What is wrong with me? - ADD / ADHD Message Board

himmylover · 09-04-2008, 10:53 AM

I am 41 years old, have panic attack, take lexapro for that and klonplin, and depression.

I am figuring it out...........finally. I am always worried about what people think about me. I am so easy going, thinks to medication.

However, I am totally hooked on this. I am always worried about this, looks, personality, etc. Have been for years. You would think by now, I would not give a cr@p.

I am scared to try new things, old school, I guess. I can't make myself do stuff, and worry about what one thinks all the time.

Should I talk to my doctor about this, it is embarrassing, but bottom line.

THE TRUTH..................please help.

Frightened..............and scard of changes.

ZeroSifr · 09-04-2008, 09:00 PM

first try imagining your self doing the thing your afraid to do, and then try doing it. Hope this was helpful in someway.

himmylover · 09-05-2008, 07:14 AM

Thank you, I hate feeling this way.............ruining my life. I should not care what people think, and live my life........but I am stuck.

ZeroSifr · 09-05-2008, 03:25 PM

specifically what kind of changes are you afraid to make?

addprogrammer · 09-06-2008, 07:50 PM

Hi Donna,

Visualizing has proven effective in overcoming phobias. I see no reason it shouldn't help with panic attacks and the other issues you face. Athletes use the same techniques to improve their performance. Just came to me: A flight simulator is computer assisted visualizing device. They are so effective the FAA allows time in a simulator to count toward total flying time.

An inordinate concern about what other people think of us is usually associated with low self-esteem. We need others to verify our worth for us. Been there. Done that. Still working on it.

The fix? Two things we both need to do.

1. Acknowledge our successes. Don't even think about saying you have none. Allow yourself to acknowledge them and your many good points.

2. Build a more successful history. How we do it is uniquely our decision. Perhaps a college level course or two might be for you. The active ingredient is to set a few realistic but not overly easy to reach goals and then reach them. Success stories bloster our self-esteem. Once we have a healthy measure of self-esteem, we care much less about what others think of us in a negative way. Someone who doesn't care at all is either arrogant in the extreme or a bum. I don't like either types.

Never get up. You'll get it. I feel I have. Heck it only took me 56 years.

Bob