Anxiety Support Group
Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...
I never thought I would find myself writing on an online forum. I also never thought I would find myself struggling daily with Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia. I feel like my life is in a time loop. I wake up to the same agonizing day. When times are really hard I want to sleep and never wake up. When thoughts like that pop into my head it scares me to think that death is the only option I have to rid myself of the hopelessness I feel. I'm tired of feeling like there's nothing to look forward to in my life. I'm tired of thinking my life will always be consumed by pain and frustration. Even if it's for a few minutes I would be grateful to feel something besides sorrow. This can't be all there is to life.
I wanted to beat it and get my life back. I'd tried everything ... medication, alternative therapies, but I wasn't getting any long term results that give me the resilience I need to deal with a (probably) lifelong condition. Finally, I tried taking the advice doctors have been giving me for years, and I started exercising (!).
I hate exercise. I'm allergic to it. But it actually feels really good, it's lifted the cloud I was under, and suddenly I'm able to deal. I still get the panics and I'm working on that, but exercising really helps because it mimics the symptoms of a panic attack, and slowly my mind is being trained to associate those feelings with enjoyment and empowerment, instead of fear and spiralling out of control.
Cardio workouts are great for energy and endorphin boots (waaay better than taking medication for the same effect!), and yoga is really calming for the mind and plus it makes me feel strong. When I feel strong in my body, I feel strong in my mind and then I feel like I can beat anything, even my anxiety. I'm not there yet, but lately I feel so positive about my progress, and I know everything will be awesome again in the near future.
I hope this reply doesn't sound preachy! I guess I'm a little excited to have found something that works, and it gives me hope for better times ahead. I was going through the 'groundhog day' scenario for such a long time, and it really was a last resort for me. Not only does it work, but it gives me something to get excited about each day. I've even started guided meditations, which seem to be rewiring my thinking, creating mental habits of positivity, self-confidence and resilience.
All you need is YouTube and a quiet place where you can lock the door and close the curtains. I really do think you'll feel the benefits, even if it is just something different to break the monotony of what you're going through every day ... either way, good luck and make sure you take care of yourself. The bad things you feel right now won't be there forever, I promise :)