(((DPS))) You will be okay.

I have an increase in anxiety whenever there are thunderstorms around, having been disabled during one. Then, when hurricanes are heading this way, I feel frozen inside from fear, though I can function and look "normal" on the outside. It's the PTSD from the original disabling injury.

First I learned to "allow" the emotions. Trying to stuff or fight them--or even reason them away--made them worse. So I try to "accept" that this occurs, won't last forever, won't harm me, is natural for me in such a situation, etc.

Then, I added in an herb to help me calm and to also counteract the cortisol that seems to run constantly through my body (holy basil.) My MD recently added ashwangandha to this mix, which also does the same as holy basil. Once I realize I'm frozen with fear and it's "just" my body's response to exterior elements, I take more of those herbs and find some relief.

I agree, you sound overwhelmed. Whether it's from depression and something else etc doesn't matter when you're feeling that way, right? If you can take time to actually sit with them, sit down and focus on them and be okay with how you are feeling (not make yourself quit feeling them but accepting that you are feeling them), breathe and tell yourself some affirming comments (I'll be okay, this won't kill me, this too shall pass, I'm overwhelmed but doing good) then try and put the "reasons" on the shelf and go on with your day (or to bed if time) ... I think they will lose some of their grip.

Breathe hon.