Anxiety bad habits?

Just wondering if anyone has any specific bad habits, or notice you do certain things when you're feeling anxious, panicky or stressed?

Mines a bit odd - I pull my eyelashes out
No idea why I do this, but I do it without realising when I'm worrying about something and only notice when I go to put make-up on and there's no eyelashes left!!

Chewing the inside of my cheeks, biting the skin at sides of my fingernails.

Here are a couple of resources on the skin picking and hair pulling habit. These are actually fairly common and are associated with anxiety/OCD.
S.C.

http://www.trich.org/


http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/trichotillomania/basics/definition/con-20030043

Hibee - I actually don't feel it because I do it without realising! Guessing it would hurt though!

Welcome scaredsweetpea!

I also do the inside cheek biting! Always looks like I'm pulling faces at people! Lol

Thanks for the links S.C

Cornell, I love when you post because it usually cracks me up.

Let's see, my bad habit is actually acting like I'm freaking out. The second I have a panic attack I start fidgeting and fanning myself with my hand to get more air. My doctor said I have to stop because I'm encouraging the panic by letting my body freak out and on top of that, I probably look like a nutcase having some sort of strange hot flash!

CT,

I do the pulse thing too! My husband and my therapist both yell at me for doing this all the time!!

I have some frustration with some of these apps coming out. Stuff like checking your HR? Aaagghhh! They have a place and a time, but it's not on the wrists of people who have HA. For real. In a big way. Huge!

If you have cardiac issues, if you're using it for a personal training program, or your doctor has prescribed it, then,.....yep, okay, I'll bite. But otherwise, yeeesh! They can create way more focus and vigilance than is necessary and end up being counter-productive.

My unprofessional, personal (yet life-experienced) advise? Toss those suckers in the bin!

Think of it this way: What are you *doing* with the information? What purpose does it fulfill? What use is it providing? If the answer is: Well it amps me up and gives me anxiety and causes me to check my HR a bazillion times during the day, then, uhm, well,....big whoopsie!

There are more constructive ways to pass time. For real!





M.


EDIT: Everyone know Grumpy Cat? Yuh-huh, well that'd be me. Even on a day when my emotions are less than effusive. I'm a clencher. I pinch my lips tight and clench my jaw so I always look royally peeved off at the world. But on the plus side, I don't get harassed by onlookers....

I bite my nails....have since I was 9 years old.