My name is Linley. I'm 25, and I have a form of kidney disease, as well as fibromyalgia. I also have depression/anxiety issues. This makes living a normal life somewhat difficult. I can't work full time because I'm always weak, tired, and in pain. I can't work more than 20 hours per week without feeling exhausted. My husband has to work 2 jobs to support the both of us, and that makes me feel very guilty. He likes working and doesn't seem to mind, but it hits me in my pride I suppose. I wish I could take care of myself...but I can't.

I don't have many friends. I only really talk to my sister, my husband, and 1 very good friend. I was home-schooled the last 2 years of high school because my illness got worse, so my old friends lost touch with me. I'm having a very hard time meeting new people and making new friends because I have anxiety issues...plus I can't leave the house much. I get lonely.

I guess I'm wondering if anyone else is dealing with similar issues, and if there's any advice you can offer me. It's all much appreciated.

Thank you.

I can only partially sympathize. I have anxiety and have had it for...8 years now? Sometimes I don't have problems with it at all, but I do realize that most of my issues are from experiences in the past that have been unresolved and have thus become underlying problems. What'll happen is that I'll be fine, but once life becomes stressful then those issues start to pop up and I become anxious about EVERYTHING. I have had to step out of my college classes a few times just to catch my breath and gather my wits, and to just get my mind off of things. Recent stress has prevented me from getting a good night's sleep, as now I suffer from hypnic jerks. However, this could also be because I have the most erratic sleep schedule ever.

I also struggle with car rides and heights. I can manage the car rides better though if I'm the one driving. It's not so much "I'm afraid the person is going to wreck the car" as it is "I want to be in control and pull over and get out if I have to." though I've found that having my headphones on and listening to music helps if I'm the passenger.

I guess my questions for you are this: Are you currently on any medications? Are you going to counseling, or have you tried? I'm sorry I can't really help on the physical stuff. My only physical ailment is Ulcerative Colitis, and thankfully it's such a low grade affliction that I don't suffer much from it. Like I only have to deal with mucus poo and blood-- tmi~