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Thanks everyone. I do work in the oil and gas industry. I like my work, I like the people I work with and my company treats me well for the most part. But ever since the downturn I guess they realized they can survive with less of a workforce. I’m also currently in school for a mechanical engineering degree. I’m in my early 30’s so I know I still have time to switch gears.

My wife recently finished school while I supported us both and she has said I also have that opportunity now. That fear of change is huge. I mostly want to talk to someone about this, even if it’s a psychologist or therapist or something. I was worried they’d want to medicate me and I’d lose my CHL. That is not something I want to do at all. I take my right to carry very seriously. I would prefer to do it without drugs. Exercise has been my outlet for years but it doesn’t seem to do the trick anymore and as I mentioned previously several of my other outlets are no longer feasible.

I watch plenty of folks at work take pill after pill and I really don’t want that to be me so I appreciate all your advice and I am taking it to heart. I’m going to do what I can to alleviate these feelings others ways. I had a long talk with my wife about it today and opened up about how bad it’s been for me recently and that felt very good. I admitted some irrational fears I have and how they drive me insane inside. It feels like being able to tell her is a good start for now.

Thanks again for all the advice.

Thank you all for your thoughtful responses. I’ve been struggling for years to deal with this through different remedies. Changing jobs is not an option because frankly I have a very well paying office job with no degree that I had to work years to get. Leaving would mean starting over again and destroying the standard of living we have worked for. I used to cope through various activities like exercise and hobbies, but outside of exercise I have no time for the hobbies lately. I have nightmares about work at this point. I like the people, I like what I would do and I know I can handle it if I have the proper outlet.

Shooting and RC airplanes used to be my coping mechanism but making it out to the range is cut down from twice a week to now once every couple of weeks at best not to mention finding the team to actually make my reloads. The new restrictions on RC planes destroyed my ability to fly in the unincorporated areas around my house so I’d have to drive miles to find a spot to fly waiting in waiting in line and getting maybe 10-15 minutes of flying times over hours.

The stress is so bad I just want to come home and sleep, wake up a couple of hours later and get back on my laptop to keep working.

Thank you both. Does the lorazepam disqualify you?

I currently have a valid CHL for another 3 years before renewal.

My job is getting stressful. The anxiety is keeping me from sleeping and really starting to get to me.

My doctor suggested Xanax. I told him no for now because I don’t know if that would disqualify me being prescribed Xanax. It’s not depression or anything. Simply anxiety. Come renewal time will I be get denied if I go on it?