Well it's been a year this month since I joined this site in desperate need of help and support. After having anxiety and panic attacks for years I was going through a really bad patch. Constant panic attack, scared to eat, sleep, leave my house, pretty much terrified of everything. But worst of all I was convinced I was dying, each and every anxiety symptom was a serious illness in my mind, I was sure that every moment would be my last, but those moments always passed and nothing happened, a year later I'm still here and nothing has happened.
Advice and help from this site and others I feel like I am reaching that light at the end of the tunnel. I lived for years thinking I was alone feeling this way but after finding this site I saw just how many people were suffering exactly the same way as me.
I am not saying I am 100% anxiety free, I still have bad moments and even bad days. But I now cope with the bad times much better than before, I have had extremely stressful times, lost family members, family problems etc over the past 12 months but each and every time I have coped, I have got through every problem and not let anxiety stop me doing anything.

For me the things that helped me manage my anxiety were this site and others like it, herbal remedies (which I only took for a month) certain books on cbt, and a book called essential self help for the nerves by Claire weekes which I highly recommend! Reading that helped me understand the symptoms of anxiety and lose the fear I had of these symptoms.

I want everyone here on this site who is struggling right now to know that it is possible to get through this, anxiety is nothing to be scared of! It is just a frame if mind that you can change! Be positive, live your life and accept anxiety for what it is.

One quote that really stuck in my mind and helped me is
"Think of anxiety as a coat or handbag, no matter where you go or what you do you just have to pick it up and take it with you"
To me this means that we shouldn't let anxiety stop us doing anything, take it with you and you will see it's nothing to fear, which then helps us lose the fear.
Stay strong and keep fighting!