What they said, Steph. We like to know what's happening with you, but will understand if you need to take a break.

Happy birthday, Sparky!

As for you, Teppy - you do what you need to, to take care of yourself. If you find that bitching does help, then do it. If taking a break will help, do so knowing we love and care for you even when your pixels aren't widely available.

As for coping on a daily basis, I've only had a small handful of anxiety attacks in my life, enough to know how thankful I am that I do not have to deal with them daily. But my mother has had years of coping with that shit, and when she was really on top of it, she used to go to Recovery, Inc. meetings, where she learned a lot of useful coping skills. She taught me a couple. One was the saying "Feelings are not facts" - so, you can feel like you are going crazy, or dying, or totally losing your shit during an anxiety attack, and still remind yourself that it's just a feeling, that it is not true. I sometimes think of that skill as "mood surfing" - the mood is there to be ridden out rather than taken as gospel truth. Using the technique of reverse psychology on oneself might also be helpful, specifically when you feel you simply cannot get on with the daily activities of life such as hauling butt to work, you say, "Ok, if I don't want to go, I don't have to". Sometimes that eases up the pressure enough to make it more bearable to actually do it. I have no idea if any of these will help you, Teppy, but I thought I would put them out there just in case it might be of any use. At the very least, maybe they will show you that there are ways, so you can look for the ones that will work for you.

Happy birthday, Sparky!

For the record, I have never found Teppy to be tiresome about anything and her writing helped me admit the state I'm in. I suspect that I don't vent enough; I just sit alone in my black hole and gibber. Also, for some reason, I use a lot more semicolons.

Teppy, you're not tiresome. It just concerns me - and, I assume others - to hear that you're having such a hard time of it. We're here, we care, we want you to be happy. Do what you need to do to take care of yourself and, if it includes posting here, do it.

Happy Birthday, Sparky! And enjoy your pampering today. I hope it's all very wonderful and relaxing.

Did I say YAY TOM? I can't recall if I said it here. I *know* I said it last night out loud when I read about the job offer. Typing it? Not so sure.

Tep, I personally applaud you for being able to talk about the things that are big issues for you. Seriously. I usually can't talk about things with people until the issue is resolved and I'm on the other end of it. HOWEVER! That does not mean that I judge you in any way (or anyone else, for that matter) for talking about it here on the board. In fact, I wish sometimes that I could be more open when I'm dealing with mountains of crap. I think that Buffistas almost always have extremely helpful advice when the shit hits the fan.

As for my ounce of advice, stress hits us all in different ways and manifests in different ways throughout our lives. I've personally never been as far down the rabbit hole as you've been feeling lately, so I can't relate entirely, but I do know that sometimes it helps to just FEEL everything. It sucks and it wreaks havoc on you, but if the tears are there, cry them out. If the rage is there, beat the shit out of a punching bag (but not if you have to drive to a punching bag - just punch on your mattress or something). Pushing the emotions down causes issues later on. I fully and truly believe that.

And if, in the time that it's taken me to write, delete, re-write and finally post this, you've told us all to shut it and move on... then I'm sorry. Ignore all of the above. But I still adore you and I'm vibing for light at the end of this tunnel for you.

Happy Birthday, Sparky!!! Go have a salad and a slice of pizza!

Er, so if now that the nasty, cruel sore throat has eased up allows me to notice other symptoms that point to a sinus infection - amoxicillin will get the job done, right? I don't have to go back to the doctor?

ETA: Of course, I just read something that indicates antibiotics don't really help sinus infections all that much anyway.

Happy Birthday, Sparky!

Happy Birthday, Sparky!!!

Tep, I point at the words above, and hope you follow the advice. I'd ad to the pile, but alas, I'm too gronkified to tap out something as eloquent as the wise ones above.

MM, glad to hear your 2 car situation is so utopian. At this rate, you won't have anything to complain about. Will this cut into your creative abilities? Hope not. Wow, that kinda sounds like I'm hoping angst for you. Not the case.

Ima gonna shut up now. Damn snooze bar already disengaged. gotta go to work. 2 meetings today in the middle of tech rehearsals. Word is, they are using the F word (furlough). Gotta love these trying economic times.

Happy Birthday to Sparky! Add a cupcake to your salad and slice! Enjoy the well deserved pampering.

Teppy, we love you and want to be here for you however it helps. Spill away in thread and listen to or ignore the helpful suggestions, or take a break. Whatever helps you - you can even change your mind a dozen or so times a day! FWIW, although I haven't suffered panic attacks personally I do have loved ones that suffer from them and I find the discussion of coping techniques personally helpful.

Did I say YAY TOM? I can't recall if I said it here. I *know* I said it last night out loud when I read about the job offer. Typing it? Not so sure.

This is me, all the time! I jump in and read stuff and send ~ma and/or smile happily at the news, and then I can't remember later if I actually posted. Like all the time.