as i have reached the age of 80 it is more than difficult to use a medication for anxieties also with bi-polar. using other and many medications for the age does not mix well with anxietiy medication. seeing the psychiatrist monthly does help but it is not enough just for every day living. i am using Lorazapwm 0.05 taba 2 X day. (bettet than nothing and doctor prescribed). Telling myself to HOLD ON and CALM DOWN. it is so very hard to stay calm. But some how i do. After a while it becomes a habit to calm down. but i still fell as though it is eating me up inside. but life is still so beautiful. I am hanging on and enjoying what i can in between the agonies.

@peach414144 Self talk also works well for me-at times. I was programmed for so long to please others it has been a challenge to say "no" when someone wants me to do something. Thing is I can do so politely without giving a reason. There are those that will try to beg, insist on a reason and I become repetitive with my reply. Interesting how effective this technique can be...also keeps the users and abusers from bothering me. This works for me as those type of people are not friends. I was trained this was way as a child and it has taken me over 65 years to turn from thus. To bring up a child in the way he/she should go is advice and not a guarantee. Once I realized thus it became easier to say, "no". To do so without guilt and fear.

@peach414144 - A popular saying now is "flip the script" or change the picture as we see it. It sounds to me like you have done something amazing and need to celebrate with self talk such as " I have learned to overcome the negatives in my life by staying calm and relaxed and it allows me to truly enjoy the great things in life because I am not preoccupied with worrying". I know I simply took what you said and changed the words around a bit and what their impact has been for you, but what we tell ourselves about ourselves (our perception) is very often our reality. My wife is working on her PhD in counseling and this is just one of the many things I have learned from her about how we have much more control over what we think and how we think than we are often aware of - she would tell you I need to practice what I preach - and it does take some effort to be aware of what you are subconsciously doing to our minds and then change it. What do you think? Can I get you to give yourself a high five and celebrate the wisdom of your 80 years and achieving the ability to enjoy life despite the potholes? I definitely think you deserve it!

dear gman and parus, thank you for caring. i am doing better with age. not so many responsibilities now. just trying to work with the old age arthritis pains. but still dancing while sweeping the floors. and keeping the music going. good luck all.

dear gman, again i thank you and i salute you. you seem to have a good i.q. with much experience and caring for others. yes, i have learned to admire myself for the achievements i have made and the horrors i have overcome. What i think helped me was when i gave birth to my son who was born with a cleft palate and lip. (double). there was so much to be done for so many years to overcome this birth defect. it kept me so busy and i knew he needed me so very much that i had to be so very, very strong. there was much suffering on both our parts but we both overcame. i know god gave him to me because he knew i would love and take care of him. sometimes we do not realize how strong we can be. love to all.

The IQ part is a ruse; I just throw in a few big words every so often. What you just described is way more to celebrate about yourself than what you mentioned previously. I have watched friends with children who have either needed them 24/7 for many t=years and some for all of their lives. I admire and am amazed at people who can be God's hands and other necessities for these children and still maintain a pretty positive outlook on life. I think you have so very much to give yourself a pat on the back for and always to realize the inner strength you have when faced with any adversity. You certainly have my admiration!