About a year ago I gave up a 20 year solo fight and got some help. It was the smartest thing I have done in a long time. Help doesn't mean it is easy, you still have to do the heavy lifting yourself, but having a coach and a cheerleader helps a lot.
I am on meds, my Counselor said I needed to break the cycle I had settled into. Then right after I started exiting the meds I was diagnosed with Cancer. I'll think about getting off the meds maybe next year.
I am not scared of the Cancer. What will be, will be but it is just a level of tension I don't need to add to.
I am not in regular counseling sessions any more either, but every couple of months when the world feels like it is caving in on me I go in and get a lift. Just sharing the load with a good listener that I don't have to worry about stressing out helps.
Get help to deal your problems. It is the smart thing to do.
As for what other people will think, as a wise person once told me, if you knew how little people really think about anyone else you'd really feel lonely.
Most people are so totally engaged with their own problems they don't have much time to worry about anyone else and the ones who do waste their time looking down on others are doing it to hide from problems that would make yours seem like a walk in the park.
The Moral, "Deal with it" and the people that matter will cheer for you if they notice and the rest of the people are in so much hot water of their own they don't matter.
I don't mean to sound like I know it all. I am just writting this so I can come back and read it till I believe it.
good luck all.
