Group therapy time

[Sundae]

I had a 5 minute session with a psychiatrist who dismissed me with, "I doubt you're depressed" but recommended to the daycare team that I stayed on my medication to reduce anxiety. Subsequent mental health specialists tweaked my medication and now I think I am as stable as any "normal" person.

I'm still a worrier, but I never had any idea how much anxiety ruled my life until I stayed on anti-depressants for long enough for them to take effect.

I still don't know exactly what I take them for, but I rarely - if ever - get the fight or flight physical reaction for non-physical reasons. Example I will not feel my stomach drop followed by nausea just because I get an unexpected letter/ Yes my finances are as rosy as they can be, but it's chicken and egg - I return phone calls and open letteres and deal with things before they grow tentacles these days.

Another example, I accept training and advice as just that. I do not go into school feeling sick to my stomach because someone pointed out a better way to do things the previous day. Constructive criticism no longer makes me physically ill.

And I have far less violent dreams

I do still get an adrenaline fear reaction if I trip slightly, or someone steps in front of me unexpectedly, my fingertips tingle. At its most extreme it gives me a jolt like putting the car into the wrong gear while driving - inside my head.

But even if there were a medication for that I don't think it would be worth bothering with It's just that so few people I know experience it. As I have said before, I am just easily spooked.