Hi Leash and warm welcome to Beyond Blue forums
Finding your way here is a great first step. Anxiety is debilitating at times, however, it is manageable. There are loads of self help things you can do to reduce the symptoms.
Sounds like you are at the point you want to do something about it? I'm not sure what you've tried so bear with me as I run through the usual things I suggest. By the way, I'm no health professional, I just live with anxiety, depression and PTSD.
There are many things people do. Some things work for one, but the same things do not work for another. Part of the challenge when managing anxiety is to find out what works best for you.
Things that have really helped me are:
- finding a good doctor who understands mental health issues
- seeing good psychologists who understand PTSD
- writing in a journal - those things that trigger me, what I was feeling, expressing the anger, happiness that went along with those feelings
- breathing - learning to slow my breathing. Counting in for 5 and out for 5.
- mindfulness, grounding, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Exposure Therapy, Hypnotherapy, Dialectic Behavioural Therapy...... (and many more I can't remember)
- trying to live a healthy lifestyle - i.e. regular exercise, eating a well balanced diet, limiting alcohol
- establishing networks of friendships through work, and joining clubs of interest (e.g. photography and wildlife)
- being financially responsible.
Hope this hasn't put you off. All these things have taken years to achieve. Little steps over a long time. I do slip up now and again but I dig into my bag of tools my psychologists have given me over the past 20 years and I find something to help me at any particular time.
After all my ramblings. Do you see a doctor or health professional about your anxiety? Maybe that might be your next step. Finding a doctor and health professional who understands anxiety very well. Don't have to do everything at once.
When you're up to it, there is a thread - Self Help Tips for Managing Anxiety under the Mental Health Conditions. It's pinned to the top of the Anxiety forum page.
Feel free to browse and join the discussions on topics that you relate to. You can do searches if you want using the search field at the top of the BB webpage.
