[muse]

Augh, I hate this. This general feeling of anxiety that comes and goes in waves... never really going away. It gets worse over a period of days, sometimes, and it all pools in my forehead and my arms and my throat/chest/stomach... beh. You've all been there before, I'm sure. I know exactly what's triggering it, and I know how to make it go away, but the anxiety/fear keeps me from eliminating the trigger. Vicious cycle, yeah? ^.^

But why is it that, on a perfectly beautiful, sunny day in the midst of spring break, the anxiety suddenly hits me and rolls around in my body for no reason at all? It's like the worst kind of pain--generalized and everywhere, not a sharp point that I can identify. It's not even that bad, really, I'm just worried that it'll build too much. How do you shake something like that, especially if you're cooped up in the house all day?

Thanks much for suggestions,
yours truly,
~muse

[pegasus]

I know what you mean, it can come in waves.

Knowing what your triggers are is good but sometimes anything appears to trigger it.

Anxiety is a fear response and that fight/flight response can be useful but not all the time!

Several things you can do to help-

Self-talk, reassure yourself that everything is ok, your safe etc........

Step outside and really concentrate on everything that is around you. The trees, the plants, the feeling of the wind etc.........

Practice slowing your breathing down, if feeling really bad cup your hands over your face and breath steadily for at least 10 minutes.

Buy a relaxation tape/CD and practice at least once a day. Or learn how to do meditation.

Distractions- playing computor games or listening to music to take your mind off the worry.

Hope some of these tips help.

[muse]

Thanks a million, Pegasus--those sound like things that might really help me out, particularly going outside for a while. Sometimes if I feel totally awful I'll bolt out the back door and just run 'till I've left everything behind me for a while. It works wonders sometimes.

[Maven]

Exercise is very good for dealing with anxiety. I like to read or watch TV myself, unless the material is more anxiety-inducing. Writing can help, even if it's about your anxiety, just getting it out.

[Juliana]

Hi Muse. I was cooped up in the house for years with agoraphobia. Once I started to recover, going for a walk or a run was helpful, but during the years when I was too scared to go outside, I had a lot of time on my hands and had to find ways to occupy my mind so the anxiety wouldn't drive me mad. Sometimes I was too edgy to focus on a book or a tv program, so some of the many things I did to get my focus off the anxiety and calm myself were:

- cryptic crossword puzzles

- yoga (I used Yoga Zone videos) and did Ashtanga and Iyengar yoga in my living room

- knitting (I learned how to knit while I had agoraphobia... and became quite good at it. Before I got sick, I was a graphic designer and really missed that creative outlet, so I started designing my own knitwear. The process of knitting is relaxing and doing something creative occupied my mind and made me feel better.)

- smoking (but I don't recommend this)

- learning new things (I learned some Scots Gaelic from tapes and brushed up on my German)

- singing

- listening to music really LOUD and just letting it take me away

Friends and family used to stop by for a visit (when I felt up for it) or call and check up on me every day and have a long chat. That helped take my mind off things too.

I think the key is to find something you enjoy, that occupies your mind and takes your focus off your anxiety for a while. I hope you find something that works for you.

[RACEKA]

I'm cutting right not, that's how I deal,

[bebu]

That is - unfortunately the way that I have started to deal with things too. There is only so much that a person can put up with b4 they just can't deal anymore.

[ukflower]

i find that exercise really helps...ive been dealing w/ anxiety for the past few months and had my first panic attack last week, but ive noticed that when i go for a run, i feel alot better at night...partly because it makes me tired so i fall asleep easier (nighttime is bad for my anxiety) and also because it just allows you to release alot of stress and frustration. it also can help regulate all those hormones esp the adrenaline etc that can get out of whack! hope this helps for you!!

[untold27]

Like others have said, I just try to distract myself from it. Especially if I don't know what I am anxious about or if I am anxious over something I have no control over (such as the anxiety itself and what it means to me).

I like to fall into music. Music has been my biggest release for a long time before I even realized I had anxiety... or before it got worse.

Talking with people to get your mind off of it. But that requires changing the subject alot.. my sister talks about a lot of things that makes me anxious.

I get on the internet and play online games.. it sucks though because time slips by in a matter of minutes and I screw myself over because I dont do things I am suppose to do. But if I try to accomplish my homework or study.. it doesnt fully occupy my mind and I can't concentrate on it.

Try some things. See what works for you. It's not easy, but its a day to day struggle.

Good luck.

[chichi]

anxiety is a chemical imbalance so I take a beta blocker and a anti depressant. Thats why all of a sudden you get the physical symptoms our brain gives our body the wrong message,I suffer from anxiety because I started perimenopause and my raging hormones threw everything out of whack so I eat better stay away from triggers that I'm learning about, yoga and lots of vitamins and living the good life...I quit smoking . no alcohol...listen to my ocean c.d at night keeps my mind from thinking. They say this ic highly cureable but we have to help ourselves and that is so hard for me the discipline that I have to have to live this way takes work but I think...wait I know it will work in time. I am 42 years old and my habits will not change overnight. Good luck

[50guy]

I agree that exersize is a great help. Also the breathing technics and talking to oneself to reassure and music.

I have the fight or flight feelings most times and I usually choose to fight by vigirous exersize. I run 3 miles per day and do 50 push ups and 100 sit ups.

The one thing that is weird is the dr. said zoloft would increase my hunger for food but, it hasn't done that or, made me tired.

[chichi]

in response to Zoloft I take 50mg once a day, I have a weight problem and my doc said it would suppress my appetite, I have to lose weight because I also have high blood pressure . The zoloft does not make me tiried either it works great for me. Congrats on your running 3 miles a day that and walking is the best, I have taken walking as a excercise as well and I lost some weight so it's important these drugs don't cause weight gain.

[Juliana]

That's awesome that Zoloft isn't causing you any weight gain. My sister had the opposite problem on it. She couldn't stop eating -- was constantly hungry. She gained 15 pounds in just one month, so had to switch back to Prozac. It's interesting how differently these drugs affect different people.

[muse]

Wow... everybody, thank you all so much! These are all great techniques, a few of which I already use (like playing games online/on my cell phone).

You all are the best. I cannot thank you enough!!!

love,
~muse

[Maven]

When I was a kid and a teen, I would use comic books to help distract me. The pictures and the words were great together for that purpose. I still use reading, as well as TV. Of course, you have to make sure the book or TV show or movie isn't upsetting to your anxiety, LOL!