A Thing Named is a site for people who are sick of living with anxiety.

My advice is that of a layman: from someone like you. I’m not a doctor and I don’t play one on TV.

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health concern in the United States. An estimated 40 million adults in the U.S., or 18%, have an anxiety disorder.

You’re not alone. 

I have lived with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and panic disorder for over 10 years. I remember a point in my life when this wasn’t the case and, at times, the change left me feeling frustrated, disheartened, and isolated.

Over the years I have worked with dozens of psychologists and psychiatrists. I have pursued relief from countless angles - books, meditation, diet, mindfulness. It’s a long list. There have been ups and downs, but I have made tremendous progress. You can too.

I don’t expect everything on this site to work for everyone, but much of it will. It’s a starting point.

A Thing Named focuses on the “how,” rather than the “why.” We’re all here for different reasons.

It is important to remember that progress, small and large, can be made.

Things can get better.

Goals

I started this site with two goals:

1. A Thing Named is an honest account of has worked for myself and others. I want to share what I’ve learned, offer encouragement, and help others struggling with anxiety make similar progress and live happier, healthier, more productive lives.

It is not intended to be the final authority on anxiety relief. It is rather a starting point for self-investigation — for tactical (short-term) and strategic (long-term) improvement.

2. I want to erode the stigma associated with mental health issues in any way that I can. It is my belief that this process is best accomplished by empowerment of the individual. Education of the public is important, but it takes a back seat to personal progress.

Comments And Participation

Will Ward is almost, but not quite, my real name. I am using a pseudonym so as not to have every detail of my life accessible to anyone who tries to search for me on the Internet.

I encourage commenters concerned with privacy to post with a nickname. (A valid email is required for posting comments to prevent SPAM.)

If you are reading this now, you have something valuable to contribute. Please comment - agree or disagree - with myself and other commenters. But, do so in a constructive manner. Comments will be moderated.

Affiliate

A Thing Named is a participant in Amazon Associates, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon.com. This means that whenever you click through to Amazon from A Thing Named, a small percentage of the revenue goes to support and maintain this site (it does not cost you more). Both products explicitly endorsed and recommended for consideration are linked. Please take into account the context of any links to Amazon.

A Thing Named also uses Google AdSense as a means to support the site. Ads appear in the right sidebar and are not an endorsement by the site.

I hope this site is helpful to you.