Dear Bear Spud
Thank you for your post and welcome to the forum. This is a good place to come and talk with others. Knowing we are not alone with our various difficulties can be a great help.
Like you and CMF, I also try to remember that I can get through this patch because I have done it before. Does it help? Sometimes. What I also remind myself is that these patches are getting shorter. My difficulty is more depression or intrusive thoughts and of course these make me anxious, which is a bit different to your anxiety. Still the same irritation that it's happening. Doesn't make it any more pleasant.
When my depression was at its worst I used tell myself to hang on for the next half hour, then say it again and again. It gave me something to hang on to rather than saying something like your mantra " I have simply been repeating to myself, one foot in front of the other". It's good to give yourself encouragement. I found setting a time limit helped.
Waiting for half an hour may not sound much but it enabled me to stretch out the time to an hour or half the day etc. These mini goals also helped as I stretched the time and I also did an internal check to see if I felt any better. At first there was not much change only the need to set another goal. Overall I think it worked for me because I did not see it as an endless task or journey, just a goal to reach even if it was only to set another goal.
It's good you know you will get through this and if you compare how you feel now to when you first began having these anxiety attacks you can see it's manageable. Of course this is of limited help at the moment. I presume you have tried all the distraction activities. How are you at work? I take it you do go out to work? How is your anxiety there?
Do you see a mental health person? Do you have medication? I know this is a difficult topic for some, whether to take medication or not. Have you discussed this with your doctor? I am reluctant to take meds but unfortunately I need them because of a physical condition. Plus I take an antidepressant (AD). Sometimes I feel I should rattle when I walk after my morning intake of meds.
Being able to focus on a task, such as being at work, can help. At home make a list of activities you can do which require some concentration and get involved with these. I cannot read or watch TV at these times unless I am doing something else as well. e.g. I sew and watch TV or listen to talk on CD. Hope this helps.
Mary
