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...
Hey everyone, I hope you all are doing alright, although since you are on this thread, I'm not naive enough to believe you are all doing fine and dandy. However, I have been doing 10000% better after suffering from extremely severe anxiety, paranoia, derealization and agoraphobia earlier this year. I cried everyday and contemplated dropping out of school. I know what you are all feeling and want to help in the way that I wanted someone to help me back then. If you like music, I have a great suggestion. Listening to the band flyleaf during this horrible time helped me tremendously. They are the most melodic, beautiful, peaceful and meaningful songs ever. They were my one source of peace of mind during all this emotional turmoil. Please, if you are struggling, listen to a few tracks by them on YouTube. Try break your knees, light in your eyes, and broken wings. You will come away relaxed and refreshed. It's worth a shot right? Also, does it snow in your area? Stopping to appreciate the beauty and serenity of the fallen snow during my manic times was so calming and peaceful. I also took a half hour each morning when I woke up to take a xanex, close my eyes, and think about absolutely nothing. It was glorious. Also, really putting perspective into my anxiety and realizing that anything I was doing was not nearly as big of a deal as I was making it. I was scared to go to class? I was a girl going to class. What was the big deal? I hope this offers some assistance to you wonderful people. You will beat this.
It was encouraging.
I've been doing well for a number of months now, but last year a couple periods of near-panics & lots of serious worry...happened. So now I somes wonder if that could ever happen again.
I, also, think of myself as being here to offer help; but hope too I'm building a support network for any future difficulties.
better go, stay well
Cal
It's so wonderful to hear your anxiety is under control. I'm not sure Flyleaf is my cup of tea, but you're right to say that music is one of the many things we can use to help us relax, as well as a bit of CBT and meditation, which you have been using to great effect.
However, you have to become aware that anxiety is negative thinking...although sometimes anxiety may be caused by other things such as medication or an illness.....but more times than not, it is self induced.
The mind is a very powerful instrument. The mind can create a host of things, but what you program into your brain may not be true. Your brain doesn't know if it's true or not....it only programs what you think or feel or your beliefs (it works like a computer).
You didn't get anxiety over night, so there is no quick cure for it. You have to retrain your brain and undo the "bad" messages you have been feeding your brain. It takes constant work which is why working with a therapist is suggested. I won't lie, I also used medication for several months until I could quiet my mind enough to work and corral my thoughts and feelings.
I learned to embrace my anxiety which I battled 24/7 instead of fighting it. I learned to stop the negative thoughts/messages in their tracks and countered them with positive self talk. I also used the deep breathing method constantly while telling myself I was not in any danger (the ol fight or flight response). I also looked around so that I could show my mind I was not in any danger and that whatever my brain was triggered from a past experience was over and not happening.
When you get sick and tired of the anxiety and what you are doing isn't working....try something new such as what I am sharing with you.
Listening to positive music and affirmation is a good start, but not the whole cure. The whole cure is in listening to your inner chatter.....self talk and re evaluate the messages you are giving yourself and portraying.
When a symptom shows up and you have been checked out by a doctor, identify that it is anxiety and that it hasn't hurt you thus far and will not hurt you any time soon. Know this a grab onto the knowledge that it can't and won't hurt you. Do the deep breathing while talking out loud to yourself. Talk as if you are talking to a small child and showing him/her that they are not in any danger.
Then distract yourself with a project.....a hobby.....some excellent positive music of your choice. I found smiling when the anxiety got bad and saying out loud that I know what you are and I am ok.
I went on youtube and found some really relaxing hypnotherapy clips for anxiety to help when I couldn't quiet my mind....they are so helpful and free :)
You MUST work on this daily....sometimes several times a day until you retrain your brain into thinking positive thoughts and learning to love yourself.
I'm posting some youtube clips here that may be helpful....use headphones and listen in a quiet room with no distraction for the best results.
I wish all of you to turn off the news.....most of it's negative. Be open and persistent in finding what works for you as an individual.
Stop giving the symptoms so much power.....in other words....concentrate on getting better and the symptoms you have created will disappear.
These are some of my favorite clips. I love they are guided becuz I had a hard time corralling my thoughts and feelings enough to work on calming my mind....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCJJwkbn-eY&list=PL9YIQ3VQXhziV1h01SiHv9j5QTKiE06g4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vizQU6wyfwM&list=TLXbLbr2qQDeI
Derealization is awful, I truly understand you because I've had it really bad in the past. What my brother, who is a psychiatrist, recommended to me is mindfulness, which is the act of being aware of the present moment. Allison did just this when she was contemplating the snow, and right before taking her Xanax in the morning.
Mindfulness is also about focusing on an action as much as possible. For example, you can focus on your breathing. Here is a bunch of videos that you can use as guidance, and which I found on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=deep+breathing+exercises+for+anxiety
Count cars passing down your street, watch the clouds in the sky and focus on the shapes they change into, do anything that can distract you.
I spent my teenage years feeling like you, not fun, but I hope all the advice you receive here is helpful and the support comforting.
I've no reason to think the derealization will continue and continue.
When I had depression which as intense, we were finally found the right doctor and the first moment he and I saw each other..I felt some relief. Be it as it may -- my own case, I think you might just find someone you can work with; and pretty soon it will be gone.
I hope you have some good luck,
gotta go, . . /Caleb
The first song I happened upon by Flyleaf was "Fully Alive", which I cranked up the volume to and listened to over and over again because I have many times felt the Freedom from Abuse and Fully Alive as I do Right Now in My Being, while Sincerely Feeling Happy For You : )
Also, I do love watching Big Fluffy Flakes of Snow Fall Gently To The Ground : )
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