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...
One thing I have noticed following major panic attacks and anxiety is being in a 'frozen' state. I don't know how else to describe it, but I have to push myself extremely hard to do anything, I break down in tears frequently, I sleep or want to sleep a lot, and I generally feel ill and fatigued. Today was one of those days (I had a panic attack Monday night and pushed through to attend events Tuesday and Wednesday, and did enjoy them with the anxiety in the background). I did manage to wash, dry, and fold two loads of laundry, but nothing else. I really have trouble on these kinds of days, because I feel like there is no reason why I can't be more productive. I also am not at work until the new year, so not having a regular schedule doesn't help the situation at all. Do any of you experience this frozen state? What helps?
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I haven't written in my diary on my computer since May because I thought that my computer was dying. I got away from writing but my computer is hanging in there. I think that I will start writing in it again. It's so therapeutic.
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Years ago, I won a mirrored armoire from my job. It's in my bedroom but I rarely stand in front of it. Yesterday, I had to have a dexascan done so I had to change into a gown. There was a full length mirror in the changing room. I'm aware that I gained 5 to 7 pounds over the last year from cheating on Keto but I didn't know what it looked like. It was a reality check.
"Tactile Grounding Exercises" are my lifeline for dissociation. There are tons of exercises published on the internet, but the simplicity in my mind is that I use my physical senses to pull myself back to the here and now. Touch is the most basic of those senses. Running my fingers across a table top or my arm. Fingering a doodad in my pocket. Focusing on the wind blowing across my face. Rubbing an ice cube on my neck. Whatever. The simplicity is grounding myself in the here and now to calm my nerves.
And then, of course, come the breathing exercises. Regulating my breath is one of my most important anxiety management tools, but when I am in a dissociated state, I typically don't have the resources to regulate my breath. Dissociation is survival instinct at its meanest.
Steadying support while you find what works for you, Denise. Panic attacks suck, both literally and figuratively.
Best wishes.
Just wondering Denise, did this just start since you started on the Celexa?
A suggestion I will offer is to resist taking on too many tools at once. Mastering one or three tools is far more effective than having the biggest unused collection in town. Itsy bitsy baby steps allow far greater mastery than big fancy leaps that crash and burn with discouraging ease.
Media fasting is an important tool for me, as well. I have a hyper-active metabolism and over-stimulation is a biggie for me. I still keep up with current events, but I do my own research. Spare me the commentary about the President's hairstyle choices. Monitoring my media diet helps allot.
Arfie, that is probably a really good idea. I tend to try to take on too much at one time anyway. I am working on the grounding exercise and also trying to stop fighting the feelings, which is hard for me to do. I often end up getting frustrated at my lack of control, which leads to more anxiety.