Hey Ryan,
i just joined the group just so I could answer your forum comments..My years of suffering anxiety has taught me that very rarely is it a physical thing.. but in saying that, always get checked out if you are at all worried.
Ive been living with the ‘dreaded’ for about 20 years. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.
I am currently finding I have like a metal band around my diaphragm and can barely breathe. I know it’s anxiety because with some conscience mindful breathing I can eventuallyshift it.
Heres my tips for what they are worth...
Have you tried, laying back in a recliner chair of some sort, or just ‘planking? put a 50c piece on the top of your stomach, just under your diaphragm and then sit or lay there and try to breathe in enough, to lift the coin. Slow and steady lifting. Sounds easy but you have to breathe in deep to lift the coin.
This does two things, it makes you concentrate on something other than your worries and it forces you to deep breathe.. If the lack of breathe, is causing the trouble, this really does help get it sorted and it can be done anywhere in any chair. You just need to lay back.
You also mentioned a stressful job. My younger brother had a very stressful job and was always zooming from one job to the next.He was a foreman of some sort I think???? He was always too busy to eat decent food, and drink water, in his hurry.
Anxiety pains can be similar to hunger pains and the brain can’t tell them apart. So you get hungry, and your body goes into anxiety mode.
I passed on a trick to my brother, he spent a lot of time in a car.. Always carry a box of healthy, non salted nuts (your favourites so you will eat them) and bottles of water.
Snack and drink as much as you can on the nuts and the water. This will help fend off the attacks.. my brother was always being carted to hospital with suspected heart attacks and the nuts and water stopped it completely.
Lastly, my suggestion is to minimise junk food as much as possible. Eat a sandwich instead of a pie, drink water not soft drink. Junk food is laced with too much sugar and this exacerbates anxiety. Try and eat a high protein breakfast, bacon and eggs..mushrooms..
Try to remember you are young and fit and loved. Anxiety does feel like there is a major health problem. Please try the above diet and breathing every day for a week and see if it helps. Anxiety is an illness and like a diabetic, lifestyle changes can really make a HUGE difference.
wishing you all the best.
