How are you coping with your anxiety?
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Kaynil
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This is going to sound dumb but I tend to escape my reality with imagination. I have always made up stories in my head and have them develop by daydreaming. Other times I try to either consume or create.
Consuming is easier, play a game, grab a book, listen to music, watch videos, movies... Creating means effort and facing my insecurities by writing and drawing sometimes I can release bottled up things I didn't know I had or just, again, escape the thoughts for a little while.
I listen to some videos about living in the present and ask myself if what's worrying me..
1- Is it real? (Not a what-if, not should've, not a fear. Something present and confirmed otherwise is not happening and I am worrying over guesses)
2- Will it matter in 3 days?
It helps me calm down to out in perspective.
I don't take medication or I am under therapy at this time. I think I probably should had a decade ago but right now I feel I am just a fraction of the intensity and overall under control.
Consuming is easier, play a game, grab a book, listen to music, watch videos, movies... Creating means effort and facing my insecurities by writing and drawing sometimes I can release bottled up things I didn't know I had or just, again, escape the thoughts for a little while.
I listen to some videos about living in the present and ask myself if what's worrying me..
1- Is it real? (Not a what-if, not should've, not a fear. Something present and confirmed otherwise is not happening and I am worrying over guesses)
2- Will it matter in 3 days?
It helps me calm down to out in perspective.
I don't take medication or I am under therapy at this time. I think I probably should had a decade ago but right now I feel I am just a fraction of the intensity and overall under control.
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I attempt to concentrate on not living in the future where I can always agonize about some situation that's coming up. When I do well at living in the present my anxiety stays at a reasonable level, if I review the past or think about future events or responsibilities, I'm toast.
That last sentence is exactly my problem.
Something stronger? Alcohol? Or do you mean meds.
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Anything really. I don’t know. I sometimes feel very swamped with the new job, the new flat, my bank account and anxiety about that. It feels like it gets a bit much at times and I don’t know how to coop.
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But mainly alcohol yea. Not too good I know.
How do you stop thinking about the future?? I never grew up with anxiety issues until the last couple years and it feels like hell. Im new on this, Im constantly worried, and working in a healthcare setting made my life worst. Im not depressed but my head DOESN'T STOP OVERTHINKING! Im exercising a lot and it helps and makes me happy, but its only temporary until the thoughts comes back to me. I found this forum because im desperate, I dont want to take any drugs for this and if someone has figured out how to stop this...I will owe you forever
I have drank a lot of alcohol to stop my mind for a minute, but it gets worst next day...believe me, not a solution
it takes a while. I'm in therapy doing CBT and it helps me "rewire" the way my brain thinks. For example, working on hoping for good things about the future, rather than expecting and constantly setting to-do lists and deadlines and adding pressure to myself. Another way to stop worrying is to write down what worries me and see if it's something i can change or not. Is the worry based on a reality or just a worst case scenario I'm considering. What are the the other end results of that worry and how probably is that worst case scenario (based on facts)
Thank you for your response. The last time my doctor saw me and saw my behavior regarding my health, she knew right away I was having a major anxiety episode. She recommended to write a dairy of what my fears were, but I seem to blank everytime I tried LOL. To make my story short, I was married on my 20s and even though it didnt work, we stayed friends, but a couple years ago, he passed away suddenly and something triggered in my head, that anxious feeling that doesnt go away. I was always a positive susie, the typical strong woman with thick skin that moves on when an adversity gets ahead you, but now I just crumble at anything, and I thought this anxiety thing was under control, but now I am symptomatic, I dont sleep, and Im just worried all the time!!
i feel you as I used to be like that. People who I tell about my anxiety always have the same reaction "but you seemed so strong" like sorry if I wasn't up to your standards. I'm still strong because I'm ploughing through this anxiety and trying to manage some success and work done. You'll get through it. It takes a lot of work. Three months later and I'm not even close to being at the level I used to.
i was sceptical as well. but it's progressive work. the therapist will discuss a problem with you and teach you how to manage one type of problem at a time as well as listen to your thoughts. for example i had never realized how much i catastrophize things every single second of every day. the first thought i'd get when climbing in the car is that my brakes wouldn't work. or that i would trip fall down five floors even if i'm not remotely close to an open space. how not to take things personally, consider all options, how to be assertive when replying, how to figure out what really makes you anxious etc... try and find someone knowledgeable in CBT.
He Man
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Nadia, hi..
If you're looking for non-drug self help.. I recommend the book: Hope and Help for your Nerves. (Claire Weekes). It's old school advice & approach to overcoming anxiety. It's probably not a cure-all, but it's insightful. And it was authored 50 years ago, so was ahead of the game in recognizing & being empathetic to the comprehensive suffering caused by anxiety (nervous illness). Used copies are inexpensive, easy to find online.
take care.