Hi guys, remember me? Long time no see :P
So it's been quite a while since I last posted in here. I'm sure many will remember me, some may not. When I last stopped posting here I was in a bad way emotionally as some may remember. At that time I was in a very dark place. I was out of a job or school, living at home off my parents drinking relatively heavily weekly and getting lower and lower. As I posted previously on here I've struggled with emotional issues most of my life off and on at different periods and it's ruined much of it. My parents did not help by greatly enabling me well past adulthood, though they did so out of love and concern. I went through some pretty dark places.
At any rate fast forward to today and things are going pretty good, knock on wood. I've moved out of my parents house into an apartment. My parents are still helping me but I gain more independence by day. I'm working a part time job right now. I've lost over 100lbs since my max about a year and 1/2 ago and am looking good and feel fantastic, in the best shape of my life, lost a bit too much I must say though. I've made the first true group of friends I've perhaps ever had as well. I work weekly to push my comfort zones to do new things, try to get out and socialize with them even when my social anxiety has every nerve in my body telling me not to. I have a LOT of progress left to make but I've come a very long way since those dark days only 8 or 9 months ago!
I've also discovered the benefits of marijuana 
It's completely replaced my drinking and I have no real interest in drinking at all any more. I now use a vaporizer a couple of times a week and find that it has helped me emotionally immensely. It's mellowed me out which is exactly what my high strung anxious personality type needs and has allowed me to see the bigger picture more of the time, allowed me not to sweat the small stuff more and more. Along with my new found independence and steadily improving sense of confidence it has allowed me to truly enjoy life in a relaxed and deep sense that I have never had the pleasure of before (I can feel it in my bones so to speak).
As I mentioned above there is a LONG ways to go and a lot I need to improve upon and fix. Many more anxiety inducing hurdles I have to clear before all is said and done. I have no doubt that there will be further set backs. I fear it is all a house of cards that will come crashing down at any moment. But for once in my life I'm truly content for longish stretches of time. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel for once.
This post doesn't necessarily mark my return to these forums. I'm undecided on that as of yet. I just wished to drop everyone a line and update those who may have been wondering what ever happened to me
= new reply since forum marked as read
Yes, I remember you........
I am glad to see you here once again, even if only temporarily.
I understand at least a little about social anxieties and you're doing well by combating them. Hell, I'm 71 and I still fight them sometimes! Some things just have to be gotten through and doing works well.
Keep on keeping on!
Welcome back...
In some ways that marked my first tentative foray out on my own and it was an extremely positive experience. However the really dark periods I talked about actually came after that and I posted about my struggles during that period too and dropped off some time several months after that. Thinking back on it now though I suppose that initial experience did give me some of the impetus required to later take the steps I finally did in breaking free
You have been missed!
I'm glad you have found some ways to deal with the anxiety issues, and hope everything continues to go well.
LibE
Lol no I don't live close to there unfortunately. I'm assuming you do? 
?
I think someone posted your name in one of those, "Has anyone heard from ________?" threads.
I remember your photography, too! So glad to hear that you are doing much better. Keep in touch, OK?
I believe I was notified a long time back about one of those threads and I replied to one of them a while back. I'm glad you remember my photography! It's still a passion of mine although I'm sad to report my camera broke 
I still think occasionally of trying to make that passion professional.
Now tell us, what is this a close up of?
I remember you - I identified with your posts because I've had some similar anxiety issues. I'm really glad to hear you're doing so well!
It's always good to "see" an old face.
i wonder about you from time to time and am so happy you checked in with us.
there may still be work to be done, but it sounds like you've made outstanding progress and that makes me happy
glad to hear you are well and i hope you pop in more often
Of course I remember you. I asked about you but nobody knew much of anything. I think you were making some changes just before you left and I am happy to hear things are better for you. It would be really nice to see you around again. 
I've been having a blast with my Raspberry Pi 2.
Four ARM cores, and it's almost as fun as my old Atari 8 bits.
There's some weird irony in that, like the simple things in life are best, maybe?
When posting here on DU, I still wear the usual personal protection...
