How do you guys cope with Anxiety?

[randomguyWanxiety]

I always had anxiety but my anxiety got worse recently. I got diagnosed with GAD. Now, I feel scared and hopeless, restlessness. How do you guys cope up with it? I did start my medication starting today but how do I get better naturally as well?

[Agora1]

Hi randomguy...Medication can be a start to you breaking the cycle of your fear but itdoes take some time to work. Meanwhile, addressing the cause of your anxiety more

recently can help get to the root of the problem. Therapy along with meds can support

you through this adjustment.

Non-medical steps to take can be finding other methods to relax your mind and body.

My "go to" has always been YouTube. You will find professional advice in what has

worked for others. Meditation and Breathing, Mindfulness, Self-Hypnosis, Relaxation

Therapy, Reiki, Affirmations etc.

Our Anxiety starts with a thought that then escalates to bodily symptoms. Using our

breathing can be the "key" in lowering the adrenaline rush and getting you back into

a state of calm. With practice, it can happen faster than a pill can work.

The idea is in not allowing anxiety to take over control of your mind. We can do this by

accepting that anxiety is not dangerous. It can and will run it's course and then leave.

What will be left is free floating anxiety feelings which can be controlled through using

other methods on a daily basis. Work with your medication and not against it.

In time, you can win over anxiety's game of "what if"

Welcome to this support forum. We are happy to have you here with us xx

[randomguyWanxiety in reply to Agora1]

Thank you! I've finally accepted that I need help with it. I was kind of afraid to take medicine. Now, I'm ready to deal with it and fight my anxiety.

[designguy in reply to randomguyWanxiety]

One of the things that flipped the switch for me with anxiety was realizing I had been taught to approach it the wrong way. You don't heal and recover from it by fighting it, you heal by learning to accept and no longer fear the anxious thoughts and feelings. Fighting, struggling, trying to out think it all just serve to fuel the anxiety more so learn to surrender to it and let it flow through you.

I found the DARE Anxiety book and youtube videos very helpful and I really like their phone app. Also learning and practicing mindfulness can help you realize that you are not your anxious thoughts and feelings and be able to detach from them.

[fauxartist]

One day at a time, sometimes from moment to moment... knowledge is power, read, go to therapy, find groups, this place is a gold mine of information with people who actually are also trying to survive... read what others have done... it helps... it's changed my life.

[Kamgal5]

Read “ Hope and Help for your Nerves” or “Dare”. Great starting point.

[QuiltLady]

I like watching Therapy in a Nutshell on YouTube. She has some helpful videos. I also have to tell myself things like, "this too shall pass". If you have time check out those videos!

[Daveacr1959]

They say anxiety is related to our fight or flight response. Things that help me. I start every morning with the Wim Hof guided breathing exercises free on you tube. I rinse in cold water 5 minutes after my shower. You can do a slow taper from cool to cold over a couple months. If it’s just cool water stay in 10 minutes. I get 40 minutes of cardio exercise to produce endorphins. This somehow puts the fight or flight response in a better state for me.

[CL3V3R-G1RL]

For me what helped was talk therapy, setting little goals for myself like "walk to the end of the block and back". Medication and I recently downloaded an app called DARE there's also a book too DARE by Barry McDonagh has helped me to accept things about my anxiety and remind myself of things I have already accomplished. To not be afraid of my anxiety. Whatever happens, happens but rest assured I'll be okay, I'm still here.

[Mikam1967]

For me, I thought I just had depression. But because of the constant stress and emotional pain my ex gave me, i ended up with the diagnosis of bipolar. I couldn't control my emotions. I definitely needed medications. It helped a little. At least my emotions weren't out of whack, but I still have bad days. Medications itsn't a cure all for our conditions. But it does help. Be strong and hang in there. We were all where you're at and some of us are still fighting. Talk to your family or friends and see if they have any advice. Or may be try talking to your doctor and see if he has a new suggestion. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. Sending lots of hugs and hope and encouragement.