| I had someone call me the other day wanting to let me | | | | getting thinner and thinner on the ground. |
| know about how they eventually found the right way | | | | The turning point came when he found a group of |
| to get their anxiety problem dealt with - once and for | | | | anxiety sufferers after seeing a notice in the library |
| all. He wanted me to share his story as an example to | | | | where he was passing time in the warm. Cutting a long |
| others and for the sake of privacy, we'll call him Andy. | | | | story short, he found out that there were many |
| The story starts when Andy had been 'under a cloud' | | | | different ways to deal with anxiety and quite a few of |
| as he put it for about 9 years - ever since he was | | | | these did not involve drugs or long drawn-out sessions |
| dismissed from the navy for bad conduct. Unable to | | | | with psychiatrists and whose effects only got better |
| keep a job for long due to bad attendance or lack of | | | | as you progressed with the program. |
| concentration and poor results - he wandered from | | | | While at the time it was a lot of money to him, Andy |
| job to job. | | | | paid over $149.95 to get the program and to make |
| With each change he realised that the job was getting | | | | sure his neighbours did not steal it, he had it delivered |
| lower in status and the pay check was getting smaller. | | | | to the community centre where his new friends met |
| When he did go to see a doctor he was diagnosed | | | | twice a week. As he says, "when I put the first CD in |
| with depression and prescribed medication which he | | | | the player at the centre and listened to it, it was like |
| said only made things worse.The effect this had on his | | | | the guy was talking about me to me. I got a |
| self esteem was, as you can imagine, totally | | | | connection with someone who understood me for the |
| destructive, so in order to make things seem a little | | | | first time in more than 11 years. |
| better, he turned to drugs. | | | | By the end of the CD, Andy understood the reasons |
| However his naval training and discipline kept him from | | | | for his deep-set anxiety but, more than that, he knew |
| slipping into hard drugs so that was a blessing. | | | | in his heart of hearts that he had found the right way |
| Although at the same time it was a curse, as his | | | | for him to be rid of it once and for all. One year later, |
| discipline was noticed by his supplier, who realising | | | | Andy is now in full time employment. He works as a |
| Andy needed money, offered him an easy way to | | | | centre manager in a new centre that provides |
| make it. At first it was small time stuff - delivering to | | | | assistance to people like he once was. His |
| dealers and collecting their money. But very soon, he | | | | understanding of what people go through has made |
| was becoming more and more embroiled in the drugs | | | | him an invaluable member of the counselling team and |
| scene and the stakes were getting higher. | | | | popular with the folk who attend. |
| One day, on a routine deliver and collect run, Andy | | | | One thing he has done is make the service known |
| found a dealer dead in his room and his money stolen. | | | | throughout the community - contacting the police |
| When he got back to the 'office', Andy's boss | | | | department, centres for ex-service men and women, |
| accused him of taking the money. Andy would not say | | | | centres for down and outs, church groups and more. |
| how he got out of there except to say he was lucky | | | | As he said: "I want to help people get the help they |
| to still be alive. One good thing came of it. The situation | | | | need before their situation gets as bad as mine did". |
| so troubled Andy that he decided to get help. He knew | | | | The lesson we can learn here is that anxiety, if left |
| he had a 'problem in the head', but was not sure what | | | | untreated, can devastate your life. There are many, |
| it was. | | | | many ways in which you can get treatment - but it is |
| Given his experience over the previous year and a | | | | vital that you get a professional diagnosis. The most |
| half, it's no surprise that he did not want to go down | | | | effective treatments for long term effects are without |
| the drug-based path. When asked why, he said that | | | | doubt those not always available through conventional |
| his 'boss' dealt in stolen prescription drugs. Quite often, | | | | medical channels. |
| the effects these prescription drugs had on people | | | | The good news is that these are becoming more |
| was as bad as the other street drugs he was | | | | widely known about through centres and self-help |
| carrying. It took him a while to find a psychiatrist who | | | | groups like Andy's, and other caring community based |
| was willing to treat him and who diagnosed him with | | | | centres. The internet has also played a part in helping |
| having an anxiety disorder. After weekly treatments | | | | people find out about the many possible ways of |
| over four months, he was not impressed by the | | | | getting help and dealing with their anxiety problems |
| results. He still had bouts of depression, still had | | | | once and for all. |
| problems with concentration and to make things even | | | | Choosing which one to go for though may be difficult |
| harder, his money was running out and jobs were | | | | for some. |