HOW DO YOU CONTROL YOUR ANXIETY?

[BaByGaBe]

I have a hard time controlling myself when I begin to get a anxiety or a panic attack I automatically want to go to the E.R. but I get more nervous there.. I would like to know how you guys calm yourself from this? PLEASE HELP.

[Jennifer375]

quote "Your body is reacting to the belief that you tell yourself, so you have to tell yourself otherwise, over and over until it now becomes the norm."

Wow,, I wish we were allowed signature tags,, Id definatly use this. Thankyou Jess.

*bows in apprication*

[jess990]

I agree with all. Your body is doing what you have been telling it to do for soo long. You have to tell your body to do otherwise. So, when you get that first feeling of panic, your brain is now programmed & "sensitized" to go into further panic,but with practice, you can retrain your brain by the thoughts you tell yourself not to go into deeper panic, put disbelief to the fear that you are going to die, prove in wrong and you will gladly lose your sensitivity, it may be uncomfortable still for a while, but it will gradually subside, quicker and quicker. Your body is reacting to the belief that you tell yourself, so you have to tell yourself otherwise, over and over until it now becomes the norm.
Good luck, we are all here in the same boat with you!!

[chigirl29]

I find ways to distract myself--like thinking how much I hate the ER and would not want to be there.  How many germs are there and that I am better off at home.

And then I get my Ativan.

Okay--so I'm not so brave..but distraction helps most of the time.

I hope you can find some way of talking yourself down from the anxiety.

[be still my beating heart 13]

I tell myself that I have been through this before, I will make it throught this just fine, calm down, it will pass.  When I start to panic I just have to "grin and bear it", but a while ago I noticed that there were subtle physical warning signs that I may panic, like trembly fingers/hands, or dizziness, and I would get up and exercise, or clean the house, to burm up the extra adrenaline coursing through my system.  It works evertime.  If I exercise regularly I have little to no anxiety symptoms, and never panic.  Look for your warning signs, and then find an activity that will help you burn up that adrenaline!  

[Jennifer375]

Hiya Babygabe (love the name) Im no longer taking benzopines for anxiety at all,, but like today I do still have 'bad' days. Usually the first thing I do is pay attention to what the cause of feeling nervouse is in my body. For me today its that my back feels cool/cold and keeps geting a chill , my arms are hot and almost sweaty as are my legs, but my feet and hands feel like ice.

Soooo first thing I do is try to get the tempature more regular in this place... the floors cold but the heater kicks on and Im sweating. The point is, our physical sensations tend to be a frequent trigger to anxiety attacks.. so the first thing to do is figure out where yoru body is feeling so weird and out of wack and do what you can to correct that,, like take a hot shower if your overly cold,, eating if you feel a little nauseated and realize you havent in hours. (eating regularly is a big help for me, I tend to eat mostly at night and cant seem to eat during the day very well)

I also avoid caffine because this seems to trigger palpatations... mabey some of us develop sensativity to caffine over time and it doesnt work the way it used to as simply a stimulant anymore.

And I avoid watching anything on TV that envokes worry or fear,, CSI type shows, medical mystery shows, news when its all bad lol... emotions raise adrenaline/stress hormones ,, so dont doubt these have an impact on your mental health.

*wishing you peace and calm in your life*

Jennifer

[savygaby]

you can't add fear to a panic attack it kicks more adrenaline threw your system and fuels your panic attack if you face the panic accept don't fear it you will notice that the attack passes , you should look for dr claire weekes books they are very helpful for panic and anxiety you can find them online they are old books but very helpful