How to not be sad about having the anxiety condition though.

I have found this to be a challenge as well. I find the anxiety to be draining and a little bit depressing. I think about how things are more difficult for me because of the anxiety than they otherwise would be, and I get really sick and tired of it!

To some extent, this has helped me because it motivates me to try to do something about the anxiety. For example, I did some CBT -- even thought it was expensive and time consuming -- because I thought "I am really tired of how much anxiety interferes with my life and lowers my QOL, so I am going to attack the anxiety and see if I can beat it, or at least weaken it."

The other thing that has helped me is gratitude -- that is, to focus on the things that I am fortunate to have, which some other people do not have -- such as a family, my physical health, enough food and money, a nice house to live in, a job. So yes, I have the burden of anxiety -- and at times it is a big burden. But almost everyone has some sort of burden, and they are all hard -- and I try to keep that in mind. It does not always work, but I try.

Thanks for the advice ya. It's cool to know that someone wants to help me out though. I will try not be sad about it.

Thanks. Ya I will try though. It's just kind of hard since I think I am a sad person ya.

It really is just the way you look at it. I've never really been sad about having anxiety. I've been highly annoyed with it. It isn't easy puking every day in fifth grade and having people ask if you're pregnant. It isn't easy having people ask if you're ok all the time and you can't really explain what's bothering you.

The only time I truly got upset with myself was when I was around 23 or 24 after I had tried to go without any medications. I had made up my mind that I could get through life without having to be on medications. When my life fell apart and I started acting like a psycho (bipolar out of control) that's when I KNEW I had something a little more serious. When I truly accepted, yes, I'm bipolar and yes, I will have to take medications for the rest of my life - everything just settled out.

My best advice is to give yourself affirmations.

I HAVE ANXIETY DISORDER. IT IS A LIFE TIME ILLNESS. CAN I CONTROL IT? YES I CAN. I WILL BE THE BOSS OF THIS!

Even if you don't believe it, reaffirm it to yourself over and over again. You will start to find that guess what? You ARE in control. You may not be able to control it without medication, but you will be able to control how you think about it and how you approach it.