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>>I'm sure I sound like a lunatic.<<

You don't. Not to me. I think anyone who has had, or still has, phobias, clearly understands what you've been going through, Brant.

For a long time I was of the same mindset as you regarding seeing help. And I couldn't afford it financially. But primarily it was the mindset that if you see a professional for help, you are already a failure and, yes, somewhat of looney. I remember that when I saw a medical doctor after my first panic attack (unaware of what a panic attack was, I thought I was dying), and he suggested to my surprise that I see a psychiatrist, I wept afterwards--and, of course, refused to see one. And I always had the concept of self-help as being the noblest and most dramatic and long-lasting help of all. I learned a lot about myself, the human condition and life in my struggles, but as time wore on I became tired of my "noble stance," which still hadn't freed me up from several of my anxieties and phobias. Then I found out that veteran's medical benefits would provide some sort of counseling that would be adjusted to my income, so I finally decided, what the hell, why don't I go and see a professional about whatever phobias still remained within me. The professional turned out to be a female intern, but that was okay, because she went through the basics with me of cognitive therapy, which is one of the best therapies for dealing with anxiety and panic. I had already done a bit of this therapy on my own and had experienced its lessons in my struggles, but it was refreshing and liberating to go through the course of (brief) treatment and do some of the seemingly sillly exercises she had me do, though I haven't followed up this course, as my phobias are not so debilitating that I have to follow up and, as I've stated earlier, I've crafted my life to avoid certain things that would cause me panic.

The thing anyone who is suffering from anxiety or phobias has to ask is: "Do I want to live this way? Am I satisfied with my reactions to this or that?" If the answer is no, then the next step is to try to change that if these issues are an inconvenience in your life. Yes, you can do some and maybe all of it on your own (though you'd need to read books about your condition to guide you in a coarse of action and better thinking patterns), but if you can't do it all on your own, then, really, don't hurt yourself more by NOT seeking outside help.

From statistics, almost everyone with an anxiety disorder can be helped--and dramatically so. So getting better is right in front of you, but you need to take that first step, obviously.


Mirek

Two strategies when you're overwhelmed. They seem contradictory, but one can lead to the other.

1) Take some time-out for yourself, time in which you forget, as best you can, all that overwhelms you. Go for a walk, read, dream, whatever works. People need a space to themselves.

2) Plan, with realistic goals. Write down what you need to do to start getting you out of being overwhelmed. Set realistic goals, small steps if need be, to move you away, however gradually, out of that negative state.


Mirek

I'll go with masturbation. That's why I'm an advocate of bukkake.

Sure, people have conditions that require medication. No doubt about it. But I would hope that somewhere down the line natural modalities are attempted that can compliment medication and possibly lessen the need for medication. I wonder if these natural modalities are tried at all. I mean stuff like exercise, meditation, listening to calming music, yoga, vitamin therapy, etc. While some of these may seem "flakey," most, if not all, have been proven to help almost any negative mental condition. I'm not talking about getting rid of such a condition, but lessening its strength and persistence. But you need a determination to do these things and on a regular basis, something a lot of people, including myself, have trouble with.


Mirek