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

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   Anxiety Suffererposted 14 years ago

   What has worked for you to help you manage your anxiety disorder?
   
   Everybody is different and I am looking to find ways to better manage my own anxiety.  So I am asking other anxiety hubbers for their own experiences to possibly come across ways that I have not heard of or come across in the research that I have done.

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   Hiperionposted 14 years ago

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

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   bigmodoposted 14 years ago

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

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   advisor4qbposted 14 years ago

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

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   leyah72802posted 14 years ago

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

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   Neal.edmarposted 14 years ago

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

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   Cassandra_Eversposted 14 years ago

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

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   kaceybabeposted 14 years ago

   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)

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   Kathy Tposted 14 years ago

   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.

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10. 59

    lexi_lover92posted 14 years ago

    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!!!

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    QuoteFanposted 14 years ago

    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.

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    teendadposted 14 years ago

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

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    Sheila Wilsonposted 14 years ago

    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.

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14. 58

    DatingDragonsposted 14 years ago

    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.

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    Laura in Denverposted 14 years ago

    Regular exercise helps get rid of the excess energy anxiety produces. Breathing slowly, relaxing to music.
    
    When you can, identifying the source of the anxiety or discoving what is going on in your environment when you experience the anxiety leads to more permanant control of it.
    
    I wish you well!

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    Lissa Madridposted 14 years ago

    Having suffered from anxiety for some time now I have tried all types of techniques to control it. The one that seems to work the best is breathing deeply to control my rapid heart rate and to also calm my mind.
    
    All I think about is how I take a breath in and exhale the breath out. I repeat that several times. I find, for myself, that if you really concentrate on your breathing it's very difficult to think of anything else.
    
    I will also to remove myself from the current situation I am in, because that might be triggering my anxiety - if this is possible. Sometimes it's not so you have to compromise.

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    IdeaMorphistposted 14 years ago

    I have severe anxiety and the only thing that has every truly worked in preventing attacks all together were prescriptions. I would seriously advise contacting a doctor if you are worrying about them. If you feel that it would be better for you to use alternatives to that I would try to stay completely hydrated. I seem to get more anxiety attacks when I am dehydrated. Limit stressful situations as much as possible. If you have a couple friend who bicker, excuse yourself when this happens. Also, breathing techniques, stretches like Yoga or physical therapy, or just talking to a good friend about your own worries once a week might lower your chances of an anxiety attack.
    
    If you have an attack, it can be so scary that you freeze up and of course... think the worse. When you get the dizzy head, cold sweat, and feeling of being lost and concerned try to tell yourself, "I am going to be fine, I should get some water and sit/lay down" Don't rush it through your mind. Try to think calmly and in tune with a slow breathing pattern. Usually by the time I have had a half glass of water and sat in a quiet place for 3-5 mins the anxiety passes me over.
    
    Feel free to let me know if this was not useful. I would be more than happy to attempt some other suggestions.

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    jasper420posted 13 years ago

    i know it sounds lame but the bible helped me put my fears to rest

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    LCallposted 11 years ago

    You really have to tell yourself not to listen to your mind. A great inspirational book for anxiety sufferers or people with hypochondria (like me) is I Dreampt of Sausage. It's about a woman who was diagnosed with cancer and used positive thinking to get her through it.
    
    Other than that, some simple quick fixes I like include: drinking herbal tea, listening to calming music, doing yoga, meditating, going for a walk, spending time with a pet, reading, taking a hot shower or bubble bath. Do anything that you love and that makes you happy. Focus on it and that will ease your anxiety. Good luck!

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