I've suffered from anxiety and depression for most of my life. It went untreated for the most,part until about 12 years ago and had been under pretty good control until about 18 months ago when it reared it's ugly head. I've benefited from meds and counseling but late last year before we returned to Zambia I began attending a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction group at Emory in Atlanta. I saw some benefits and signed up for an online MBSR course through UMass Healthcare Center for Mindfulness which I completed the same week we evacuated back to Atlanta.

A pretty well known program, Spirit Rock Meditation Center, is offering online courses for a sliding scale donation. I signed up for a couple of them - paid $30 for one, $25 for the other. If all that's currently going on is causing you to struggle you might check out the courses.

Spirit Rock Meditation Center

Hi Perliza, I've suffered from anxiety for most of my life, but didn't really address it until about 12 years ago, when I was in my 50s. It ebbed and flowed depending on the stress in my life - we had a chronically ill, disabled child who lived for 18 years before passing away in 2005. Finally, about three years later, when my marriage was on the brink, I got the help I needed. At that time, I saw a psychiatrist who prescribed medication (Cymbalta) and I also began seeing a psychologist who helped my unpack the issues that dated back to my childhood - I believe a lot of my issues stemmed from being separated from my mom and dad for several months when I was six - he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and although he lived and resumed a relatively normal life, he was in the hospital for several months.

Until the last couple of years I've been able to manage things pretty well. However, a work situation )an overbearing, controlling supervisor) caused my anxiety and depression to resurface. Fearing I might go back to the place I was 12 years ago, I immediately sought help through telemedicine counseling from Zambia. When we returned home to the U.S. last year, I met with my psychologist in Atlanta to adjust my meds, began meeting with my psychologist and joined a mindfulness group, which got me back on track.

If you are struggling, please, please see a medical professional. For me, it was hard to ask for help, but when my life was in shambles, I had no choice. Now I kick myself for not getting help sooner.

Hey perliza!

Checking in on ya, how are you holding up??