Hi, welcome
I had anxiety all my life, I'm 68yo, right up to 2012. After 22 years of focussing on anxiety and using all types of remedies I suddenly realised in 2012 that I had eliminated it. Well mostly, as I still have a little during times of stress but not for long.
So, late 1980's it all came to a head with a workplace trauma, a panic attack and a bad heart monitor reading led to the diagnosis of heart attack in my low 30's. That shock resulted in giving up smoking, change of profession and therapy. I was later (years) to find out my heart beat was normal. So what did I do to achieve this result.
Firstly I read up a lot and found that anxiety is indeed a serious disorder that should not be underestimated, it can also lead to depression and other illnesses. Best conquer before all that happens.
So the "mix" is a number of steps as a whole and all are as important as each other.
- Therapy cannot be underestimated. This step found me learning how to discount worrying about issues that are not realistic. Fantasising about things that wont happen, fears, etc are not good for you. I learned how to distract myself from intrusive thoughts. Your fears when you go out is among this. I used to visit shopping centres and dream of being chased, I had to over and over remind myself that that fear isnt real.
- Workplace- many are toxic and corrupt, change it
- Profession- my Achilles heal was law enforcement (not police) and finding difficulty accepting that there is a grey area in life. My therapist said "there is 8 billion people on the planet, they are all grey except you are black and white" So my issues were pin pointed and that helps.
- Toxic family and friends. Ridding them from your life is, in the end, a good thing
- A sleep study. Any sleep disorder should be diagnosed and action taken. Good sleep is essential
- Hobbies and sports. Even barracking for a team is a good thing.
- Financial comfort- that merely means enough satisfaction so you are not worrying. Short, medium and long goals with plans
- Holidays
- Back to basics. Relaxation.
Here is a few posts I've written that will assist. You only need to read the 1st post of each. I hope it helps. Reply anytime.
https://forums.beyondblue.org.au/t5/anxiety/anxiety-how-l-eliminated-it/td-p/183873
https://forums.beyondblue.org.au/t5/anxiety/worry-worry-worry/td-p/87808
https://forums.beyondblue.org.au/t5/staying-well/a-good-nights-deep-sleep-sleep-apnea-and-cpap/td-p/...
The following one has links that are worth looking at.
https://forums.beyondblue.org.au/t5/staying-well/meditation-words-of-wisdom-it-helped-me-for-25-year...
TonyWK
