First time poster needing comfort in others going through the same

[jess_b]

Hey guys!

So this is my first time posting but I wanted to get some advice from others who suffer anxiety and experience the same and what you do to cope!!

The past few days I have just been getting more and more anxious for no particular reason and sometimes it just feels like its so overwhelming that if I don’t stop those thoughts I’ll have a panic attack and loose control so I try and control them before I get to that point but then I’m constantly worried in my head about thinking about me being anxious and thinking about having an attack and loosing control it just seems like a vicious cycle I can’t get out of! My chest is tight and I feel shakey, no or little appetite, fidgeting, hot and cold flushes and just like a foggy dizzy view sometimes when I’m in the midst of it all!

I couldn’t calm down last night i just felt constantly an underlying tone of anxiety but still pushed through and went and caught up with friends and it took me a while to fall asleep last night and then this morning I just woke up and felt immediately just anxious, did some mediation but I have to go to work today and I just wanted to chat with someone or others who go through this and am I normal haha

how do you cope? What’s some strategies and does everyone just have those days that your anxiety just flares up for no reason?

Any help or openess to chat would be appreciated ❤️

[Betternow]

Good morning Jess B.

I hope your anxiety has settled down a little today. The symptoms you have described are classic characteristics of an over busy mind that is often seen in anxiety disorders. The good news is that treatment is available and can be very effective managing your distress (but probably not cure it).

it sounds like you have not experienced a panic attack, which is also a positive. You don’t mention whether you have been given a formal diagnosis or whether you have sought treatment. I would urge you to visit your GP who may refer you for psychological assessment.

So getting back to your question, how do we sufferers cope. It would take more space than is allowed here but here is a brief overview for me.

Reduce or avoid alcohol and caffeine.

Practice good sleep hygiene.

Lay off social media, over use of tablets, watching negative news stories etc.

Develop a routine of physical exercise (wear yourself out so you don’t have the energy to be anxious).

Remind yourself that anxiety cannot hurt you, millions suffer from it, don’t try and fight it.

But above all seek treatment.

Good luck.

[jess_b]

Hey Betternow,

thank you for your quick reply!! Sorry I should of been more specific! I have gone to the GP and I’ve been put on a mental health plan and bookend in to see a psychologist in 2 weeks!

ive also enrolled with mindspot for their online course in anxiety for people suffering on ways they can cope and it involves CBT training which I start soon!

I take something to sleep at night but didn’t really want to go down the mediation road too much!

in saying this I don’t think I’ve suffered a panic attack yet but I defiantly feel like i could get sucked into it if I let myself loose control is that something that normally happens you can feel everything getting overwhelming and stimulating and you can concentrate and you’re hot and cold but then I do something like splash my face or mediate or go for a quick jog or talk to someone to distract myself!!

I had a bit of a cry to my partner this morning and he was very supportive and I think I just need to take things hour by hour today!!

Its helpful to know others in this situation and little things they do throughout the day to distract themselves I have to work on my own today which is daunting to keep myself preoccupied 🤷‍♀️

[Betternow]

Hi Jess

in my experience, panic attacks occur randomly without any build up of anxiety. I’m not suggesting this is the same for everybody but it certainly applies to me. One minute your sitting down having dinner, no particular worries and bingo, heart racing, chest tightening, sweating, feeling hot, a need to escape somewhere etc.

I’m glad you have been active in seeking treatment. If you’re up to it, let us know how you progress. Good luck.

[jess_b]

Thank you for the response Betternow I appreciate that 🙂

[juststu82]

Biggest tip. Don't fight them and learn to love them. Fighting prolongs the attack coming on or keeps you in a state of borderline attack. Go find a space and tell yourself, "OK, go nuts and do your worst" then wait and keep egging it on like you are standing up to a bully who you are goading to punch you so it's over. "come on, is that all? Keep going, I've got all night". When I learned to do this and do it well, I used to get a thrill like a roller-coaster. The secret is, it can't kill you and you know this so let it happen and give it full control to do whatever.

[jess_b]

hey juststu82,

Thank you for getting back to me that quite an interesting approach and maybe I will try this next time I feel overwhelmed and see what happens! It’s just hard on times when I’m at the beach with my partner and all of a sudden I’m in my head feeling like I’m about to loose control and not knowing what to do!
but thank you for responding it gives me a new angle to attack it 🙂