How do you manage fear?

I'm curious how other folks manage their fear. I get very hypervigilant at night, and can't sleep because I'm fearing something bad might happen, so I need to to listen. I try to do deep breathing and to distract myself with funny tv shows. I also turn all the lights on to feel safer.

How do you make yourself feel safer when you are fearful?

That's a tough one. I tried all the typical ways you read about, relaxing baths, deep breathing, telling myself "that was then and this is now" staying in the moment, etc. but none of them really worked for me.

My hypervigilance was (ok,I confess, still is) such that I found those "peaceful" distractions were getting in the way of my staying focused on the impending doom and danger. How could I possibly relax in the bathtub if I had to stay alert for trouble?

For me, I have to shut out my fear by drowning it in music. I get my ipod and blast it loud.

I also found that writing about what it's like to experience such deep-rooted fears helps. I write scenarios for my T so she can get a feel of what it's like from my perspective and not just a text book.

I also have been know to walk around the house with a humongous carving knife, "telling" my dog how awful it would be to be stabbed by it, so if there are any dangerous criminals in there, they'll hear me and get the hell out, lol.

i agree with all that.
to sleep i listen to BelleRuth Naperstek tapes on PTSD. Her new one (trauma pack) even has one for sleep in there. That way i can still hear over the softly playing music an relaxation and hear for any noise that shouldn't be there. plus i can sleep thanks to the tape. i listen to it every night (and have for like 2 years). Now i have the new trauma pack from t.

My Pdoc has me on Trazadone for sleep. It works great. I go right to sleep and don't hear anything during the night. Running bathe water is a trigger for me.

I also have strings of bells hanging on my windows and doors. I keep a baseball bat under my bed.

> I keep a baseball bat under my bed.

Is there ever anyone else in the bed with you?

Thanks for the tips, guys. (I think I might try the bells on the windows thing!) I feel uncomfortable listening to music, but I can have the tv on, which does help some. KIya, I actually just got a BelleRuth trauma CD so I will see how that works, too!

Only my Elmo and Teddy Bear!

I sometimes talk to myself, and try to befriend the fear.

I talk to the hypervigilant part, and tell it 'Thank You' for trying to keep me safe.
I let it know that I need to sleep now, and that it is ok for it to rest.

If the mental talk doesn't work, usually doing something physical helps. I dance around the house, run in place until I'm out of breath, clean the heck out of the bathroom -- whatever I feel like. Engaging the physical body is a great way to slow the mental processes down.

In order to manage fear, I cease to care, therfor I am not afraid. if I give it away than you can not take it. If it cannot be taken from me than I am not afraid of the loss and therefor i am not afraid.

I used to handle my fear by sleeping with 2 cell phones and a flashlight. * Now I sleep ( sporatically ) with 2 BIG PROTECTIVE BOXERs, 2 cell phones, and a LARGER Flashlight. * Unfortunately, I've been do so for over 18 months.

I'd attempt to take advisement from this group and see what works for you. Sometimes you've unfortunately just have to ride it out.

May Peace Be With You,
SUNNY

One episode at a time. I don't distract myself but actually look at it, take a deep breath and tell myself that all is well and what I fear does not exist and I am okay, and the world is okay and I keep repeating things like that until it passes.

Over time and with practice you get better and better at calming yourself down. Hang in there. This too will pass.