[stanislavski]

Just like another poster on this forum recently, I suffer from endless obsessing and ruminative thinking. I'm curious to know what has helped quell similar symptoms for you. I call it "brain fever" I KNOW my repetitive thought patterns are silly, useless, counter-productive, anxiety provoking etc etc but of course, your frontal cortex has little effect on your lizard brain. What has helped you break out of the cycle?

[Chez3]

My panic attacks are usually more emotion than thought. Usually, any thoughts about what I'm panicking about are brought up as a result of me feeling anxious about nothing in particular. I just obsessively remind myself that I'm having an attack and to breathe. It goes a bit like this:
Body: EMERGENCY!!!
Me: Oh crap! OH CRAP!
Me but smarter: EMERGENCY! We're freaking out for no reason! Remember to breathe. We're panicking. Don't worry. Breathe. Breathe.
Me: *breathes* this is still bad. Something is awfully wrong.
Me but smarter: nothing's wrong. You're just having a panic attack. It'll be over soon, just breathe.

Then I sit through the rest of the panic attack, but now with the knowledge that it'll end. It still takes a while, but for me, knowing what's happening, and acknowledging that that state of being is temporary really helps me. I don't know if this'll help. This is just how I manage.

[MickeyCheeky]

I'm so sorry, stanisvlaski Do you see a therapist? Maybe that could help. You could learn new ways to cope with your anxiety, if you haven't already. Anxiety is hard to deal with, I struggle with it as well sometimes. I hope you'll be able to get the help you need and deserve. Feel free to PM me anytime. Let me know if I can do something to help you. Wish you good luck! Let us know how it goes. Sending many hugs to you

I recently came across a new age artist called paul brooks.

music helps me anyway, but paul brooks is amazing

so are
hilary stagg and enya.

also I like to get air from outside when I'm anxious.

also using the senses

I'm a strong believer in touching things that calm me, or smelling nice things, or watching a sunset/ other pleasing thing

I personally suggest boats on the ocean

watching the lion king or rocky.

both those movies help me a lot

I am wondering this same thing myself. I just have no idea. Reading or watching a good movie helps me and so does going for a long walk. Otherwise I need to get new thoughts because I’m tired of some of the same old worn out, negative thoughts. It’s up to me to change it but that’s easier said than done.

[Meemur603]

This is something I’ve struggled with strongly for a long time. Here are some things I find help. I’m guessing the thoughts cause some
Kind of discomfort or anxiety... in order to stop them from making me anxious I try and remember that the thoughts are doing nothing to help, I will repeat a mantra (for me it is something grounding, and I do my best to be in the present. Most of my problems are bc I’m not present enough. Being with my baby helps me do that (although that can exhaust me)

[stanislavski]

Thank you all for your insightful answers. I don't think it's really "up to us" to change the negative thinking pattern because you're trying to engage your frontal cortex to win over your "snake" brain (limbic system) and that can never work. The primitive brain doesn't respond to logic. If it did, none of us would be on an anxiety forum But I think we *do* have control over how we "think about our thoughts" if that makes sense. And that's what I've been trying to do - like many of you. Just be present. Breathe. Observe. And realize that all thoughts are just...thoughts. In addition, a hot bath works for me (somewhat) and distraction (somewhat) There are times when the only thing that will work is an Ativan. Good luck to all. Anxiety really sucks...

[stanislavski]

Originally Posted by MickeyCheeky

I'm so sorry, stanisvlaski Do you see a therapist? Maybe that could help. You could learn new ways to cope with your anxiety, if you haven't already. Anxiety is hard to deal with, I struggle with it as well sometimes. I hope you'll be able to get the help you need and deserve. Feel free to PM me anytime. Let me know if I can do something to help you. Wish you good luck! Let us know how it goes. Sending many hugs to you

Thank you Mickey. Yes, I am seeing a therapist and it does help but in the end, it's ourselves who must do the heavy lifting as it were. I do appreciate your kind thoughts very much

[xmascarol]

Originally Posted by stanislavski

Just like another poster on this forum recently, I suffer from endless obsessing and ruminative thinking. I'm curious to know what has helped quell similar symptoms for you. I call it "brain fever" I KNOW my repetitive thought patterns are silly, useless, counter-productive, anxiety provoking etc etc but of course, your frontal cortex has little effect on your lizard brain. What has helped you break out of the cycle?

For me I am anxious from the time I get up till the time I go to bed.Nonstop anxieties ,sometimes what works for me is doing my crafts like knitting and crocheting sometimes drawing too.However when it blows up into a panic attack nothing seems to worse.Oh ya try laying down if you can,think of something that makes you happy.Like for me it would be the beach because it is so calming.I often think of walking along the beach .or just swimming and fishing I love both.Sometimes it works other times no.Do you take any medication? I am on klonopin it helps but there are days when it seems like I need a whole bottle.

[stanislavski]

Originally Posted by xmascarol

For me I am anxious from the time I get up till the time I go to bed.Nonstop anxieties ,sometimes what works for me is doing my crafts like knitting and crocheting sometimes drawing too.However when it blows up into a panic attack nothing seems to worse.Oh ya try laying down if you can,think of something that makes you happy.Like for me it would be the beach because it is so calming.I often think of walking along the beach .or just swimming and fishing I love both.Sometimes it works other times no.Do you take any medication? I am on klonopin it helps but there are days when it seems like I need a whole bottle.

Ativan (Lorazepam) 1mg at night, Gabapentin 300 mg twice a day. Lexapro was the best drug I've ever tried but alas, it quit on me after eight good years. My go-to non pharma trick is hot baths. Really great though the effect is short lived

[sarahsweets]

I take buspar for anxiety but something I practice is a form of grounding I'll call "five blue things". When I feel like the walls are closing in due to anxiety and that I am teetering on the brink of a meltdown I look for five blue (whatever color works for you) things and name them and where they are in the room. For example..." I see the blue book on the shelf. There's a blue dish on the counter. I see a blue blanket..." Most times by the time I finish I am a little more-to alot more calm than before I did it.

[naturalemotion5]

Since ive been having med problems lately this has been a big one, a lot of panic attacks to the point where I feel paralyzed.

I avoid triggers (like socializing with people that stress me out, exposing myself to dark things) and do some mindfulness stuff that distracts me - rain sounds and nature sounds, turning the fan on and feeling the air hit my face and hands, turning off lights and lighting only candles to avoid sensory overload, applying heat somehow (or holding ice cube, that works sometimes), repeating the word CALM over and over, either in my head or out loud if I'm alone. I remember a therapist a long time ago telling me that if you tell yourself things like, "I need to calm down," or "stop panicking," your mind is more likely to focus on words like "need," and "stop" as urgent commands and you'll get anxious about wanting to control the anxiety, which ironically causes your anxiety to worsen. Allowing yourself to feel the anxiety, recognizing it for what it is, then responding to it as gently as possible without shaming yourself works best, I think, easier said than done.

[zapatoes]

It depends and after work like to walk 30-60 minutes or even jog and in the past tried yoga and meditation, and all of these help some.

[Carmina]

Originally Posted by sarahsweets

I take buspar for anxiety but something I practice is a form of grounding I'll call "five blue things". When I feel like the walls are closing in due to anxiety and that I am teetering on the brink of a meltdown I look for five blue (whatever color works for you) things and name them and where they are in the room. For example..." I see the blue book on the shelf. There's a blue dish on the counter. I see a blue blanket..." Most times by the time I finish I am a little more-to alot more calm than before I did it.

Sounds like there's an element of sensory anchoring going on there