I tend to have anxiety attacks, worrying about what may come tomorrow, How will I feel? Will I be able to perform my job duties?......List is endless! When I am told, that I am always hurting, I feel like I am in darkness, it is so easy to imagine the worst, for in that darkness there is only the unknown.....no matter how hard you try to shake the anxiety or play it down...it just takes you over, sometimes consumes you whole!...and when you try to hide it, it spreads like melted butter...How does one get past the anxieties of a thing that has control of you? How does one face the fears of what may come tomorrow, when support of doctors, family, just seem like oh well! its the usual! I try to be positive, and use a positive outlook each day at work, but there are times I would like to scream outloud and let the whole world know whats going on inside this broken shell....it seems that anxiety has a way of filling up all the spaces where you dream and where you reason....LOL.....here I sit in my office needing to finish work late at night, to teach a class, and sure don't feel like I have the energy for it, muscles burn, joints are so stiff, its like a baromoter, you know when the weather is changing and if you live on the coast it is always changing! Kind of hard tho, once you have roots to pick up and leave to better places but would things be better there, another one of those anxiety attacks aaarrrgggg!

Peteybear, we all know what you're going through, have you talked to your doc about getting some counselling and/or meds for your anxiety?
I carry lorazepam on me at all times for just such an occasion. And I have learned to cope with it by using deep breathing and bio feedback techniques. Your doc if a good one can get you mare info. In the meantime we are all here for you if needed!
You're not alone honey!

Gracie

Anxiety attacks are one of the symptoms of a thyroid problem. Plus many more of FM.
Here is a link to some Dr.s that are knowledgeable in thyroid problems. Hopefully there is one in your area. Also there are links from there to thyroid information that could help you greatly. http://thyroid.about.com/health/thyroid/cs/doctors/index.htm

Hi Petey, I do know about anxiety. I think it's harder for men because there's so much more pressure when you have to support a family or earn a good income. Society accepts an illness like this more easily in a woman and I know as a woman, that's not saying much.

As for anxiety, I've taken Buspar in the past, there's a low occurance of side effects and it's non-addictive so it's safer than some of the other anti-anxiety meds.

Welcome to the board, it's nice to hear from so many new people and to get so many different views and experiences!

Petey! Your portrayal of anxiety was eloquent and fit my own situation. Sometimes I feel like I'm in a white cave with the sides closing in on me, especially if I'm lying down, but unable to nap. Then the fears bombard my mind and trying to deal with them is like stopping an avalanche a snowball at a time. I know my dread is irrational and baseless, but telling yourself how to feel is pretty futile. Personally, I pray a lot and even if my prayers are full of complaints, I figure God has big shoulders! Don't give up--you're going to make it! Al