Severe aniexty

[anxiousgirl7]

Has anyone gotten over severe aniexty???

[Ctate96]

You can’t just get over severe anxiety. But in March I was diagnosed with Panic Disorder and after getting on meds and therapy life is bearable again.

[anxiousgirl7 in reply to Ctate96]

That’s what I was wondering, I’ve seen a lot of people say they recover completely and never feel anxious again. But I can’t imagine that

[Beevee in reply to anxiousgirl7]

You can recover. Anxiety is a natural human response designed to protect us from imminent danger. Its brilliant at what it does and is there for us when it is called upon. The only difference between an anxiety sufferer and those who don't suffer is the severity and frequency of those anxious feeelings. This happens when a person's involuntary nervous system becomes highly sensitised due to stress or a series of stressors. People become alarmed about the symptoms caused by sensitisation and stress and worry about them. This makes the situation worse and they get more stressed about being stressed. Fear then enters into the equation and keeps those nerves sensitised and the whole anxiety cycle going.

To overcome anxiety, so that it returns to normal levels and totally appropriate for the circumstances (e.g. not fearing going shopping or their health), learn to accept the symptons which is the same as learning to lose your fear of them. Fear is the only reason why anxiety becomes chronic because it feeds straight back to the brain which keeps a sufferer's nerves on full alert to danger and sensitised. When you learn to stop fearing the symptoms, it gives your mind and body the chance it needs to recover and for all anxiety symptoms to fade away. It takes time to develop a new attitude to truly accept the symptoms instead of fearing them and trying anything to avoid feeling uncomfortable. It is the trying that keeps people stuck instead of letting themselves feel anxious and not doing anything about it.

So, anyone can recover from anxiety if they understand how anxiety manifests itself, that the symptoms, although scary (at first) are completely harmless and to give up the fight. Sufferers literally need to step out of the way of themselves and learn not to interfere with the natural recovery process taking place. By not interfering, I mean, observing the symptoms, letting them be there for as long as it takes, instead of using any sort of technique to try and stop feeling those anxious feelings. By not doing anything about it, you are allowing all that negative energy to be released until there is no more to release. The result is that thoughts and feelings return to normal intensity I.e. peace of mind and body.

[Hidden in reply to Beevee]

What Beevee said!

I'm 57 and have had anxiety and panic for the majority of my life. Each time an anxious state becomes more intense, I have a vast set of tools to help me recognize and move through the experience. Anxiety is a normal human state of mind that never "goes away", but those of us who suffer anxiety in a heightened state are largely scaring ourselves with our normal feelings. Its not having anxiety, but how you react to it. If you react to anxiety in a fearful way, you will be afraid. If you learn how to accept it, then not make it worse by being afraid of it, then letting time pass, the feelings won't be so intense.

This takes time, and sometimes more time than you'd care to endure. But its all about acceptance. Think of acceptance as a self loving and compassionate feeling that says, "I accept this anxiety and I have a right to be anxious."

This approach helped me to experience waves of anxiety and panic without getting more upset by them.

Empower yourself to be fully human...anxiety and all.

Bat.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Did you ever try meds

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I have at times and have not at other times. I prefer to not be on meds and to work with my anxiety and not let it scare me or push me around.

[mz_rachel in reply to Hidden]

I like your words and it’s helping me with my anxiety atm

[Labanino]

Yes, you can get over 'severe anxiety' and without medications.

[Hidden in reply to Labanino]

How?

[Beevee in reply to Hidden]

By accepting the symptoms instead of fearing them. Read any book by Dr Claire Weekes or At Last a Life by Paul David...or any other book that advocates acceptance. Anxiety is a learned behaviour (albeit unwittingly) which means it can be reversed. Medication can help and provide temporary relief from the symptoms but unless the anxiety sufferer loses their fear of them, the door is left open for the symptoms to return, because they still fear them. Fear is the root cause of all anxiety related disorders. Lose the fear and recovery will follow. This is why acceptance is the very best tranquilliser but does take time to develop the right attitude to let go of the symptoms which then gives the mind and body the time and space to recover, which it will do, if you let it.

[designguy]

Absolutely. I had panic attacks, severe anxiety and social anxiety disorder for years and no longer suffer from any of it anymore. I now have normal feelings of fear, anger, sadness, grief, etc... and try to allow those to surface and pass without repressing them or fearing them, which causes the anxiety.

As simple as it sounds... you don't get over anxiety disorder, you accept it - is the key. It takes learning, understanding and commitment but it is definitely achievable.