[Softballjunkie8]

It seems that some days are better than other. I suffer from Panic disorder and it seems like a roller coaster ride. Some days I feel I can be independent and do things I usually restrict myself from. Other days I feel so anxious I can barely go for a car ride. When bad days come it seems that I am just waiting for the panic attack to happen.

My insurance doesn't cover therapy and I don't have the fonds to personally pay for a therapist. I have tried to see a therapist at a low-cost clinic but it seems they don't really care. I just need some better techniques to cope with off days.

Does anyone else have this problem? If so how can you lessen the bad days or at least make them so they aren't so intense...

[avlady]

i have the same question, have a doc and t, they dont seem to be able to help me except i like my t who comes to my home and i enjoy her visits although basically my medications are what keep stable

[Nivad]

I usually find keeping yourself busy so that your not thinking to much about it helps, Exercise and a good diet is essential for the mind as it gives you a good sense of well being. stay away from stimulants like coffee sugar as they dont help one bit nor does smoking, alcohol is depatable as it takes the edge off for some and makes others worse like myself. But be aware it can become a problem very fast for anxiety sufferers. Anyways i hope that you find a solution for does off days and thank you for sharing.

[Jolisse]

I've been fighting anxiety my whole life and I don't have a magic cure.
Sometimes I'm just too tired to fight it anymore.

[CosmicRose]

I don't mean to insult any therapists out there, but from my own personal experience, they don't care. They're paid to care, but I usually get the feeling they don't know how to help. I once spent a good 15 minutes crying in front of a therapist and she just looked at me with a vacant expression on her face, I was waiting for her to say something but from what I can recall I don't think she did, so after a long pause of us both not talking, I said I don't know what to do, and she didn't help me at all. I never went back after that session.
I'm sure there are therapists out there who are actually good at what they do and actually have tricks that help people, but that's kind of like finding a needle in a haystack.

The most a therapist has ever told me to do was practice that cognitive therapy (forget what its called) but its like exposure therapy. I didn't like this, I didn't think it was a good idea to just throw someone into a pool and make them learn how to swim themselves (which is what I compare it to).
You need to tailor your coping mechanisms to what works for you. There is no one-size-fits-all cure for panic or anxiety. You need to take baby steps, push yourself a little bit, work on self confidence so you feel more capable on your own, and do little mind tricks that help you overcome your blocks. There are things like:
Meditation
Exercise
Yoga
Limiting Caffeine
Playing music with your ipod when you're in anxiety provoking situations if you can.
Taking a trusted family member or friend with you one day to a certain situation that gives you anxiety, then the next day go by yourself.
Practice positive affirmations
Practice positive self-talk and learn to become your own best friend.

I had a revelation the other night, I realized anxiety was me not being my friend.
I realized all the anxiety is negative self talk.
Which means I am NOT being a friend to myself. I am being an enemy to myself. It's like the constant critic in the back of your mind saying "I (you) can't do this. People will think you're weird. People won't like you. You'll fail. You can't try that because you won't succeed. It's too hard. You're too quiet. People will talk about you behind your back, they will laugh at you and wonder why you're so strange. Don't go outside of your house, what's the point? Don't have fun just stay inside where it's safe. Don't change or go outside your comfort zone, there's no point. You'll get in a car accident, you'll die. You aren't safe with these people or going to that place, its harmful. You cannot take care of yourself."

These are all horrible things to say to yourself and if you had a friend who was this abusive and toxic you wouldn't talk to them anymore! So why do we allow ourselves to be controlled by fear and anxiety? Treat yourself as a friend, reverse negative self talk. Do not be your own enemy.
Every time those anxiety and worrying thoughts start, turn them around into the opposite statement. Like if you have the thought, "I can't do this." immediately turn it around into "I can do this. There's no reason I can't do this."

[pnw1]

Yeah, I have not had a lot of luck with therapists, even though the ones I have seen seem to care. I am not sure they understand the depths of anxiety and panic attacks , which I get several times daily. I have not found too many cures. I just stay on my meds, see my P Doc and hope for the best. I hope yours get better though, mine have gotten worse over the years.