Hey everyone, I hope you all are doing well today. I wanted to share with all of you the couple of things I have learned with dealing with my anxiety. My anxiety would get so bad I was begging to pass out from it, it all came to ahead when I was at work one day I had an attack at work and ended up passing out in our back room. I don't know how long I was out for but my customers ended up calling the cops to check on me. Later that day I had another episode I was trying to get outside to get air but I ended up on the floor again. I started seeking help not to long after finding out that my Major Depression Disorder (MDD) was a disability that for some reason changed my outlook These are the tips I learned from my therapist and other group sessions that's helped with anxiety, these are in no particular order numbering them is just easier for me because I like list.
1. Counting your senses.
The first thing I was told when I feel an attack coming on was to find five things I can see, four things I can touch, three things I can hear, two things I can smell, one thing I can taste. This process I loved a lot at the begging, it forced me to take time away form what every racing thought I couldn't get out of my mind. Saying the items out loud making sure I'm not saying the same objects over again the one problem I would say was taste, I always just drank water.
2. Studying Stoics
There is a lot of great resources out their for looking up Stoic philosophy and practices. For me its a practice I'm all to familiar with being in AA, but when you are reading from Marcus Aurelius "Meditations" you realize not much has changed in the couple thousand years. You are going to have people that are jerks to you, you will have obstacles that seem to unbearable, trials that just seem so unfair. What Stoicism has been teaching me is that you don't need to hide from your felling's and bottle them down its the opposite. If you accept the situation for what it is allowing yourself to feel the emotions yet keeping them checked, the situation does not have to control you. As previously mentioned I recommend Marcus Aurelius "Meditations", Ryan Holiday "The Obstacle is the Way", Epictetus "Discourses". You can also find Ryan Holidays Youtube channel The Daily Stoic and lot of other amazing stoic channels as well.
3. Opening Up to Others
This one can be really scarry I was terrified to tell my coworkers what was going on with me, however I had to tell them that I was not doing well and that I'm seeking help. Wouldn't you know it they actually cared, like a lot. Asking me if there was anything they can do changing shift schedule, needing time off, my assistant manger even went as far as texting me when I was off just to make sure I was okay. If your like me with no friends to call on opening up to anyone can prove life saving, telling my coworkers what was going on with me reveled I was loved and people did care for me.
4. Spending Time Outside
One of the biggest things that helped me was in a group session, when I start feeling my anxiety build it may be do to my current environment. Something triggering a memories either obvious or subtle. Getting outdoors when they start and removing myself from the area before the attack starts picking up.
5. Putting Trust in God
Finally I started putting my faith and trust in God again, letting him take control and knowing that times can get tough but he is their to share the burden with me. Not take it way but to allow his love to keep me steadfast.
Thank you to everyone here, I wish you all the best on our journeys.
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