I've been sitting here trying to fight off an anxiety attack and after awhile i finally get myself calm enough to catch a breath, only for it to start over again not too long after. This has been going on for a few hours now and I don't know what to do. I can't sleep so I thought maybe I'd turn to here for support and a distraction.
~S~
My daughter has this problem. She deals with it by pacing. Walking around the yard or on the street. Often in the dark. She also will just sit outside in a quiet place and breathe fresh air...also even at night if required. Maybe that could help you too. I hope it stops soon.
I actually do go outside for awhile for the fresh air. It does calm me and makes it easier to breathe. Sometimes like last night tho, being outside is only a temporary fix and once I come back inside it feels like my throat is closing up. It doesn't happen a lot so I haven't learned how to cope with it yet once it gets that bad.
~S~
Yeh. It's temporary for her too which is why sometimes she stays up all night! Perhaps focusing on the idea that it WILL pass could help. Because logically, it will pass and you've just got to make it through. I have depression and I learnt that lesson. It is definitely one of the more powerful ideas in dealing with mental health issues. We get caught in the moment and our brains go haywire that we feel this is all there ever will be... Anxiety and depression both take over like that. Allowing yourself to let go a bit and focus on the logic of this being just a thing that's happening and it will stop eventually gives you permission to experience it and just wait. For depression this "letting go" idea made recovery faster and easier. It might work for anxiety too, although anxiety is a lot more acute and unpleasant. I had a huge anxiety attack during a very depressed time and i feel for you now.
Have another distraction for when you come back in, something with a challenge that you can try to beat every time you do it...
For example, try doing ten push ups.. next time twelve and so on.. it doesn't have to be push ups, get something that challenges you.
That's a good idea. I sometimes like to dance at night to release some energy. I haven't tried it after dealing with the anxiety so hopefully between getting fresh air and dancing I'll only have to fight off an attack once that night. Thanks ☺️
~S~
Good luck with it 😊
🎵💃
When I was younger I had anxiety attacks like that... I would sit down and watch tv. I would put on like a kids show or family show that I guess would distract me. I know it sounds corny, but since shows like that are usually positive or funny, would distract me and put me in a better mood.
That's a great idea and more people should try doing the same.. a distraction that can maybe make you laugh.. excellent!
I struggle with this too. When I am in such an extreme state I try to distract myself. This doesnt always work, but sometimes it does. I usually put on a movie or series that I have been wanting to watch. Sometimes I ask a friend to pick me up and go cruise. We usually drive in silence and I just try to get fresh air and focus on calming my heart rate.
I find working with my hands helps. I started making homemade pasta for that reason. It’s not uncommon for me to be cooking in the middle of the night. Maybe there’s some kind of activity you could do that wouldn’t raise your heart rate but still keep you doing something and thus hopefully taking your mind in a different place.
Instead of trying to fight off the anxiety and panic try accepting it and allowing it to be there. I learned this practice from a book called DARE and it’s really helpful. It doesn’t work every time but about 80% of the time it does. You may also want to read that book and try meditation. Meditation helps a lot. None of it cures my anxiety but it does help soothe it
Eva,
I wish I could just go through the motions at the time but often times I'm trying to avoid letting my little ones see me that way. I have to do what I call "a scheduled breakdown" which is when everyone is out of the house, it's then I let myself feel it. I will definitely look into that book and meditation though, I'm willing to try anything at this point. Thanks for the suggestions.
~S~
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