What do YOU do to manage anxiety?

Aside from sri's I take fish oil supplements. The omega 3 fatty acids help.

I got that book years ago too! I loved it! I'm talking, literally, about 25 years ago!! It's a classic. Thanks for reminding me about this (((((Dee)))). I'm going to dig it out. I would definitely recommend this book to others. It may have been written a long time ago, but what this author writes is just as helpful today as ever.

haha its okay. it is valid point though...very true. but dangerous.

On the completely other side of the spectrum....
I bought a stuffed animal yesterday. Yes, for myself. Yes, i'm 35. I really wanted to hang onto something and my husband wasn't around and the cats will only put up with it for so long.

It really helped. weirdly. It's this biggish lion with a nice smile.

That's a good idea Thea. Nothing wrong with a simple creature comfort.

Cyran0

My T tells me to try and not feel overwhlemed by emotions just sit with them and be interested in them rather than trying to get rid of them / block them. Also I am encouraged to do mindfulness, but easier said than done when my head is in a spin - but working on it - I have found Pema Chodron's books helpful - I am also exploring the possibility that I just tend to feel emotions more intensely than most people, so again try to reassure myself when I am feeling panicky that it is OK, than I am OK and it will pass.

I made a remark that I wanted a rubber duckie the other day. So my boyfriend went to dollerama and bought me a plastic duck for the bath. so here I am, a grown woman smiling at a plasic duck in the bath.

I think sometimes it is the small, crazy stupid plaisures that make me smile and distract me from big important bad-crazy stuff
roses

I read something in a book on handling anxiety that is helping me some. It said that when you're anxious about something, you can engage in the following steps:

1) Ask yourself: Is it really MY problem? That might sound a bit strange, but, alas, I sometimes worry/stress out/ get anxious over something that really isn't anything that's my problem. For example, I'm already feeling anxious about my older son's future. He'll be a junior in college this coming year. So, I get into thinking about how he won't get into the Air Force leadership program that he wants to get into, or he won't get into grad school, or if he gets into grad school, then he won't be able to pay for it, etc. The guy is 20 already--technically legally grown. Of course, as a mom, I'm concerned, but good grief, I'm getting way out of line here. Worst case scenario? He moves back home......He is really helpful around the house!

I'm even anxious about a friend of mine whose husband lost his job. Yes, as a good friend, I am concerned, but I don't need to make myself miserable over THEIR problem.

2) If you decide it is your problem, then ask yourself: Is this problem something you can work on right now?

3) If it can be worked on right now, then start doing so. I was upset about a health problem, and I kept putting off dealing with it. I FINALLY made a doctor's appointment and went in. I found myself feeling some relief even after making the appointment. And, of course, MAJOR relief when the doctor told me it wasn't a big issue.

If it's something that can't be addressed right now, then consciously put the issue on the back burner. If it crops up in your thinking, then distract yourself in some way. Or even put a rubber band around your wrist and flick it as a way of making thinking about it undesirable!

I hope this approach will be helpful to somebody else, too!

PAYNE1 - definitely good steps to remember.

I also try to remind myself that 99% of the things I worry about happening - don't happen!

Thanks, Caretaker! I have wanted so much to get off of Klonopin (it's much more powerful than valium), but I'm trying not to worry about that now. But, I am really glad to see this thread. I realize, in looking back, that these steps wouldn't likely work during a panic attack, but I think they could help keep one from building up sometimes. I get so annoyed with myself for worrying, since, like you, I find that most of the things I worry about never happen.

I'm historically one of those people who just seem to have to have something to worry about. I blame it on my parents! (ha) But I am trying to work on it and will check back here later, hoping that some other people will post some more "anti-anxiety" helps!