasn't until I gave birth to my third child, at age 32, that I had my first full blown panic attack. Panic Attacks, to me, are like what I would imagine *Hell *would be like. I cannot think of *anything* that is worse than going through a *severe* panic attack.
Sounds awesome!