Weather Anxiety - How to remain calm and not panic

[Amelin_21]

Hi everyone,

It's been a while since I last posted. It's been good. I've had my anxiety under control and have changed jobs to reduce my stress to help. But the weather lately with strong winds has heightened my nerves and has brought the anxiety and panic feelings back. Last night it felt like I woke up feeling like I was about to have a panic attack and I can only attribute it to the strong winds and I worry about the house blowing apart. I have tried to remain calm when the wind is severe and tell myself it's ok but at the moment it feels like subconsciously my body is still reacting even though my mind is telling it something else. 

I was hoping to get some tips on how to manage these feelings and heavy chest during these windy, wild spring days. I can go for a drive to escape it at home but then overtime it's likely that will lead to having anxiety from being home (that happened with covid) and I can't have that happen again. Usually I would keep myself busy to help reduce the feelings but the whole house creeks and shakes in strong wind so it's not so easy to drown it out with sound or visually. 

Any tips would be great. 

[Croix]

Dear Amelin_21

Welcome back. I was very pleased to read you have overcame your anxiety from before. I guess it means you have something inside you that can do it again.

At the risk of repeating what has already been suggested I'd still suggest:

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/anxiety/treatments-for-anxiety/anxiety-management-strategies

which is a pretty good basis.

Plus the thread Self Help Tips for Managing Anxiety

which has a lot put into it since A Grace started it.

Strong winds can be unsettling, I think if it was me I'd go out for a very short time on the protected side of the house to try to get a feel for it, in a creaky house it might sound worse than it is. Please do not do this if you do not feel up to it or thereis any chance anything can go amiss.

As an additional precaution make as ready as you can for a power failure, these do happen around my area after winds, wiht charged phone, torch lighting and dry clothes plus wallet. While the chances of needing such things is very small there is always a comfort in being prepared.

Do you have anyone around to support you when these feelings of anxiety get too great?

Croix