[AdamAW]

Gees, no one ever does this for fun do they?

I am a big fan of this site and visit often, but still experience a bit of resistance to taking the step of writing a thread to try to reach out for a bit of support.

Anxiety has been getting the better of me. I am in the final year of a social work degree. It has been going well. Conditions are good for me to potentially pass.

I want to succeed too much. This is my self-diagnosis of my problem. Even writing this has started to help me to see things in a bit more perspective.

I need to relax. I must learn to relax. It is difficult when you feel that your future is a stake. That things could go badly wrong.

Oh dear. I am just experiencing anxiety. That is all. It will pass. Please! I hope!

[Aunt Donna]

Believe in yourself. I know the feeling of going to school with anxiety issues. I finally got my degree at age 40 after dropping out the first time when I was 20 due to major anxiety problems.

[sundog]

Hi Adam, It sounds like you have a really good handle on this situation. Even though understanding more about the dynamics of our anxiety doesn't necessarily make the anxiety go away, it's definitely very helpful to have a sense of what is going on and why!! It puts us back in the driver's seat and makes it easier to try and do something to help ourselves, instead of feeling totally powerless.

I really hope you're able to find some ways to relax. Personally I find exercise and meditation helpful. Sometimes I listen to guided visualization CDs too. I'm not sure how bad your anxiety is, but obviously therapy and meds are other options. I've had to go that route to manage my issues.

Good luck with your degree! Let us know how it's all going!

[Gus1234U]

Dear Adam,, thanks for posting, i know that every act of personal courage is a souvereign cure to anxiety, one act at a time. if you would like to learn some relaxation skills, guided imagery, etc. i would be glad to share a few i know and use.

the basics, you may have heard, begin with managing the breath, by watching it and counting on the out-breath ~ 1001, 1002, 1003,, (as long as you can keep your focus, and if you loose it start again); Delay ~ put off taking any action, just allow yourself to feel the panic; Distract yourself, when you have a bit of stability, read anything in front of your eyes, or look down, what colors do you see ? name them, count them,, what shapes ? name them, count them... notice where in your body you have stored tension ~ starting out at the edges with fingers and toes, hands and feet, legs and arms, etc,,, flex and relax each muscle, move gently to break loose any stiffness; then deepen your breathing and increase your field of view, gradually as you feel comfortable...

i have found these to be very effective Panic First Aid techniques... tho you might want to write out a little pocket note and carry with you for a while, til you are strong in using them. don't wait for a panic attack or anxiety to start, begin practicing right away.

as for sleeping, if you feel anxious, and have racing thoughts, focus your mind on a pleasant place or activity and daydream,,, imagine doing something that is interesting, in great detail, and vivid color, and keep bringing it back and continuing it until you find yourself asleep. if your body is also tense, repeat the above relaxation exercise, and add a feeling of heaviness to each part as you flex and relax it, until you are as heavy as a rock, sinking into the warm mud of contentment.

i find skills to be adequate to meet needs, and prefer them to chemicals,,, hope to meet you sometime in chats,, Gus

[cefd8212]

I can relate to how you are feeling. I am a college sophmore and the pressure from the semester ending soon is eating away at me. The added work load, and upcoming exams are causing me to worry almost all the time. I panic, my heart rate increases and i get a big adrenaline rush.

A coping mechanism I use when I start to feel anxious is take a step back, relax, play some music and try not to think about everything. Also talking to friends help even though they say not to worry except you still worry inside of your head because you cannot control it.