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...

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Dmarie1986 01/01/2018

I've been practicing meditation for the past couple of months. The main purpose for it was to actually see if I can sit still, and give myself a "moment" in each crazy, sometimes chaotic day. It's been pretty beneficial in the past couple of months, but most recently I've been using this app called Headspace that is chock full of meditation practices focused on certain areas. One I've recently started was one for anxiety, and the constant reminder in each meditation is that anxiety is not something we can rid ourselves of, but something we can learn to live with, learn from, and in essence, not be controlled by it. I have in the past week felt stabs of anxiety, and rather than panic, I have been trying to explore that feeling- the why's, the what to do's, etc. And I do not know whether it is the desire to not let it control my reactions, or whether the practice is truly working, but I guess I was wondering if anyone in the group has tried it, and I suppose I am interested in hearing about your experience.

No one I know in person practices, and I know they'd snicker and the idea ( I am surrounded by cynics).

nancy6464 01/01/2018

cynics , i find, give me that little healthy dose of skepticism so that I don't run headlong into rash believing.
but they can get weary too.

I meditate, but have not used that app or that process of thinking for anxiety.
thank you for sharing it. i may have to try it..

hugs

Novembergirl1950 01/01/2018

Where I can't afford Headspace, I have found other meditations online and on ROKU that are beneficial. I have to say that I live with daily anxiety and the occasional panic attacks. During a time I had to testify in court against a crimminal, I sat outside the courtroom most of the day and was besieged with panic and anxiety. I practiced counted breathing and trying to slow down my heart rate and eventually it worked. I have used counted controlled breathing for my cancer treatment and when I am in an MRI. I also just started back with a biofeedback program called HeartMath. So, I am a believer in meditating and practicing being in the present moment and grounding techniques that go with that. Keep up your meditation !!! Good for you :)

reno43 01/01/2018

what exactly do you do? (meditation)

expectreality 01/01/2018

I use Simple Habit, it's great for beginners trying to get into the rhythm of mediatating everyday. I haven't heard of Headspace but i'll give it a search after this.

Meditating got me through some really hard times.

I've been bad at keeping up with the meditating due to so many appointments that i have to do throughout the day. But when I get the chance I go to my favourite spot at the beach to hear the ocean waves, sit, journal, and overall just give some time to me.

Hope things turn out best for you,

PS. I do recommend a group meditation every now and then. Not necessarily because you're doing it wrong, or whateverf else the cynics might say, but because the sense of community really helps.

Dmarie1986 01/01/2018

I definitely will give the group thing a try. Before the headspace app, I pretty much started from some techniques from library books. The one thing that really moved things forward was quiet mornings at MOMA. On the first wednesday every month, you can go tour the exhibitions and it follows with a group meditation early in the morning. When I went it was held by the Dan Harris ( ABC correspondent and author of 10% happy). With that said, the group meditation is probably the perfect motivation to keep it up!

MsBlank1 01/02/2018

My anxiety is what led me to meditation.....which cured my anxiety/panic attacks.
When I finally realized that I was creating the anxiety (living in my head and projecting the future due to my past. I find living in the moment with meditation.....being mindful and doing rants of gratitude have cured my anxiety issue).
Meditation has led to an "awakening" and life has become awesome.
I am exploring my fears and facing them head on.
My dreams are scary and that is a good thing. It is propelling me into a better life.
I wish everyone could "wake up" and realize they are creating their anxiety in their minds (the mind is very powerful) and learn to take control of their lives.
There is no right or wrong. I wish everyone the very best and finding the key to unlock themselves and setting themselves free!!!

jaraep 01/02/2018

I meditate in the morning and have tried some meditation apps. I then set 4 alarms the rest of the day as "check in moments" where I say a prayer and see if there are any anxious, angry, resentful, etc. feelings within myself that I need to check. Kind of like mini meditation moments. This really helps me.

ShakeyJ 01/03/2018

I love this post. I am not there yet, and it took me years to get it, but I see the value in meditation. I Have been doing it for short periods and will be making it a regular part of my daily routine in the coming days. There is a positive side to this anxiety and I intend to find it.

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