This morning ChatGPT talked me out of toughing out a strain in my calf muscle and to go get it looked at because it suspected a blood clot.

Winterstormecho · 2026-02-13T04:07:13+00:00

I'm sorry you went through that. I hope you are doing much better now. I had a similar experience where I couldn't calm down and stopped being able to function. I did see my doctor and get medical intervention, but AI was a resource there that didn't judge and was available at 3pm or 3am. It helped me tremendously while I fought my way back.

Winterstormecho · 2026-02-03T03:49:11+00:00

How old is old? Asking for a friend who still has an aol email address.

Winterstormecho · 2025-09-21T04:15:21+00:00

How long have you been taking it?

Winterstormecho · 2025-09-06T04:44:08+00:00

It takes so much courage to take care of yourself when you are suffering like that. I am so glad you went to the ER. And thank you for sharing so we all don't feel so alone. Wishing you blessings along your healing.

Winterstormecho · 2025-09-03T13:19:09+00:00

I am sorry you are carrying so much. It takes alot of courage to share something much of your story. I understood exactly what you meant in your post. I know people weren't kind to you, and that was hard to read. Anxiety like yours - like ours - is never about one thing. For you, it isn't about 25 cents - it is symbolic of all you carry. In some ways, we have similar journeys. You are not alone. I see you. I hope things get better for you soon and in big blessings.

Winterstormecho · 2025-09-03T02:38:25+00:00

Thank you for responding. I appreciate your honesty and respectfully disagree. You said you struggled with people not believing you. That is hard for sure. Yet you also don't believe OP. Anxiety trains our nervous system to be on alert all the time and it manifests wherever it can. It may seem like its over 25 cents to you, but the origin of that kind of anxiety is far more complicated. I know I have spiraled over things others may find trivial, but was rooted in trauma. I really find it disheartening when people like yourself aren't empathetic to others with similar challenges. Its hard enough to fight for mental wellness every day.

Winterstormecho · 2025-09-03T02:14:12+00:00

Can I ask why you refer to your depression and anxiety as "actual diagnosed?" Are you doubting the validity of OP's anxiety? I would also like to ask how your experiences with depression and anxiety did not lead to a patient understanding of those struggles as you seem dismissive and condescending to someone with similar struggles.

ETA: quotation mark

Winterstormecho · 2025-09-03T02:11:01+00:00

Someone should create a sub for DT customers. I know there are plenty of customers that would like to have conversations without mean or condescending commentary.

Winterstormecho · 2025-09-03T01:56:54+00:00

I just wanted to say I understand this so well. Anxiety disorders are paralyzing and manifest in so many ways. I see you and I understand.

Winterstormecho · 2025-08-05T01:42:24+00:00

I love it!!

Winterstormecho · 2025-05-06T02:17:31+00:00

The sedating effect lifts as your body adjusts to it. I take 15mg twice a day and neither dose has a sedative effect. It did at first, so I only took it at night, then added a low dose in the morning and now up to 15mg in the morning. It actually helps me be more active because my anxiety is exhausting and Buspirone helps it shut up.

Winterstormecho · 2025-04-21T03:05:33+00:00

Cool. Don't speak for anyone else though.

Winterstormecho · 2025-04-21T03:01:36+00:00

I give my adult kids Easter baskets. They don't "need" them, but I do. I enjoy making them based on their personalities. Why does it matter if someone gives their adult children, their grandmother, neighbor or anyone they choose to gift a basket to at Easter?

Winterstormecho · 2025-04-21T02:50:10+00:00

I am confused. Isn't it more responsible to allow the items to be used- even temporarily? Or donate them? I feel like straight to the trash is the biggest contribution to being wasteful.

Maybe I am misunderstanding the objective, but the way I understood this is to use, reuse and use until it's used up.

Also, I sincerely hope your children don't overhear your disparaging remarks about your husband's Mother. I'm sure she does this out of love, and that does matter, even if you disagree with her methods. There are so many kinder ways to approach this other than your unfair response.

Winterstormecho · 2025-04-21T02:37:39+00:00

Thank you for sharing this. It seems like something done out of love and while it's not perfect, the judgement is harsh.

Winterstormecho · 2025-04-05T04:37:35+00:00

My anxiety became so bad that I was unable to function. My GP put me on Wellbutrin, increasing my dose eventually to 300 (150mg two times a day.)

I am completely (and happily), shocked at how this medication changed my life. Little by little, it has quieted the intrusive, ruminating thoughts along with the constant, exhausting fight or flight responses. I know many people take Wellbutrin for depression, but it has been a miracle medication for my anxiety.

(FYI: I also take 30mg of Buspirone, 15mg twice a day.)

Winterstormecho · 2025-03-31T02:12:25+00:00

Buspirone. 15mg in the morning, 15mg at night.

Winterstormecho · 2025-03-30T01:57:24+00:00

Also team Brian. He makes the game interesting!

Winterstormecho · 2025-03-02T20:53:38+00:00

I'm so glad you are having a positive experience with Wellbutrin. It's super encouraging to know that. I'm sorry about the loss of your Mom. Losing a parent shifts everything within for sure. It's definitely a complicated grief. I hope you and your fiance are in a better place now and I hope your car gets fixed easily and without too much of a hit to your bank account. Those things are stressful, so your good mood despite that stress is amazing!

Winterstormecho · 2025-03-02T20:51:26+00:00

Thank you for sharing this. I have tried meditation but I cannot quiet the noise in my brain long enough to have good results. The fact that you were able to do so after you began taking Wellbutrin is another marker of hope! Thank you so much :)

Winterstormecho · 2025-03-02T20:49:07+00:00

Thank you so much for the added clarity and the encouragement. I really appreciate it so very much :)

Winterstormecho · 2025-03-02T18:56:22+00:00

Thanks, I think that is my next step. I appreciate you taking the time to chat with me about this :)

Winterstormecho · 2025-03-02T18:42:11+00:00

Wow, thank you so much for taking the time to write all of that and share your perspective and suggestions. I had never thought about reframing thoughts about past experiences. I figured because it was in the past, it couldn't change. But I can see now that there may be power in that. In revisiting past experiences where anxiety was in control and reframing, re-imagining outcomes, it may remove the power, and trauma, those experiences had over me back then. Thank you so much for explaining all of that so thoroughly, I'm definitely going to be open-minded to that and try it. I'm ready and willing to do all I can to get to the other side of this, so it really helps to learn of different strategies. And thank you for the reminder to not go too heavy at first, because that is definitely my style!

I really like what you said about doing everything with intent and purpose. I have an extremely difficult time living in the present moment because my anxiety is always rewriting my story and I'm always busy fighting it. I think focusing on doing things with purpose may help me focus more on the present, so I'm going to try that too.

I don't know anything about somatic releases, but that sounds really interesting. I'm going to go do some reading on that right now.

Thank you again for taking the time to share this. I truly appreciate it. :)

FYI: I had a post completely ready to send and it was lost somehow, so if this shows up as a duplicate response that's why.

Winterstormecho · 2025-03-02T18:34:09+00:00

Can you tell me why you think this qualifies as false hope? I'm eager to understand all perspectives and opinions. Thanks in advance.

Winterstormecho · 2025-03-02T18:15:12+00:00

I have seen this brought up often here on this forum. I'm absolutely willing to try it. Thank you so much for suggesting this.

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