Hi jmo,

Yes, what you describe is familiar to me.

I found that thinking of relaxing places wasn't the best strategy in my case. What I have done is visualise myself as a determined survivor, coping with the anxiety, and always remaining after the storms. I focus on the surviving me, and not on the rubbish that the anxiety chucks my way. I think of myself as neither a winner or a loser, but as a survivor.

I don't hope that the anxiety will go away, I just stay with whatever comes. Gradually, this method has weakened the panic, and over time I have learned to go through it, just walk on.

My daughter calls it "doing it packhorse style." She always had a good way with words.

We can reduce this stuff, with a good therapist, with medication, and with help from fellow travellers. It can be done.

Good thoughts to you, Myzen