Anxiety Advice

[Lostbuthopeful]

My anxiety has been through the roof today. It started this morning immediately when I woke up at 6am then tossed and turned for 3 hrs because my mind wouldn’t stop racing. My heart was pounding and my chest was heavy. I’ve tried to distract myself with YouTube and movies, but I just feel like I’m going to throw up.

Somebody please help me with techniques or something. Anything. The only problem is my options are limited because I’m currently in a walking boot so I can’t take a walk or go for a drive to get my mind off of things. I have klonopin for emergencies but I want to avoid medicating and begin learning to cope on my own.

Any advice is appreciated.

[Justadetour]

I’m sorry to hear this! I know exactly how you feel .. sometimes my mind just won’t quit no matter what I do and I get so anxious! I haven’t myself found a remedy yet. Sometimes exercise helps but other times when it’s not feasible to exercise I’m not sure what helps! Maybe doing anything that you enjoy (that you can still do currently) would help calm your mind or listen to some good music !

[Lostbuthopeful in reply to Justadetour]

Thank you. I will continue to explore different ways to get my mind off of things and hopefully something works. I guess this is a good experience to learn what can calm me in situations where I’m not able to physically distract myself.

[Justadetour in reply to Lostbuthopeful]

Yes! It will be great for us! We will learn about ourselves and be able to have those coping mechanisms so we can live healthier 💕

[Agora1]

Hi Lostbuthopeful, Sorry you're in a walking boot right now but we can have you escape mentally and not physically until you heal.

You have to believe that you have the power within yourself to calm your body, mind, blood pressure and heart all with practice.

"YouTube" can be an essential tool if practiced multiple times daily. By doing this, your mind and body will automatically go into survival mode as it accepts and adjusts to the physical symptoms.

Finding the right audio videos to watch are important. I tend to lean towards the ones that talk me through my meditation. When we are overly anxious it is difficult to listen to

relaxation music on our own since our minds will wander. Listening to a calming and soothing voice guiding us not only works the first time but each time after that, immediately upon hearing that voice, it will be a reassurance and you will feel safe.

A few of the videos I use myself that I hope might help you are:

"Sympathetic Breathing Meditation" by the Quiet Mind Café

"Guided Meditation Blissful Inner Peace" by the Honest Guys

"Mindfulness 3 minute Meditation" by the Honest Guys

"Sinking & Slowing Breathing Meditation" by the Quiet Mind Café

There are many others that will provide the peace of mind and body as

you find what works best for you. Never give up. As your username states,

stay "hopeful" xx

[Lostbuthopeful in reply to Agora1]

Thank you so much. I’m visiting family/friends for a surprise birthday party for someone and people are starting to get here so it was enough of a distraction to calm down a bit. But I’m not my usual self so I’ve now secluded myself in one of the rooms because I don’t want to bring the mood down. I’ve always had high-functioning anxiety and depression, but for some reason my new medication doesn’t even allow me to fake it. I don’t want to hear all of the, “What’s wrong?” “Cheer up” “You seem so down” and everything else.

I’m almost about to give up on this new medication even though it’s only been two weeks. I think this whole experience has made me realize that my anxiety is more of an issue than my depression. And that my depression might be a result of the guilt/emotions I feel after an anxiety attack/outburst. But then I have noticed an improvement in my energy, no longer need naps and don’t struggle to get out of bed in the mornings.

I’m just all over the place and there’s no light at the end of the tunnel right now. 😞 But I will definitely save those videos because anything is worth a shot right now. I really appreciate your comforting words and advice.

[Agora1 in reply to Lostbuthopeful]

Enjoy the birthday surprise party, try to get lost in it.

We are right here if you need a boost or a little "hug" xx