Any ideas on dealing with intrusive anxious thoughts, GP is aware of my probs, came off AD in May.

[Pennylayne]

Hi ...My anxiety is sky high right now.... I've just joined this site, I get trapped at times in a cycle of intrusive negative thoughts but I don't suffer panic attacks, it's a sort of downwards spiral and I try very hard to overcome them, does anyone have any new suggestions other than breathing techniques and focusing on the positive etc ? Social situations and even going shopping for food is difficult when I am in a bad phase.

[student3]

Breathing techniques would be my first port of call but if your in a social situation it can be slightly odd to start 'calm breaths' as my therapist used to call it. I read an article about a year ago about clenching and gave it a whirl and got good results. It's just tensing different muscles and then relaxing them. Start from your feet and work up clenching your muscles really tight, holding for ten seconds and then relaxing them. Work up the body finishing with the hands...

I would also suggest having a chat with your GP about doing a course of CBT. It really helped me out and it sounds like it could help you too

Good luck x

[stewartmays1]

yeah cbt is very good you learn to let the attacks happen and run their course ect

[Pennylayne]

Thanks for the replies........I don't suffer with panic attacks though, my anxiety is in the form of dark thoughts and waking at night and in the early morning with a sort of doom/death feeling. This can then lead to those racing thoughts which are so hard to 'turn off' thought I do my best. I have physical symptoms too in my stomach etc caused by the stress hormones probably. I avoid the phone though it's not too bad if people phone me. Sometimes I'm nervous of traffic and sudden noises.

I came off antidepressants after 5 years in May and have found it a lot more difficult since.

I agree with what you say about trying to relax your muscles student3. You will often find that even your face muscles are all clenched especially your jaw and you can't relax if you're like that. I learned that clenching thing too in yoga and it does work to relax muscles. I also use yoga breathing at times which helps a little.