How Do You Work Through Your Anxiety?

[catjudo]

I know I'm not feeling anything that others here don't deal with routinely so I'm hoping to maybe get some different ideas on how to deal with it. I am a very anxious person. The worst times are when there is a huge ball of anxiety in the pit of my stomach but I can't put my finger on what, exactly, it is I'm anxious about. I find it impossible to focus on something else (reading, hobby, etc) enough to allow it to distract me from my anxiety. I can't leave my house when I feel like this because being in public around other people either makes me jumpier and more anxious or I completely disconnect from myself and everything around me. I have benzos but I'd really rather not take that route if I don't absolutely have to. So what am I doing wrong? What is it about my mindset that I need to change in order to work through this overwhelming anxiety?:dontknow:

 

[ga yankee]

Have you talked to your therapist about relaxation stuff? That is a big part of my therapy right now because I'm the exact same way. I'm out of work because I can't handle the stress or even being around people sometimes. I laugh if my husband asks me if I want to go to the mall. I do deep breathing...if I'm home alone I close my eyes and just breathe. Can't do it in public because I can't close my eyes and sometimes I wonder if I'm even breathing. I pet my dogs....just total concentration on them. Sometimes I just hop in the car or on the motorcycle because it gives me a sense of control....having a little control helps me settle the hell down!

 

[Mick]

I just have to get away from people and put on some mellow music and breath. At the store I'll just walked away from my cart and leave. I'll sit in my car until I calm down enough to drive. But quite often I end up taking Valium sometimes enough to really put me down sometimes just enough to take the edge off.

 

[map9]

Sometimes anxiety feeds on itself. How is your self talk in your head? Ruminating on the why and dwelling on the answers seems futile, or at least it does for me. I put on good music and clean. Wax on wax off type cleaning. Nothing too involved just monotonous. When I had horses I would clean stalls. Driving in a pretty area is good but with the price of gas that has become a no no. Gardening is really good. Going to a movie that is funny. So are pets, they ask for so little and we get so much from them in the form of unconditional love. Find something you love, I mean really enjoy doing. Then when you can muster up the fortitude, just do it, painting or drawing, writing poetry, cooking, playing an instrument, whatever you choose it shifts the focus of the anxiety out of your mind and you are able to cope better. Then your not dwelling on the anxiety constantly. The worst I got into the anxiety the more depression followed. I don't EVER want to go back there! Read up on anxiety and how to cope with it. Just don't get anxious reading about it!

 

[redtriskell]

Slowly. Sometimes with measured breathing. Sometimes by just riding the wave and allowing myself to feel horribly anxious for awhile. Sometimes I turn up Queen as loud as it will go without distortion and sing along with Freddy. (He's a MUCH better singer than I am) Sometimes I cry. Sometimes I do art. Sometimes I literally walk around the house- outside until I slow down some. Nothing works every time. At least not for me. I wrote a list of things that help calm me; when I feel overwhelmed, I start at the top and try each thing until one of them works. So far I haven't had to go all the way to the bottom... keeping my fingers crossed. red