55 and I want to say something to anyone who is where I was eight months ago, absolutely terrified, crying in the car park after a GP appointment that went nowhere, convinced something was seriously wrong because surely normal life couldn't feel this relentless and frightening. It can get better. That's all I want to say really. I'm not going to list what I'm doing because what works for me might do nothing for you and I'm not that person. But I will say that having a follow-up appointment where I actually brought written notes changed everything. I'd scribbled down what had improved, what hadn't, what I wanted to ask. The GP took me seriously in a way she hadn't before. I think turning up prepared made me feel less like I was just complaining and more like I was managing something. The other thing is dinner. I know that sounds ridiculous. But I stopped treating the evening meal as an afterthought and started cooking something with actual protein in it, nothing fancy, just eggs or fish or chicken with whatever veg needed using up. I don't know if that's part of it or just coincidence. Sleep is still not perfect. But I had four nights in a row last week where I woke up once instead of four times. I nearly cried. If you're at the beginning and you're frightened, you're not imagining it. And it doesn't necessarily stay this hard. x