@shaleta30 Oh golly, you’ve really been held captive by your anxiety way too long. I’m so sorry for the good years you’ve lost because of your symptoms. From experience, I can tell you, we can be our worst enemies. We’re good at telling ourselves stories and filling our heads with negative “what ifs”, when most often those scenarios never come to fruition! Anxiety and depression can rule our lives. They can also cause a host of symptoms in our bodies from heart palpitations, stomach and bowel issues, headaches, chronic pain...the list goes on!

As I’m reading your reply, the first thing that popped into my head was that you’ve had every test the doctors tossed at you and the results show normal. For 10 years your body has been continuing to function properly, no other serious health situations have arisen but you’re worried something will. This fear has you in its clutches with worrying about the future and denying you the present.

Let’s try a new approach with positive “What Ifs”. What if your medical tests are correct and nothing has been discovered because you are of sound mind and body. What if, events from the past have triggered this anxiety and depression. What if you have the means in you to regain the power over these disruptive patterns? You have! The mind is incredibly powerful...like a super power! In your case it’s working for bad. It can work for good too! ☺️

Have you considered talking with a therapist to help you discover the root problem of your anxiety? There are wonderful mindfulness tools and therapies available to help change behavioral patterns and negative thoughts. Often this can be done without any medications. I know it sounds like ‘woo woo’ therapy but I’m a bi-product of this and it works. Also my daughter became terribly anxiety ridden which led to deep depression after some damaging life events when she was in her early 20s. Therapy gave her the tools to overcome her debilitating anxiety and she’s now free from anxiety and depression. It took work and time but she was motivated. I think you are too!

I’m going to bring in some Connect members who have shared their stories and are working daily to change their lives for the better. We are all on this forum to “connect”, support and encourage each other. They are membersin the depression and anxiety group. @hearttoheart @stsopoci
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/importance-of-focusing-on-positive-with-depression-anxiety/?pg=45#comment-263571