Can you believe it? I’ve been blogging for 5 years. I guess the old saying about time moving faster as you age is true. I can remember writing my first blog post in 2008 like it was yesterday.
To be honest I have mixed emotions about this blog now. At first I wanted to create something remarkable. I wanted to create an important anti-anxiety resource. I ended up with something very different.
For years I wrote blog posts and produced podcasts hoping that Anxietyguru.net would grow and evolve and you know what? It didn’t. I tried recruiting people to write, changing the design, asking for feedback, writing different types of posts but, it didn’t seem to matter.
Don’t get me wrong. This blog has grown. I’ve gone from 200 daily visitors to about 3,000. That sounds good I guess, yet in the world of websites that’s tiny. Worst of all I don’t know why. I don’t know what I did wrong.
Part of me wants to believe that this has happened because anxiety is transient. People are only interested in seeking tips when they are in crisis or semi-crisis. Anxious people, it seems, are more into internet surfing. They collect small bits of information from a lot of different places and build whatever they need from those small parts.
Sadly, that makes it less likely that AG will ever grow into a strong community. It can’t be the only reason this blog hasn’t developed more, but it’s certainly a big part of it. And that sucks because I’m not quite sure what to do now. I have failed. I feel defeated in my efforts to create something remarkable. At least that’s how I feel.
It’s hard to accept that something you’ve worked on for so long is futile. It’s downright depressing really. I guess in the end there’s only so much one person can do. Unlike a lot of successful websites AG has no staff, no budget, no nothing. Reality check I guess.
All that said, I still enjoy answering emails, helping people when I can, and receiving a kind message or two. That has never changed. So although AG isn’t what I hoped it would be, it still brings me satisfaction to know that I’ve brought comfort to some of you over the years.
Thank you.
It can take 5 years for a small business to get established and profitable. Slow and steady improvement wins the race. Many “over-night successes” took years in the making.
Anxiety Guru is AMAZEBALLS!
Paul, I just found your blog today. You really have a great thing here. I too have been through the gambit of anxiety disorder diagnoses, panic attacks and drug addiction. People don’t realize what it is like and I feel like it is our duty to champion the cause and spread the message-to open up communication and conversation.
This particular post makes me sad that you feel your site is not meeting it’s potential. I’m like you. I have suffered in my life and my dream too is to write for a living and reach people that need the information. God knows our people desperately need to feel hope and to feel that life can improve and be one of love and fulfillment…and the more people we have with us and behind us the better.
I hope that I can one day have that scope and touch peoples lives like you have. You, sir, already have built that platform and I admire you greatly and the work you do.
Thanks Joseph for your kind words.
Paul,
I have wraggled with the anxiety beast for over fourty years. It wasn’t until I came across your site that I found the deeper courage to even entertain the notion that I DID have a choice and that I could overcome anxiety . there was a time when I never questioned certain manifestations of it, and simply figured I was that way forever. To have you break down and explain the many causes and contributing factors, as well as offer directives and insight ,and tips was more helpful,hopeful and comforting than the assistance offered by the ‘professionals’ in this area. I make reading your books and blog a regular morning study program. As a student would. No other site can instill that determination . Many are seeking piecemeal morsels for help with an immediate crisis and such.
Your community is growing more than you know,and your work is reaching far more than you can see. Also..I am sure I am not the only one who sends links to your articles to others , or name drops your site.
You are invaluable to many. I know this is an older entry and I don’t know how I missed it before. But suffice it to say, your work is the light in a sometimes very dark room.
Please continue on.
Shell F. from the Members site.