I have had depression on and off for the past 35 years. But since january 2021, I've been getting frightful anxiety crisis. It is not always at the same level but if often becomes intolerable. The I either tough if out or drink alcool, which is bad, I know. I'd like to know how people here deal with anxiety attacks.
Thanks
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Eklektik
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As a recovering alcoholic, please stay away from drinking or any other addictive substances. As far as managing attacks, I try to keep something soft like a stuffed animal or blanket near me. I get really overstimulated and it helps ground me to the moment instead of falling deeper into panic, disassociating, or having a seizure. Something that gets passed around a lot is something along the lines of "5 things you see, 4 things you hear, 3 things you touch, 2 things you smell, and 1 thing you touch". You can look it up to see variations on the method. It is meant to help bring you back to the moment but distract you from the surrounding stimuli. In my case, it helps filter stimuli back in one at a time versus all at once. Hope this helps!
Reading your post again, I notice you talk about being overly stimulated. I had not thought of that, as I try to get something that mobilizes as much of my attention as possible when anxiety is rising. Maybe I should dare go the other way, minimize stimuli. Thanks again.
Eklektik, I suffered for many years with severe anxiety as well as agoraphobia.I learned that it's not a matter of how to tough it out or fight it. The "key" is
accepting it and not allowing anxiety to make you run and fear it.
As you know, it does pass in time, unfortunately than we may go into the anticipatory
anxiety, waiting for when it just may hit us again. Once that happens you are in a
cycle of fear begets fear.
Besides medication and therapy, finding other methods to calm and relax both your
mind and body are immensely helpful. It takes time and retraining your subconscious
mind. But it can be done.
I tried many different methods and to this day use each and everyone in my daily meditation and breathing. I beat anxiety and am in control of my life once more.
Never give up and believe that you can and will regain control once more.
Thank you Agora1. I am perplexed about the idea of accepting anxiety. I don't quite know what it means. Can you explain or give examples? Medication does not help me and I am waiting to get in an anxiety management group. I too meditate. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it makes things worse. Thank you for your words of hope.
Eklektik, I know someone who can explain accepting anxiety better than anyone.It is Dr. Claire Weekes, a psychiatrist who herself suffered from Panic/Anxiety Attacks.
Her research not only helped her but her patients. Her theory is that Acceptance of
Anxiety can calm the "Fight or Flight" response.
Her book is on Amazon or her videos on YouTube.
"Hope & Help for Your Nerves". That was my foundation in getting better.
I still have her book on my desk as reference. With a good foundation, we can
build other methods of help on top of that. Once the foundation is secure
so is our confidence in learning to understand and control our issues in life.
I hope you give it a look. You will believe that she is talking about you lol
There are many of us on the forum who have used her theory. My best xx
Hello Agora1, I already read 8 chapters and it does give me hope! Facing, Accepting, Floating. I am determined to try. Thanks so much for the reference. It resonates with Acceptance Commitment Therapy, which I've used for depression.
I gave acceptance a try this morning on a mildish bout of anxiety. I think I got a bit of it and it gave me an inkling of what it might be when mastered. I realize it is going to take practice but I am determined to give it my best. Have a nice day!
Hi Agora1! I have a question. Is it possible that it feels worse at the beginning when you don't quite know how to accept? I've been practicing on a biggish anxiety crisis this afternoon and it feels terrible. Still, I went to the pharmacy and supermarket despite the magnitude of the crisis. I would not have gone before. A definite victory. Thank you so much for being there. Cheers!
It definitely can be harder at the beginning. That's because your mind has beentrained to react only to anxiety stimuli. What you did this afternoon was the
first step in continuing to go forward pushing anxiety aside.
It doesn't like that and may give you anticipatory anxiety just to keep you under
it's control. Whenever you do succeed in going out of your comfort zone, make
sure you give yourself credit (a pat on the back per se)
I happen to use a treat for myself when accomplishing more than I thought I could
handle. Chocolate is my comfort treat lol
There are many on this forum who have used Dr. Weekes' theory and have gone far.
Listen to other's suggestions. The more you learn, the stronger you get.
Chocolate is wonderful indeed This morning is not good. I have anxiety, am afraid of it, which I am learning is a classic, and dread the day. But am determined to practice acceptance no matter what. Have a nice day!
A lot of the depression many of us are feeling lately comes from the uncertainties over Covid, I find.
The rate of people joining these forums and asking for referrals to psychiatric services has exploded.
Violence, due to frustration has gone way up. Some folk have become feral.
Partly it's because we fear the virus, partly it is the fact that our routines are disrupted and we cannot find a new 'Norm.'
It's going to take awhile yet, until we can get the virus under some semblance of control; conspiracy theorists don't help, as they keep people from doing the sensible thing.
Deep, relaxing breathing has always been the best tool for me, but it doesn't always work well for the more intense anxiety attacks. Research mindfulness meditation - also a good tool, but takes a lot of practice.
45-60 minutes of daily cardio exercise to produce endorphins that battle your anxiety and depression. A 5 minute pure cold shower daily. Hours before bed . It resets the vagus nerve and brain and it calms . First 2 weeks are rough but after that you will crave it.
Indeed good advice. I am at baby steps right now, just going out for a 15 minutes walk. The cold shower is startling but I am willing to try! Thanks for the advice
Yes that’s true. I always read the post to see if the person mentions a disability. They responded back to me saying they were walking 15 minutes. If I overlooked something, or left anyone out I’m sorry. Your advice is always so good and you are always so kind to everyone.
I agree with Agora, the best way to think of anxiety is that it is a paradox, the more you struggle and resist it the more it persists. Most of us with anxiety have an extreme need to be in control and are hyper critical of ourselves. By realizing and accepting that the only real "control" we have in life is over our next breath and the only choice we have is to surrender to life, we start to gain real 'control" of our life by living in the moment. Self-acceptance and self-care and being ok with anxious thoughts and feelings will go a long way to minimizing your anxiety. The bottom line is never believe your anxious thoughts or feelings, they are lies whose role was to protect you but they are no longer required.
Oh yes, one breath at a time. Living in the moment. It sounds simple, but I forget it all the time. Thanks for the whole of your reflexion on not struggling. I don't know how to do that yet but I'll try. Thanks for your advice!
Hi Good for you! Yay! I have clonazepam and quetiapine for anxiety, but they don't work. So sometimes I drink wine, which is a mistake. I got enrolled in a 10 weeks workshop on anxiety self management, and after three weeks, I think I see a difference. This week's session was particularly useful proposing a journal with 6 items, to apply to two situations daily: (1) Activity, (2) Triggers, (3) Manifestation, (4) Anxiety level (from 1 to 10), (5) Strategies, (6) Progress. The entry can be simply 2-3 words for each item. Myself, I write paragraphs! Still, I wish I had some medication that works for when anxiety gets crippling. Thanks for your post and be well!
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