Grizzly pooh
Good Morning and I hope you are feeling better this morning. It is a tough call on the Valium........I do not think you did anything wrong in using the Valium but perhaps a different anxiolytic would meet your needs better. Xanax may work better for you or Klonopin? I would discuss it with your physician.
I am a sufferer of chronic anxiety. In the past I sought out professional help, but now use many practical methods on my own to reduce anxiety. The main objective is remembering what you are capable of doing.
One method professional counselors use to help reduce anxiety is to get the person to limit the amount of "stressors" in their daily life. Psychologists call this avoidance learning. The main idea of avoidance learning is when you know there is something causing stress and anxiety in your life, you need to make an extra effort to avoid the situation or object.
Another way to reduce anxiety is to change your thought patterns.............in other words stop the "Stinkin Thinkin". :)
To change thought patterns limit your time spent thinking. Find a hobby or a distraction that you enjoy, preferably one that has a high degree of mental concentration. Painting and drawing are good examples. With both these activities, your mind is on the task at hand so you have very little time to picture or think about what causes you stress. The main point is to find something you enjoy that can be done for a long period of time.
I hope these bits of advise are helpful to you.
Gentle Hugs to you,
Kitt