How do you deal with "Anxiety"

ScoobySnax

Have you ever had Anxiety? I don't mean general anxiety you get before an exam or an interview, I mean anxiety out of the blue that seems to hit you when you can be in a warm pleasant atmosphere.......a feeling like you just have to get up and go. Sometimes its terrifying, hyperventillating, can't get your breath, feel like everything is closing in around you. Then just when you think you can't cope anymore, it goes. And you think what the f**k was that all about.

Have you experienced this, and if so, how do you deal with it?

Scoob

horrible life

I have some of those symptoms when my blood sugar drops. I would have that checked first.

misanthropic

Scooby I have anxiety attacks all the time, I have been told to go to a shrink or talk to my doctor about it but I've never done that. Not that there's anything wrong with doing that because I'm sure it would help, I just haven't been able to for personal reasons.

Blueblades

Hi Scob! A couple of books that have been very helpful for me are: "Anxiety & Panic Attacks, their cause and cure, by Robert Handley with Pauline Neff. Also, "Hope and Help for your Nerves", by DR. Claire Weeks.

As to your question, How do you deal with "Anxiety"? I now know what it is and let it come on and work its way through about ten minutes or so, and just take deep breathes as this tends to help it to pass.

Remember that as far as we know, no one has ever died from "Anxiety", its just a horrible experience to deal with.

Blueblades

GentlyFeral

I don't get physical symptoms (anxiety attacks) but I used to get these mentally crippling stabs of fear over quite trivial things (did I leave my wallet on the train I just got off of???) or over nothing at all. Deep down, it amounted to a fear that I was going to die at any moment.

I found some necessary tools for dealing with this:

Stare it down. Keep asking yourself, "What am I afraid of?" If you get a coherent answer, deal with it ASAP. Check your pockets, make that phone call, whatever. If your subconscious can't name a cause for the fear, point that out to yourself – "there's nothing to be afraid of. You just proved it to me" – and get on with your day.
Learn hope and optimism. I once had a minister say these qualities have to be learned just like algebra. Some of the "positive thinking" material is useful; much of it is pure crap. Sample and retain what works for you. Do all you can to build an honest understanding of your skills and good qualities. Learn to do/take care of the things that scare you: in my case, poverty frightens me so much that I'm learning prosperity magic and studying investing.
Never lie to yourself. Affirmations, so widely beloved of the self-help brigade, are useful only up to a point. If you feel you are lying to yourself, you almost certainly are. For many years I could only use affirmations as a "lie detector" – a useful function in itself. Many people, including self-help gurus, assume that self-brainwashing with affirmations is effective, but it doesn't kill the underlying fear and doubt. The skeptic has to use them surgically. Start by using them as "lie detectors," then as "what-if" statements, then as "work orders" for the universe to act on. They are not for plastering over problems, but to plant seeds in the unconscious.
Challenge yourself kindly. When you discover what frightens you, don't just jump into it with both feet; read some books, take a class, get some coaching, find supportive people who are into whatever-it-is, then seek out opportunities; starting as small as you have to, going as big as you can.
Forgive yourself. Nobody has to get everything right all the time – even fear-killing. When it just won't go away, it's all right to say, "OK, this is my time to worry. I'm going to freak out for the next hour or two, and then I'm going to do something to make myself feel better."
Distract yourself – not all the time, but as a tonic or a break. A couple of drinks, a trashy novel, a night of TV – whatever it takes, but only when you need a break from the hard work of fear-killing.

And now I've told you all I know.

gently feral

ScoobySnax

Smiling here .....thanks for that

You know I've watched people in shopping centres when I've felt like running out, and thought, why don't they feel like I do inside, how do they cope with it. The crowds, the heat, the bussle.

A good book that did help me was Dr. Claire Weekes as I think Blueblades mentioned.

Anyway thankyou.

Scoob

Ellie

I have obsessive compulsive disorder which is an anxiety disorder, I can't stress enough to you how important it is for you to see a doctor who can either prescribe medication to you or put you in touch with a phycologist, these things have a habbit of getting worse if you don't sort them out.

anewme

Yes, Scooby. Three years ago I was working at a stressful job. I had recently been Dfd and subsequently divorced at the same time. My mind was so busy with that pain all of the time that small things could trigger great distress in me. I had to do some public sales through my work and I was not up to it. People were coming up to me in my face and plying me with questions regarding the work project. Suddenly I felt a lump in my throat, my eyes filled with tears, my vision started to tunnel and I saw people looking at me queerly, like what's up with her, and I just panicked and ran out of the building and into my car and drove home....without punching out. This was forgiven the first time by my boss.......but not the second time! I was fired from a good job for these two occurences. So yes, two times I have had this experience of total loss of control, of panic, of wanting to escape as fast as I can.

ScoobySnax

aww thanks for your concern Eliie, but I really don't feel I need medication or to see a specialist. I can deal with it, even if sometimes it feels overpowering. I know when to say STOP and when to give myself some time. I can imagine that OCD is a dreadful thing to live with though Ellie, and I wish you every best wish.

Englishman

Anxiety is just fear spread more thinly. I get the odd spasm of it occasionally and find that some exercise helps to disperse the adrenaline whenever it occurs.

Believe it or not, sitting on the loo while it passes is also one of the best solutions.

Englishman.

How do you deal with "Anxiety"

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