Anxiety Options

[karmakiller]

Ok, since this isn't a bear-your-soul kinda forum, I'm not going to do that, but lately I've been having lots of issues with Anxiety. It's always been a problem, but it seems like it's getting worse.

I'll have anxiety attacks (they're different than panic attacks), whenever I find myself in a crowd my heart beats really fast and find myself telling myself to calm down and just breathe.

My question is if any of you have any problems with anxiety? What do you do to cope with it? Have you sought any professional help?

I'm been thinking that I should go see someone for it, but I don't even know where to begin

[brooklyneast05]

i do, so i know how you feel and it sucks incredibly. i don't think i can give you much advice though, except for seeking professional help isn't a bad idea if it's starting to really bother you. i have o.c.d. and so my anxiety comes from that. so for me, treating my ocd indirectly treats any anxiety i have. getting to the bottom of what's causing it is important.

[MissFits]

I know how you feel. It's pretty lame. I have really bad anxiety and panic attacks. Once I could leave my house for a week and a half because it got so intense that I couldn't control it. I had panic attacks about once ever other hour and extreme anxiety between them. I lost my job because of it.

I can't go see anyone about it because I don't have insurance or the money to pay anyone but their are lots of home remedies that I found really useful. One of them being smelling something that reminds you of your childhood. Maybe your mothers perfume, your fathers cologne, or baby powder (that's what I used). If you smell it and try to calm yourself down it is really useful, for me anyways. I also used statistics to keep myself from feeling completely insane. I found out that 1/4 people have panic or anxiety attacks at least once a week and that 90 some odd percent of people over the age of 50 have had at least one panic or anxiety attack in their life.

The best advice I can give is don't let it run your life. I read that is how phobias manifest themselves. If, for example, you have a panic attack in your car and you avoid getting in cars for that reason you might develop a phobia of cars by grouping cars and panic attacks. I never ran from any of the things that caused me to feel that way and it made me feel more in control which helped me get over my panic attacks. It's been about 2 months since I have had a full blown panic attack and I feel really accomplished.

I hope that helped.

[S-Majere]

I had panic attacks in my highschool. For me, it was all about a lack of self-confidence. Fortunately, I overcame them - either I simply grew out of them, or more likely, I realised the root cause of my attacks.

I wouldn't suggest seeking professional help - you'd most probably get directed to a counsellor; which in my opinion can make things a lot worse because you're constantly reliving what's gone wrong in your life and second-guessing yourself - so try if you can to find the cause of your anxiety (exam stress, friends, family etc) and work on it from there.

All the best!

[karmakiller]

Thanks guys. Krystal, I'm so glad that you're doing well handling your panic attacks. I'm glad that I'm not the only one who feels this way. I really don't know what it is. Lately, I'll just start freaking out over little things, and sometimes it makes me feel like I'm bi-polar. The night before last I started having a panic attack and felt like something really bad was going to happen, like someone was going to die. Honestly, it makes me feel like I'm some sort of freak.

I've had a lot of issues with my anxiety and school. I've always had issues at school with it, mainly because of all the people and sometimes I get panicy around a lot of people. But ever since Sophmore I've found myself not wanting to be alone walking the halls of school. Sophmore year I was walking in the halls during class when two kids brought guns to school, I was fine, but I think seeing them like that affected me. I never really thought of it, because my main panic isn't focused on those kids, but I must say that I have an irrational fear that there's going to be a Columbine at my school now.

I've been contemplating going and talking to my case manager at school about what my options might be. I mean, she's gone to school and gotten her masters in stuff like this, and since I trust her I think she might be able to point me in the right direction. I just don't want to lay out a lot of money and get no benefit from professional help.

[ersatz]

I have a lot of anxiety problems. I don't have panic attacks, but I'm always nervous and always worrying. I always assume the worst will happen and...mine is really a combination of all types of problems.

There's medication that people can take for panic attacks. Do you only get panicky at school? If so, then your story about the two kids with guns could very well be the root of the problem.

[DeadlyKitten]

i have both anxiety and panic attacks. neither are fun. I found that the best way to relax yourself if to breath in cold air or hold ice on your chest. lavender sented things help out ALOT also. i carry a bottle of lavender body spray with me everywhere i go.

[karmakiller]

Well, as of today I've talked with my case manager at school and she recommend a therapist who deals with anxiety for me to go see... my health insurance will probably help cover the costs of going. For now, I am willing to go to therapy and I think it's a big step for me. I really need to get this under control because I plan on going to college this fall. If I learn some new techniques and stuff I'll come back and share with you guys

You guys make me feel a little less alone in this, and I don't even know you. Thanks guys.

[TheWinterBones]

I don't know how to get out of one of these situations. I also suffer form anxiety, I'm diagnosed with anxiety on my medical records. But I haven't had the whole shaking experience for a while. I think it was worse when my anorexia played the biggest role. It's kinda "died down" for now.

I don't breathe at a normal pace, ever. Nobody would know this. But I do. And that's aparently down to anxiety.

The only weird public experiences I had was my tendency for blacking out. But I was more anaemic than ever and I wasn't eating. I'd shake when I finally got a hold of myself. Whenever that happens, I don't go for just any drink, but the one drink I wont drink otherwise: Any cold soda brings me back within 30seconds.

[Reidar]

I have similar experiences, although not really as severe, so to what degree this pertains to you may vary. But my tactic? Confidence.

I'll be in public places when I suddenly feel torturously hot and itchy from head to toe (although that rules because I can pretend I'm in lava), and that everyone is looking at me and thinking about how ugly some portion of me is, and I'd rather be somewhere else alone for no reason at all. I just ignore it because my assurance in myself overwhelms it. I know I'm ugly, but I don't care. I like being ugly, in fact. Or perhaps everyone else is ugly, and by my standards, I'm the only good-looking person! So I always adopt a sort of arrogance. This makes most people not like me, but when I'm that confident in my own self, I don't need friends, because I can do anything. Consequently, when I get those uncomfortable sessions, it's little problem to shut it out, even though it's most definitely there.

I also over-contemplate it, which also works with any kind of pain. I think, what exact part of me feels like this? I think and think about it, trying to pinpoint the components that comprise the feeling, and I become like an outsider to it, numb from the discomfort. "Who says this is 'pain'? What exactly is pain? How is this uncomfortable?" It really ruins the mood of it. Nice try, futile physiological sensations!

[Luna5]

I have PTSD. I just went to the doctor and got some pills for it. It helped but it made me feel tired and out of it all the time.