Do you have anyone professional to talk with? A therapist or psychologist? Have you been prescribed medicines? If so, are you taking them?

It sounds like you need to center your life and build from there. I have anxiety, too, and I try by lying in bed (in a safe space) and then concentrate on quieting my concerns. I review what is making me anxious and try to deal with logically. Now, this doesn't always work, and you have to do it several times to get progress. But it has helped.

I hope this helps.

Anxiety over making this title...that was great! LOL. You're funny. I'm sorry you are going thru this. Right now...I feel like my anxiety is high again. Mostly in part to the tension being in quarantine and the fear of catching the virus.

Every day I walk, meditate, pray, and reach out to people...and started therapeutic drawing. However...it's still creeping in...and I have moments where I feel this anxious energy...and it just wants to take over.

I have to stop and breathe...and literally rationalize with myself...that this is anxiety...and I will be ok...eventually the moment will pass. I have started waking up again to pandemic related dreams/nightmares.

Freaking out..is my enemy too. I have to tell myself to not overthink what's happening...not to trigger my health anxiety..and just try to do something else and distract myself.

Some things that help me are: turning off all noise and just sitting in a softly lit room and reducing stimulation. with a nice candle on, turning off phone notifications for awhile, playing a word game that takes alot of focus, do something creative, go on youtube and watch funny videos, and sometimes take something to just go to bed earlier. I notice if I don't have good sleep my anxiety is worst.

Thanks! You're definitely not alone.

Thanks for sharing. My anxiety and panic attacks have spiked in the past couple of months. My mind is constantly racing trying to find the perfect thing to "cure" my anxiety and the list has become quite long. Currently taking an anti-depressant again and starting therapy again tomorrow. I feel like my anxiety lately has been revolving around trying to self-therapize! Trying to take my anxiety symptoms one at a time now as they come. Maybe I can take the load of bricks of my chest by facing them one by one. Feeling slightly manic right now so it is easy to write.

I think a lot of us who have anxiety are feeling even more so with this pandemic. My therapist wanted me to talk to a safe friend about my traumas and anxiety. When I talked to my friend she started crying saying she was so sorry for what I had been through. I didn’t go into the details or it would have really triggered me. This made my anxiety worse. When I am keyed up, I try relaxation skills to help calm me like deep breathing from my lower abdomen, meditation, calming music or by taking a warm bath. I also journal and challenge my thoughts. As others have mentioned therapy can also help. Hope you feel better soon.

Hello,
Thank you for sharing. Because of this pandemic, people are scared and worried. We don’t know when this pandemic is going to end. Online groups like this are a big help for us to know that we are not alone. Keep sharing, we are here to encourage one another.

Stay strong. God bless.

Sorry for what you are going through and thanks for sharing. Keep sharing, as it helps tremendously. I can relate to what you said about just having anxiety in making the title. I used to get tremendous anxiety by "putting myself out there" in posting on these threads. But it got easier, just as gradual exposure to what freaks you out will tend to do.

I'm a huge advocate for CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and I'm always plugging it on this site. One of the major parts of CBT is exposure therapy. It's scary, but it has worked for many, myself included. Boiled down, its pretty simple -face your fears. Do so gradually. Each time you do, you will come to realize that what you thought you feared is actually not that bad and you will acclimatize to it.


My other huge peace of advice: if you are physically capable, exercise! As a long-time anxiety sufferer, I refused to take this advice for many years, but I have changed my tune in the last few years and boy, does it really help. There is nothing like a good cardio session to ease the anxious mind. Studies have shown that it can have the same effect psychologically as taking medication.


If you think about it, when we are anxious and having panic attacks, our bodies naturally want to go into "fight or flight " mode due to all the epinephrine and norepinephrine being released. So don't fight the urge. Your body wants to run, so run!

Keep sharing and keep looking up.

Definitely felt that 80 pound ball on your chest. I feel that way everyday for like the past week. Starting taking Xanax but it’s not helping

Hey, its nice to know (although not nice) that other people are feeling this same way!

I am pretty new to this mega anxiety that I have felt the fast few days, which has literally felt like that 80 pound ball on my chest!I have also I have been watching funny films, had a bath...and wierdly, a good old cry to my mum which helped no end!
Mine started wierdly after a run though...so today I may try some yoga or something to get these awful pains out of my chest where I carry all my anxiety and stress.

We will get through this! Its nice to know there is support when we need it and that we are not alone :)

xxxx

Hey everyone, thank you for having the courage to share your own experiences because for me at least anytime I am feeling alone this is a nice reminder that I am not. Also thank you for everyone with the advice that was given, I am personally open to trying anything and am glad to know people here are not only showing support, but offering guidance as well.