How long has everyone had their anxiety?

[Bamboo31]

I have had anxiety, in varying degrees, for 40 years.  My first experience began as sense of social anxiety when I was in 1st grade.  I was officially diagnosed with SAD and GAD 5 years ago. At that time, I started experiencing physical symptoms-heart palpitations, IBS, severe headaches, etc...

I was sort of able to control my anxiety by staying in a safe, little world, but obviously that doesn't always work.  l have daily ups and downs.  My ups and downs can be from minute to minute.  One thing that really has saved me is exercise.  I exercise every day, no matter how unmotivated or rotten I feel.  I work out at home, and some days I literally drag myself down the steps, but I know I will feel better emotionally and physically when I am finished.

[msgb98]

I have it most days. I try to ignore it or go on with my day. There are days that I can handle things and there are days that I just have a hard time but I get through it.
I have had the diagnosis for just over 1 1/2 yrs. I think though that I have had anxiety for most of my life manifesting more as I got to be an adult and had some health issues.
13 yrs ago I was diagnosed with DVT (deep vein thrombosis). I was on blood thinners for 2 1/2 yrs and then because of a bleeding issue I went off. I developed panic attacks as a result and went on Zoloft for a few years. Went off cold turkey because I did not like how I felt on them.
1 1/2 yrs ago a sister had a little girl with a heart health issue. I would drive in almost daily to tend to my father as my mother had gone out of town with my sister and her family (my mother babysat for my sister's three boys then 6,5 and 2).
When they came back home shortly after my father had a stroke. I was helping my sister and my mother with a number of things then. My father had to be taken to physical therapy and other therapies. He is coming on but he has had some cancer surgeries since as well. About a year and a half prior to the Fall 2011 stroke he had a heart attack while out of the country.
Then in the winter last year my mother had an aortic dissection (emergency). She had a second one in August of this past year too. SO two heart surgeries less than 6 months apart. Each was a stay of over a month in the hospital. Then in October she had a bleeding issue and was in the hospital for two weeks.
I have not been able to relax at all. I am always wondering about things and worried and stressed out so I have the symptoms daily.
I have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue on top of the DVT. If my leg hurts I begin to wonder what is wrong .
I have costochondritis and it hurts like the dickens sometimes and today is one of those. I am not a doctor and I can not tell sometimes what is wrong.

[Fuzyyy]

wow i'm so sorry to have read all of it and I deeply feel for you. It's a bit selfish to say that I have it bad (which I have to myself sometimes). I mean this in the nicest way but my situation is nothing compared to yours, i'm sure I couldn't get through what you are going through, stay strong and remember there is always hope and there is always someone who is there to talk to and understand. I'm here for you and i'm sure everyone else is too :)

[sincerelyginger]

I have had this for years, with varying degrees .Some times things are ok and then there have been times when I didn't think I d be able to function in the real world. Getting to know yourself very well will help you. Also forgive yourself...you cannot control it.

[jethbones]

I've suffered with it since I was a child, possibly 8/9? I've since then developed BDD, Depression and also Vaginismus.
So when regarding my anxiety I suffer with palpitations, attacks, sweating, hyperventilation, sexual dysfunction, numbness, depersonalisation and also blurred vision.

How are you dealing with it all at the moment?