Randy Fishell

An introvert by nature, I should have known my seminary training wouldn't lead to a lifelong stint as a pastor. A little over a year of putting on a social face left me exhausted. Don't get me wrong—I love people. I just need them in smaller doses than what is required in some occupations.

Crafting words is a good fit for me. Shortly after leaving the ministry, I became a magazine editor and stuck with it for over 25 years. Those years were complicated by severe anxiety disorders: obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic attacks, and agoraphobia. Even though I've written humor books, it became my deepest desire to write about how I eventually rose above anxiety disorders. My latest book, An Anxious Kind of Mind, chronicles my journey.

I grew up in Michigan. During my early college experience, I didn't exactly set the GPA scale on fire. Fortunately, during an uncharacteristic trek to the university library one evening, I spotted a student who would become my wife. Diana and I have been married for almost 40 years, and we have three adult sons.

When I'm not blogging about anxiety disorders at AnAnxiousKindofMind.com, I do creative work on a contract basis. Along with written content, I do a lot of cartooning. In the past, I've pursued Civil War relic hunting as a hobby in Maryland, where I live.

Thanks for learning more about me. I hope my writing brings meaning and insight to many.