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Anxiety & Panic Disorders
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Posted 1/16/2009 1:51 AM (GMT 0)
What helps you?

The buzz, it feels like a . . . high. I don't even drink coffee anymore the anxiety is daily.

The breathing?

I practice deep conscious breaths, then I think I'm doing it wrong and scare myself into hyperventalating.

Sweaty palms? I live in Alaska. I try and go outside. Fresh air does help!

Random crazy thought? I try and go for a drive, sing to the radio. Or I clean the house... my home is very clean ;)

then I'm done with doing all these things, and feel the exact same way before. Anxious. I keep waiting for it to go away, be normal. Be like I used to. Tough!

 1. No discussion of any illegal activity or threats of violence. (ie. illicit drug use, including medical marijuana use, threats of suicide or self-injury, or threatened or intended physical harm).  Discussions of suicide or self-harm that are deemed negative and therefore potentially injurious to others are also not permitted.

Sorry my friend.  I had to edit a word because of the forum guidelines :)

Post Edited By Moderator (Green Grove) : 1/15/2009 8:24:29 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/16/2009 2:08 AM (GMT 0)
Biofeedback helps the most for me. I control my breathing and relax my body. Also, keeping myself busy around the house distracts me from scary thoughts.
Posted 1/16/2009 3:29 AM (GMT 0)
Hello :)

Sorry about the edit but I have to follow the rules :) Besides the free online therapy I also like to get a breath of fresh air. So many of us that have anxiety are shallow breathers and there is some Breathing and Relaxtion techniques at the top of the page under the title Anxiety-Panic Resources. They are a big help to me :) The MoodGYM that I recommended will also help with the Warpy/Scary Thoughts as well :) It takes awhile but all of these techniques are something you can carry with you once you get them down. I hope you check them out and see for yourself :)

I'm so glad you are a part of our family :)
Posted 1/16/2009 3:57 AM (GMT 0)
Whoops!!! So sorry. I have had my fair share of trying bad things, which may be why I'm here today. I used to numb out reality and deal in very unhealthy ways, starting at age 13. Now at 30 I just want to be normal and be an adult!
This place is exactly what is needed...
Posted 1/16/2009 5:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hi mdv159

Welcome to healingwell. Anxiety is a tough thing to deal with but through therapy we can learn techniques to keep it under control so that it does not affect our life so much. I love music and sports so when ever i am feeling anxious i find these things do help me.

Take Care
Posted 1/16/2009 10:18 PM (GMT 0)
I totally understand Mdv :) I also had many problems growing up and when I hit 30 it was a major wake up call, lol. I have to say I've done really good the past few years on working with my addictions and becoming even more responsible than I already have had to me throughout the years :)
Posted 1/16/2009 11:05 PM (GMT 0)
That is exactly the thing that I can't control, the adrenalin.  How in the world can one control that?  I could be out having a great time, not feeling anxious, not having troublesome thoughts, I'm distracted, and then all of the sudden the adrenalin comes from no where!  What in the world causes this?!
Posted 1/16/2009 11:32 PM (GMT 0)

Nothing helped me but finding the right medication.  Not breathing exercises, not "going with the anxiety", not walking, not fresh air, not focusing on my work, not sleeping, not the support of my husband and son, or anything else.  What relief when pdoc and I finally found a medication to zap my anxiety.  Now my work causes me mild anxiety all the time so I try to take off four hours of vacation time every two week pay period.  Gives me something to look forward to and I get plenty of vacation time each year.  During my four hours I shop for me, grocery shop if a trip is due so that I don't have to go "on my own time", read, or nap. 


Posted 1/16/2009 11:33 PM (GMT 0)

hekofaride said...
That is exactly the thing that I can't control, the adrenalin.  How in the world can one control that?  I could be out having a great time, not feeling anxious, not having troublesome thoughts, I'm distracted, and then all of the sudden the adrenalin comes from no where!  What in the world causes this?!

I'd say that's the chemical imbalance part of bipolar and/or anxiety we are stuck with.
Posted 1/16/2009 11:51 PM (GMT 0)
Georgie Girl, can I ask you what medication helped you? This adrenalline hurts SO badly! So I assume the only way to balance the chemicals is with a med. I'm trying to wean-off Effexor now, it's pooped-out on me, I'm not sure what else to try.
Posted 1/17/2009 12:43 AM (GMT 0)

Hi mdv159

Welcome to HealingWell and the A & P Forum. I am Kitt.

A combination of therapy and medications has helped me.  Also to remember I have had anxiety for 26 years and I will always continue to keep on learning new ways to deal with it but my best way is to remember to stay in the moment.

When we are fully in the present moment our minds are focused on what we are doing and not frantically jumping from the past to the future.

When we are focused on the task at hand, we do things for the joy of doing them, and not because we expect anything in return for our action. When we do this, even small and seemingly insignificant things can become acts of joy and beauty.

It's really important for myself to be able to stay in the moment. I have found that by avoiding things like dwelling on past mistakes or worrying about the future I am usually able to get done what needs to get done when it needs to get done.

Again a warm welcome to you.

Kitt

Posted 1/17/2009 12:45 AM (GMT 0)

hekofaride said...
Georgie Girl, can I ask you what medication helped you? This adrenalline hurts SO badly! So I assume the only way to balance the chemicals is with a med. I'm trying to wean-off Effexor now, it's pooped-out on me, I'm not sure what else to try.

I take Lamictal for mood stabilization and Celexa and Wellbutrin as antidepressants.  It was Zyprexa that finally stopped my anxiety.  I don't even have to take it every day.  But within 2 hours of my first dosage, the severe anxiety went away.  I still get anxious but it's not debilitating like it was.
Posted 1/17/2009 12:50 AM (GMT 0)
I take Xanax and keep myself (my brain) as busy as possible and try to stay as much in the moment as I can.  CBT (cognitive behavior therapy) has really started working for me now.  It's taken a lot of time and re-training and practice but it does work.

Posted 1/17/2009 3:50 PM (GMT 0)
When my anxiety is mild, deep breathing and distractions often help. When I get focused on a central thought (as I did last night), I tend to lean on my "safe person" a little more (in my case, the Mrs.) and try very hard to distract myself. If no distractions are available, it usually leads to days of obsessing that takes a lot to break out of.

One thing I try to work on daily is being an under-reactor. Usually I overreact to everything and that keeps my heart rate and blood pressure high and makes it harder to relax. I look at every situation, every issue, to be a chance to underreact and keep calm, and that often helps. (Let me tell you, with five kids, underreacting is one of the best tools you can have at your disposal!)

I also have a relaxation CD, and I am slowly working my way through a very excellent program designed by Lucinda Basset. It's helping quite a bit. I also see a therapist every two weeks, which is very cathartic.
Posted 1/17/2009 4:35 PM (GMT 0)
I love your idea of underreacting 'grimmly' - gonna try that theory :-) Distraction is the major key for me, Meds work too, Counselling over the years has helped greatly - gaining skills, but these days it seems that 'Rescue remedy' (Bach) seems to take the edge off anxiety - either drops or lozenge..it's really a case of trial and error...but once you find the key life becomes so much easier :-)

Maree

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