Managing anxiety well. Looking to improve - and help.

[DanStelter]

Hey everyone -

After some rough times, my social anxiety and general anxiety are doing pretty well. I feel calm and peaceful and not terrified (most of the time). My fear of people bubbles up from time-to-time. But it doesn't drive me completely insane anymore.

Pretty happy in life overall (despite my bleak financial situation).

So anyway, I'm looking to help others (and learn from them too).

I know how paralyzing anxiety can be. I used to dread even waking up. But not anymore. And it was difficult to get to this place mentally.

Good luck to everyone...and nice to meet ya all.

Dan

 

[Concernedgal]

Hi @DanStelter . I'm very happy for you. How'd you do it? I'm a borderline agoraphobic and if I don't get a handle on this ,i'm going to be 1 of those people that never leaves there house.

 

[XmasCarol52]

During the warmer whether can u try to just sit outside even though if it is for about a half hour that is how I started to sit outside now i can do it depending on how i feel for an hour to two hours at a time sometimes i can sit outside for about four hours not all at once i need a break, if people stop by to say hello I will talk to them but if they dont say anything I will just say nothing,I love watching the train when it goes by it is loved by many even though it is very noisy it is so close you can wave to the engineer,and the airplanes and choppers are nice to watch but around here we have to go inside before dark because we get very large skunks matter of fact last year they had the critter cab coming each day they would catch the skunks they sent traps for the night before,I actually saw a deer one as long as dont see any snakes I am fine,although i think i saw a small rat once,ugh,,, But sometimes when I feel an anger attack going to come on i just go outside and the anger seems to go away to bad they cannot b ottle outside air because then i could take it and maybe have no more anger who knows,you like me must go nut s staring at the walls all day i for one cannot wait for spring,,how have you been doing lately I miss you? I have been spending a lot of time trying to get gift cards

 

[janemariesayed]

Hey everyone -

After some rough times, my social anxiety and general anxiety are doing pretty well. I feel calm and peaceful and not terrified (most of the time). My fear of people bubbles up from time-to-time. But it doesn't drive me completely insane anymore.

Pretty happy in life overall (despite my bleak financial situation).

So anyway, I'm looking to help others (and learn from them too).

I know how paralyzing anxiety can be. I used to dread even waking up. But not anymore. And it was difficult to get to this place mentally.

Good luck to everyone...and nice to meet ya all.

Dan

Well, you certainly seem to have a success story there @DanStelter which is always encouraging for us to see. How did you reach that stage of completeness? I myself suffer from anxiety and depression, as well as agoraphobia and PTSD. Mine is down to family and life problems stemming from early childhood and my birth. A counselor is being sorted out currently for me to have therapy. I'm really hoping it is going to help me. I know it isn't going to be easy but I'm willing and waiting and prepared to drag it all up so that I can heal. If you have any tips I would dearly love to hear them.

 

[DanStelter]

Hi @DanStelter . I'm very happy for you. How'd you do it? I'm a borderline agoraphobic and if I don't get a handle on this ,i'm going to be 1 of those people that never leaves there house.

Well, it was really a long process of systematic desensitization. Little steps each day. Then, eventually I find myself doing things I never dreamed years ago.

For example, public speaking. Originally did it in college because I had to for various classes. Slowly got better at it. Today, I like it. It still gets anxiety-provoking as all get out beforehand. But, I can do it and enjoy it. Don't necessarily do a lot of public speaking today. But thrilled when I can talk on a topic I enjoy and can be helpful.

Or, right now I'm working on standing up to others. For example, they make an unreasonable demand. I tell them the honest truth - something they don't want to hear. This shoots my anxiety through the roof for a few minutes. But it gets easier and more comfortable each time. Sometimes, it doesn't bother me at all. My wife has health problems, so I'm constantly battling with medical billing people who aren't always helpful.

Medication (Lexapro 20 mg) helps keep the symptoms down. I don't eat anxiety-provoking foods often (caffeine). I have my wife, a spiritual guide, and many friends I can talk to about personal stuff like this where I don't have to fear their judgment at all. I think that's the most important tool out of all of these. Talking to somebody, reliving the situation to an extent, and then hearing "you're not crazy" helps a ton.

I'm always keeping my mind open. Interested in some herbal supplements. They're also saying weighted blankets help keep anxiety down. Get a little exercise too (although I should get more).

Basically, construct my whole life to minimize anxiety. Everyone's a little different, so there's plenty of variation. But anyway, that's what works for me these days.