All of the above, esp. what Janie, Sinsull, and other anon. said, as well as CH.

Anti-depressants helped me for a few months, several years ago. Mine was a physical living and health situation which just seemed to bury me.

Over the past year, I've had tons of anxiety and have taken Xanax at night to make my mind STOP THINKING! so that I may get some rest. It has helped tremendously. I don't feel any grogginess nor is it habit-forming for me which pleases me and my docs.

One thing, which may sound very simple, but may actually be very difficult to do, at the moment, is to try to say, mentally or out loud, in the morning upon awakening, something like this: "I give thanks for all that I have, all that I give and all that I receive." I find it helps me to not feel guilty about having what I need; in fact it helps me feel good about sharing what we have...that "passing it on" action.

I find it very difficult to not beat up on myself, mentally. My experience is that women have more of a problem with this than men. I have friends with whom I "co-counsel" reminding each other to be kind to ourselves.

Along with traditional professional help, I would also recommend a good hypnotherapist, one who can help with self-hypnosis techniques which can help reduce the anxiety and manage depression.

For a quick response to anxiety, if able, try this: take in a deep breath and as you do, *think* the words "I AM" then, as you blow the breath out, slowly, think the word "RELAXED." With practice this can really help. I would still stress, though, the need for professional evaluation and treatment.

Feel free to PM me, also, if you'd like. You DO deserve to feel good about yourself and your life.

kat