Hello everyone.  I am knew to this board and decided to join you after reading ivillage's stress busting tips.  I have made several posts on other subjects complaining about my step children and my partner.  Whilst reading the stress busting tips the penny dropped, its not them, its me.  Don't get me wrong they can be a bunch of lazy buggers and I do clear up after them but on the scale of things it really isn't that important!

I have suffered from severe headaches since I was 16 (I am now 37).  I also suffer with neck and back pain due to tension.  This year I have managed to ween myself off anti-depressants after 15 years and I no longer take painkillers on a daily basis (although I still suffer with headaches and pain).  I had a very unstable and anxious childhood and I put this down to the reasons why I am the person I am today.  I think on the whole I am a good person but stress is my downfall and if you're reading this post then you are suffering from stress too so obviously know what the downside is.

I see a physio/osteopath/chiropractor on a regular basis to assist with my tension based aches and pains but also whilst reading ivillages's stress busting tips I realised that maybe I need to talk to someone and let go of my demons.  I think I am right in saying that the physical effects of stress are born in the mind and if I were to get my mind sorted then the physical symptons will eventually start to decrease. 

My problem now is who do I talk to and where do I find that person (professional of course).  I don't want to go through my doctor and am happy to pay someone privately, after all this is my quality of life and I want to live a good and happy life.  My partner and I are also trying for a baby and I would love to put my demons to bed once and for all so that our child can live the life I never had.

Jasmine x