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...
It is almost 3am and I cannot get to sleep. I feel uneasy, my stomach is sour and tender, and I am really hot. However in don't think I'm sick. I only had a class of tea today and then water....so caffeine isn't this issue. I went to my cousin's graduation today and I started to get panicky....I thought I would need to run to the bathroom because I felt like I was going to cry. I have to be up at 7 am and I am still not tired. I am scared that my anxiety is getting worse....it have never not slept because of anxiety before and honesty I have nothing to be anxious about (that I am consciously aware of that is.) I am also at my dads house and he does not really understand how to handle my anxiety....so I am really trying hard not let myself start to panic because I won't have anyone there for me.
I try to ignore things instead of dealing with them sometimes, which is more like repressing them. Occasionally things bubble over.
Anyway, just some things to consider. I hope you feel better and get some sleep soon.
It may help you think through your relationship with anxiety...
You are not alone, we are all here for you.
Try breathing and clenching your fists for 20 seconds and let go. Feel the difference in how your muscles feel tense vs relaxed. That is a good technique to physically remind your body on how to feel relaxed.
Wishing you all the best today :)
I don't take xanex often but in this situation I will. If I don't sleep well one night and the next night I have trouble, I'll take a xanex. That breaks the pattern.
I think "safe people" are so important but boy, they can be hard to find. They need to be patient and understanding but when we find them we sort of want to be around them all the time because it feels nice to not be so anxious! : )
Do you have any "safe objects" that help you? I keep mine in a box - certain scents, sounds and sites can really help to calm you. A particular music CD, movie, life-savers (ha!), a candle that smell nice or incense if you're into that. Pictures of friends or calming scenes.
You can also keep a note in there to yourself that you write when you're NOT anxious. Just letting yourself know what you need to hear in that moment. I also have numbers for people I can call or text when I feel anxious. I won't all friends in the middle of the night but there are anxiety lines you can call at any hour.
I also keep a few fun things in that anti-anxiety box. Sparkly nail polish, do it yourself facials, a drawing pad and colored pencils. I figure if I'm up, I may as well have an artsy spa night.
And if I'm at that point where I am violently shaking, I have a note for myself in there about that too.
Anxious nights happen from time to time. It sounds like you have been handling a lot - the graduation, traveling, staying at your dad's. My rule is that I can handle two things that make me anxious but not three. Sounds like you did a great job handling a lot of difficult things so I hope you pat yourself on the back.
Remember that tears are okay. It doesn't mean you're "falling apart." It just means you're having a feeling and as humans we all do that.
Throughout the day, if a worry pops up in your head, talk to it and say "I dont have time for you right now. I will worry about you in my worry period." Write it down in a notebook to refer to later if needed. But this way you can try learn to control those thoughts and say "Nope, I have other things to do right now, I will worry about you later." And make sure you do - do go back and get it out during that 30 mins.
See if this helps :)