Passions of an Odd Chick

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Anxiety Attacks



I've been playing with Modigliani images again. When I can't seem to create, he is always available to inspire me.

It seems everywhere I turn someone else has fallen into anxiety attacks. Nearly every friend I know is on Prozac or some other anti-anxiety medication. I keep waiting for it to hit me like you would a bad flu that's going around. What is happening? Even little kids are having problems now. It makes me so sad. Is it our diet? Our environment? Our relationships? I wish we could figure out what is going on because I know that people are suffering with this and it seems epidemic. Out of a group of 10 close friends or family - are you seeing most of them on anti-depressants or anti-anxiety drugs? I'm just curious. Maybe it's just my locale or the friends I'm attracted to...... Why is it so much more prevalent than it use to be, like 10 years ago?

I refuse to be anxious about anything. I hate the feeling and refuse to let it dock in the harbour of my mind. My mantra is: if you can do something about it - you don't have to worry. If you can't do something about it - you don't have to worry. But apparently mind over matter is not enough because I know others hate being anxious and would avoid it if possible. I would love to hear your comments about this subject.

9 comments:

YogaforCynics said...

It's easy to become anxious about being anxious...just as I can become depressed worrying about if I'm about to become depressed again...

Love the image...

ooglebloops said...

"Yoga" took the words right out of my mouth!! It's like a circle - you start to get anxious and then worry about getting anxious, and it's sometimes a deep well you can't get out of!!! Mine started just recently and you're right, so many people I know too are on medication -it's an easy fix, I guess. I haven't gone that route, and won't - trying to work it out with diet and exercise- we'll see what happens!!

Ruth Hull Chatlien said...

I love the image. Very elegant.

I have been having a lot of anxiety lately. For me, it's a sort of toxic combination of external and internal factors. The external is fear because my husband's current freelance job has been cut short, and he hasn't found a replacement yet. The internal is old guilt from some family issues.

I'm trying to pray and meditate more to counteract it.

P.S. I think the news media makes things worse with their constant coverage of recession-related stories.

Sorrow said...

In an interesting observation, I have a very diverse circle of friends, the ones on Meds for anxiety and depression all have TV, and high stress jobs. ( nurses, teachers, ect) the ones who do NOT have TV, seem to be more relaxed about things, and like you , worry only about that which they can fix, and leave the rest to a higher authority.
Do you think there might be something to that?
by the way , love the whimsical expression on her face.

LINDA BYLSMA said...

Most people do not understand that Anxiety and depression are caused by an imbalance of chemicals in the brain. I develped Panic Disorder when I turned 40, and thought there was some mental thing wrong with me. It took alot of reading and soul searching for me to find out that it was a medical condition. My doctor felt really bad that I had not understood this to begin with. Well, explain it, dammit.
I have been on anti depressants for almost 20 years, and it took me 17 years to find one that really works without horrible side effects. Anxiety is just the beginning of Panic or Depression.
40 years ago, there were no medications for these condition and people did not talk about it or understand it. I am thankful for my meds and no one would know that I have this condition. The medications are not like a tranquilizer, they just make my brain work normally.
I hope no one takes any offense to what I am saying, but taking meds is NOT an easy fix. It's the right thing to do.

Unknown said...

My family definitely has it ..... and I know for sure I battle it .... and so far without meds. For me personally, I have found that working with color and texture - making things with my hands - calms me and focuses me. When the depression socks in, my art is a way to express it and let it out - usually by combining words and images (like your portrait and its statement in this post). But I know that it will be ok to take the meds if it gets worse than I can handle. I think Christians struggle with a stigma over admitting to panic or depression - like it's a lack of faith, hope, joy or trust - all the things we "should" have in abundance - but Linda B is right about the chemistry of it.

Another thought though too - would John the Baptist or Jeremiah been put on meds?

Odd Chick said...

i appreciate all your comments. because i believe that if there is something you can do about something.. you don't worry about.. but you do something about it - i was curious as to what ideas others might have about this challenge.

i'm hearing that for the most part that we can use other skills and ideas to cure our depression and anxiety and drugs should not be a first resort. But i'm also hearing that there is a chemical-defiency-equation to this problem.

so i think we should encourage ourselves and/or a friends and family to determine where the anxiety is manifesting itself from and then diagnose it from there.

Connie said...

This is my very first time visiting your blog...I came here from the blogroll on Beyond Words--it was your Modigliani painting that sparked my interest!! I recently was ispired by Modigliani too...you can check it out here: http://dirtyfootprints-studio.blogspot.com/2009/07/art-journal-love.html

Also, just a few days ago I was listening to a talk on NPR, and a doctor stated that this "epidemic" of anxiety and depression is an American thing. Other countries do not experience this to the effect that we do...so, that makes me believe that environment has a whole lot to do with it.

I really love your blog. Great work!

Peace & Love.

Poetic Artist said...

It is strange. Because when I am not able to create and blocked.. I always go to the book of Modigliani..His work some how makes me pick up my sketch book and sketch and make my own version.
Thanks for sharing.
Good to find your blog.
Katelen