How to deal with anxiety?

Hi, I'm new here (you can call me Ash). I'm 23 and looking for a bit of input/advice regarding how to deal with panic attacks/anxiety/etc aside from going to see a professional.
I've found some resources online, but nothing's really the same as talking to real people who've been through these things.

I've never been officially diagnosed, but I really believe that I have an anxiety problem. From what I've read and looked at, I'd assume GAD. For a long time I've been the person in my group of friends that worries about everything, to the point where it can really keep me down. I was getting past it for quite some time, but in the past several months it's gotten worse and worse, and now I'm at the point where I've started getting absolutely crippling panic attacks. At work, while out, while working out, or at home - I'll start thinking about my stressors (the main one right now being my financial situation, though it seems to me that I worry over any and everything), and suddenly my chest gets tight and breathing gets hard. The attacks can be long or short, but they're always pretty bad.

People tell me to just stop worrying so much, but it's like I can't really help it anymore, and it's interrupting my life. I don't like feeling like this, and feeling absolutely hopeless. I want things to get better but every day all I can think about is everything that's wrong and I'm afraid to the point where I don't know how I can really function normally anymore. I can feel other people in my life getting sick of it, and I'm sick of it too.

I'm not sure I can afford seeing someone at this point (if I could I'd have gone long ago), and I was wondering what other people do in their daily lives to get them through? I can't do this anymore. I don't want to suffer from panic attacks and I don't want to be/feel miserable all the time.
I've tried working out when I'm feeling too stressed, and sometimes that helps a lot, but with how extreme my panic's been lately, I'm rarely able to do much except sit down and hyperventilate.

Thanks to anyone who can share some of their methods.
I'm glad I decided to start searching - at some point I started to feel like no one else understands what I'm going through, and it's comforting to know that places like this exist.

Thank you for the response and for the tips. I'm going to start reading up more on this, for sure. I'm hoping to get myself into some new habits that help me curb the anxiety a little bit. If I can lessen the panic attacks, I feel like I'm not only going to feel much better, but that I'll be able to accomplish more when things get difficult.

I'm hoping to look into options for therapy and see if I can find something affordable. I'll go forward from here with some of these ideas in mind!

mocha,

Hello and welcome to HealingWell. I am so glad you found us and I know you will find the members kind and caring, wise and wonderful.

 

I am Kitt and I have a 30 year history of anxiety, depression, PTSD and yes I have a tendency to be obsessive and complulsive especially when it comes to worrying.

If you’re a chronic worrier, relaxation techniques such as progressive muscle relaxation, deep breathing, and meditation can help. Since it’s impossible to be anxious and relaxed at the same time, strengthening your body’s relaxation response is a powerful worry-busting tactic. Hello and welcome to HealingWell. I am so glad you found us and I know you will find the members kind and caring, wise and wonderful.

With its focus on full, cleansing breaths, deep breathing is a simple, yet powerful, relaxation technique. It’s easy to learn, can be practiced almost anywhere, and provides a quick way to get your stress levels in check. Deep breathing is the cornerstone of many other relaxation practices, too, and can be combined with other relaxing elements such as aromatherapy and music. All you really need is a few minutes and a place to stretch out.

There are many breathing exercises but here is one that SC posted that the members like so I am posting it for you.

The Divided Breath: 

Imagine your lungs as having 3 parts. The bottom third, the middle, and top third. On the inhale fill the bottom third first, then the middle and finally the third. Make sure that this is one continuous breath, but divided, with a slight pause in between each third. Hold the breath in for 3-5 seconds if possible.

Exhale in reverse. First blow out the top third, then the middle, and finally the bottom third of your lungs until all air is expelled. (Remember the pauses) Repeat several rounds for a total of about 10 minutes. Practicing this every day will not only give you control and structure to your breathing, it will strengthen and loosen the thoracic muscles, allowing better, more productive breathing, and relieving the chest tightness!

Let us know how you are doing and remember we are open 24/7 so post away your feelings and know that someone will be along.

Again, a warm welcome.

Kitt