of course it comes back. i buy the theory that anxiety is a hard-wired part of our survival instinct. it comes back as surely as our will to keep on living. in my personal anxiety cycles, the spikes happen when i am not so confident i want to keep on living the way i have been. ply psychotherapy tools here.

gentle empathy on the wearisome nature of the anxiety cycle. i wonder sometimes if i can find a brain surgeon to remove that pesky lizard brain

Thanks for your thoughts

That sounds hard, bpswan, and I certainly have felt more anxiety recently after a relative stable spell. Does giving yourself positive affirmations help when you're feeling overwhelmed? I know it does for me. But none the less, it sucks to feel that way.

Sorry your anxiety is back. It is hard each time we go through an episode. I have found mine is very chemical and seems to come on around my time of the month. I have been keeping a record of when I tend to feel the anxiety on and how long it seems to stay. You might want to discuss with your doctor. I am going to look into hormone treatments. In the meantime, when I struggle I do a lot of positive self-talk and visualization exercise of what if feels like to be at peace and focus on that instead of the anxiety.

Here are a few techniques I find helpful.

1) The 557 breathing technique is take 5 deep breaths in while thinking good thoughts about yourself like I matter, I am special, I am strong and then hold the breaths for the count of 7 focusing on those words about yourself, then let out the breath slowly for 5 seconds letting go of any anxious, self-defeating, unhealthy thoughts. I do this one to three times a sitting.

2)The gratitude journal is writing down something good every morning and night something that went well in the day, or something I appreciate about myself. Taking our focus off of the anxiety and depression and focusing on positive uplifting things really helps. What you think is what you believe. So thinking uplifting things you believe those things but the reverse is true - thinking negative self-defeating things, you will believe those.

3) Emotional Freedom Tapping - https://bit.ly/3AVYNiX You use pressure points to tap on those points while you repeat positive uplifting things to yourself.)

I will be praying for you. Feel free to pm me if you'd like to chat. Hugs and God Bless

How are you doing? I have been praying for you. Hugs

Thank you for your thoughts and suggestions. They are very much appreciated. After 23 years I do have some tools in the tool box that help. It just comes back sometimes and when you have a period of time (a year or so ) and it returns, it’s SO discouraging and I feel defeated and disappointed. It eventually goes away again. A counselor once said, “there are element of anxiety that you will most likely always have and will need to manage”. So I guess I’ve just resolved myself to accepting the occasional return. Generally my anxiety is in fact manageable. I can work and function 99% of the time. I guess I will vent every now and then and it is nice to get some kind thoughts of encouragement to get me through. Thanks so much!

Thank you for your update and that you have become aware that this may happen from time to time in our lives. I agree the venting and encouragement from this site is helpful during the tough times. Blessings to you and I hope you enjoy this holiday season.