I am no professional, that is for sure. I am here to deal with my mental health issues, of which I am not embarrassed. For that, I thank my parents. They seemed ahead of the curve all through my childhood and it has helped.

My only suggestions when the anxiety is just beginning is to call a friend and see how their day is going. That is what I do. I focus on them, as a friend. I hear the good and the bad and while I am involved with my friend, my anxiety level almost always goes down.

Then, there are the times between my weekly appointments with my psychiatrist. I try a few things. One of them is called "cues." For the times when I can feel the anxiety working to take over, I call my doctor's voicemail. I am not leave a message, but, his voice is a cue to me and I begin to mellow out. And, I do the same with my partner and my close friends. It is a stop-gap measure, but it works for me.

And, if I still can't get to my doctor, I first pray to my Higher Spirit, then I call on a friend and tell them the condition I am in and that I need their help. Usually it is about 15 minutes later when there is my friend at the front door. We just let me talk it out to my friend, who never comments, but lets me get it out and then focus it back on me as if someone were coming to me with the same issue. I work through what I would suggest to them.

I realize these are not the best answers, but, I have found that I have more help than I ever realized and I will use it, I have no choice.

Just some ideas. You can always drop me a line and just let out what you are feeling.

All the best - really.