Hello from a new member

[Simonjk]

Hello,

I have just joined.

I came to mindfulness around 10 weeks ago. My story is probably similar to others. I am a relatively successful person, I have a good job, a lovely wife and family but at times I suffer from very bad anxiety.

It is something I appear to have lived with since I was about 10, I am now 44. My first real bad episode was 6 years ago. I had medication and a lot of support and eventually recovered. That's where the problem starts, you think it's an acute mental illness and you recover, but you don't really.

So I relapsed in September. I am lucky I work for a fantastically supportive company and have a great family. But this time I want to handle the root causes and make a long term difference.

So while off work I read up on things to help in the long term, and that's where I came to mindfulness. So I joined headspace, joined a learn yoga class, joined a gym and bought a sad lamp.

On top of that I had 4 sessions of psychotherapy paid for by the company (4 doesn't get you that much) while I waited for the nhs treatment to start. I also take 20mg citalopram and some propranolol when the palpitations are too much.

My NHS assessment diagnosed me with OCD and I start treatment this week. The private therapist could only work with the 4 sessions but she dealt with some root cause stuff (my brother also has OCD based anxiety) to do with parents.

I believe that in the long term mindfulness appears to hold the best long term solution dealing in the present and just being have got to be the most effective long term solution to a healthier and happier lifestyle.

So I have joined here in the hope that I can both support others and receive some support.

I did originally expect mindfulness to be a quick win, how wrong I was.

[FeeHutch]

Hello Simon and welcome to our community.

It sounds like you have challenges going on but also that you are trying to look after yourself and you will find a lot of us here who can empathise. I look forward to reading more of your posts. It is lovely that you want to support others as well as receive support and I am sure you will get plenty of both.

[Galactic Nomad]

Hello Simon,

Welcome, like you I am new here too. We sound like we are both on similar journeys towards a more holistic and empowering state of mind.

Good luck, and congratulations on taking the actions that you already have towards a solution: that in itself is traction and momentum towards a more self aware and at peace you.

I look forward to reading about your journey on these pages.

Sincerely,
Nomad