[LilithOwl]

HELP!
I need suggestions from people for getting to school when anxiety is physically making it painful to get there. My car wouldn't start because of the cold this morning and I got scared to take my friends car instead. Mostly it boiled down to a loop of anxiety in my head saying -I can't smoke in his car, I can't make it on time to class, I have already missed this class once and it is only three weeks in, the teacher is going to think badly of me, my parents are going to think badly of me, my boyfriend thinks I am lame, I am lame, I am just a little girl with a stomach ache again who is scared of her school-

Help help help!!! What do you do when you are like this? What has worked for people? Please please please suggestions, links, info!

[spoiledprince]

Hi, LilithOwl; I'm not going to say I'm the best at giving advice on this (house ridden because of my anxiety) BUT when I do have to go out, I try to block out all my thoughts with a couple things: music, activities and a run through of the things I need to get done vs the things that could happen. Focus on the RIGHT NOW; I like to cake on makeup so that takes my head off a lot of things; you probably don't need to do that, but you get the idea.
I don't want to get too much into your life but... do you think your boyfriend thinks your lame or does he really? If he does, that's just adding coals to the fire. You need to be around people that are positive in your life; he's only hurting your chances of getting better if he's jerk. Also, if you've been evaluated already, it might be time to sit down with your parents if you haven't already and explain you condition to them. Then...if you're concerned about your teacher's thoughts....you might want to speak to him/her after class and explain the situation, s/he might be able to make accommodations.
It's the year of LilithOwl, don't let others hold you back from getting well and the life you deserve. On that note; I'm so jealous! I'm assuming you've made it to college and can drive! You're really going to go far!

[nowaitaminute]

Originally Posted by LilithOwl

HELP!
I need suggestions from people for getting to school when anxiety is physically making it painful to get there. My car wouldn't start because of the cold this morning and I got scared to take my friends car instead. Mostly it boiled down to a loop of anxiety in my head saying -I can't smoke in his car, I can't make it on time to class, I have already missed this class once and it is only three weeks in, the teacher is going to think badly of me, my parents are going to think badly of me, my boyfriend thinks I am lame, I am lame, I am just a little girl with a stomach ache again who is scared of her school-

Help help help!!! What do you do when you are like this? What has worked for people? Please please please suggestions, links, info!

Well....(not to be disrespectful), but it seem like a cigarette is being a tyrant in your world!

[Perna]

I try to shift what I concentrate on to something a bit in the future. Think about what they are going to discuss in class and what you would like to learn about it and/or how much of a pain it might be to find and get notes from someone to copy, etc. if you miss this session but move away from the immediate, personal failings, and other people thoughts. If I have to, I think about what I am going to do when I get home, or something I am looking forward to later in the week, etc., I try to create a "bridge" from here to beyond whatever is difficult for me so it is put more in perspective instead of being so big, front and center.

Keep reminding yourself of your current "problem" (have to get to class) and ditch all thoughts that don't help you figure out how to do that (Maybe you are/are not "lame," so? How does that help anything? It's just a distraction.). If you are attacking yourself with lame words then get angry at the attacking part of you and "correct" it/make fun of it. "I may be 'unconvincingly feeble' (definition of 'lame' :-) but I certainly have nothing wrong with my feet or legs and I want to get to that class and will walk there if I have to; YOU stay out of this!"

[Fuzzybear]

[Gus1234U]

i know it won't help overcome every challenge in life, especially not yesterday's, but here are some of the Coping Skills i learned for managing anxiety, and found to work well for stress AND PTSD~ i hope you find some of them useful ~

i have posted these before, but am bringing them together and up to date~

Coping With Anxiety and Panic:

1. Remember, feelings of panic are just exaggerations of normal bodily stress reactions.

2. Sensations are neither harmful nor dangerous - just unpleasant. Nothing worse will happen.

3. Anxiety is temporary. Instead of fighting it, relax into it. Just let it be.

4. Focus on facing the fear rather than trying to avoid it or escape from it.

5. Stop adding to the panic with frightening thoughts of where panic will lead.

6. Stay in the present. Be aware of what is happening to you rather than concern yourself with how much worse it might get.

7. Notice that when you stop adding to panic with frightening thoughts, the fear begins to fade.

8. Wait and give the fear time to pass.

9. Look around you. Plan what you will do next as the panic subsides.

10. When you are ready to go on, do so in an easy, relaxed manner. There is no hurry.

11. Think about the progress made so far despite all the difficulties.

Some Specific Actions:

1. Manage your breathing, if it is rapid, breathe into a paper sack to lower oxygen uptake;

2. Count your breaths, 1001, 1002, 1003, ect, up to 1020, then start again, slow down the count to slow your heartbeat. counting interferes with anxiety;

3. Delay doing anything about your anxiety or panic, just follow the steps and focus on getting thru it;

4. Distract yourself, with anything that requires you to focus and is simple and handy - at home you might read something easy, like a magazine, or knit or wash dishes, whatever engages your attention;

5. Eat something to replenish the blood sugars that adrenalin has burned up, and give yourself at least 15 minutes for the kidneys to clean out the 'ashes' in your blood;

6. Write these things down and keep them with you, until you have made them a habit

practice these skills before you need them, or when you are just mildly anxious, so they will be familiar when you are feeling very upset. i hope you find this information helpful~

best wishes~
Gus