What has worked for you to help you manage your anxiety disorder?

Challenging negative thoughts and replacing them with positive thoughts based on reality has been the most helpful. I had always heard of replacing negative thoughts with positive thoughts, but making sure the positive thoughts are realistic is important. If faced with an unexepected expense, I might have the negative thought that "Everything is going wrong" or feel that the world is dark. In the past when my focus was only on using positive thoughts, I might have changed the negative to an overwhelming positive like "Everything is okay." Even I can't believe that when I am stressed. Instead, I replace it with a positive, yet realistic thought that acknowledges my feelings, but focuses on coping with it. I might use something like "This is stressful, but I can deal with this. I am able to handle this. This is only one thing that has gone wrong. I have many positives in my life."

Another thing that has really helped me is starting my own PTSD/anxiety website. There's something about doing something to help others and acknowledging that others are struggling with the same issues. I feel like if I can help one person, it is all worthwhile.

Try eliminating the highest stressors in your life. That seems to have done it for me.

I use to have a horrible anxiety disorder. It was so bad, that it would hit me out of no where, take away my breath and cause physical pain in my chest and arms. I have gone to the ER worrying I was suffering from a heart attack. I was prescribed anti anxiety meds, that made me sleepy and irritable the next day. I started seeing a councilor to help find a hidden emotional cause for my anxiety. She was really great, she taught me how to do breathing exercises. I now practice meditation breathing and yoga. I still will get a panic attack once in a while. And I will do my breathing exercises and the panic attack passes.

I also try to stay positive about situation, and stay away from negative situations as much as I can. I have broken off friendships because the stress of a bad friendship wasn’t worth it. The hardest thing for me was letting go of the past. I had to realize what happened in the past was bad and painful, but all the pain and crying I was going through now. wasn’t going to change what happened. I had to come to the reality that the past is the past and it can not be changed. But I control my life and my future. Im not saying forgive and forget to move on in your life. But just things happened that we could not prevent and we have to learn from them. So are future is better, not socialize with people that will bring that pain back. So basically I don’t dwell on my painful past, but learn from it. Not to but myself in a situation that can turn ugly.

First off, I don't have anxiety disorder. However, I'm very interested in how the brain works, and have found a very interesting book on the subject, which includes a lot of discussion on the latest therapies for OCD and other disorders. I highly recommend it. It's called "The Brain That Changes Itself'', by a doctor who's done extensive research on the work of several other leading edge researchers. You can find it at Amazon.

I think you'll find it *very* interesting, and quote possibly very helpful.

Exercise, avoiding overtly stressful situations, and, occasionally, a small dose of Klonopin. And, yes, I have a prescription for it.

What helps me is try to calm myself, breathe slowly inspiring and expiring 8 times.

quite often people are too ready to expect a pharmaceutical approach.

some people are anxious because of their personality- its just the way they are.

it is very helpful to try and identifythe source of anxiety so that issues can be resolved and eventually lead to a cure. sometimes its a traumatic past experience or fear from childhood upbringing.

sometimes we do not aim to cure anxiety but to allow the person to function normally in society. cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has been shown to have good results but requires an insightful and determined patient.

I just take a deep breath, set down and relax, and dont panic.

8 steps to deal with anxiety, http://hubpages.com/t/bc2b6

i recently forced myself to speak in public i coach a team and have no choice but to deal with my anxiety disorder

in all honesty i havent found anything that works. i feel the need to get away from people, totally being on my own. The slightest thing can be a trigger (such as turning a light on or off) this is in extreme circumstances ( when my anxiety is at the highest)

being physicly sick is a massive phobia for me ... and nearly everytime my anxiety hightens im sick (but this can sometimes help me feel calmer too)

I've been to many and many of counselors and psychiatrists, but thay all tell me the same thing.... coping skills. Well I know when I get anxioius I'm not, too worried about the fact that singing or drawing will calm me down. But I have been on a lot of medications for my anxiety, and I do have to say that zanax has been a life saver for me... many of times.

but you should read my hub, and you'll understand how bad my anxiety can be.... YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE!!!

exercising works well.

See http://hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Stop-Panic-Attacks-