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...
I have been coping with anxiety for years but only just found what works for me in the past year year. That's because I sought help and information and I started taking antidepressants.
Fortunately for us, there are dozens of strategies we can use to ease our anxiety. Meds, CBT, yoga, meditation, and cutting out sugar, alcohol, and caffeine has helped me tremendously. Also, cooking healthy meals at home from scratch and not eating fast or processed foods. I know that even just eating frozen pizza will screw me up for a day or two.
But what do I do in that moment when anxiety strikes? Here is my strategy:
Step one: I take four deep, slow breaths, counting to four on the inhale and counting to eight on the exhale. I try to expand my belly with each inhale and flatten my belly on the exhale, without moving my shoulders.
Step Two: I look up and take in my surroundings. I note what time of day it is, the quality of the light, the sounds I can hear. I look at my hands and study them. Then, I think, "I am here in this moment, in this place. I am in my body."
It's my one-two punch.
I think the best thing for anxiety is grounding yourself in the present moment. All we really have is the present moment because the future doesn't exist and the past is not real. The past is made up of memories of perceptions. People with anxiety tend to live in the future and the past without attending to the here and now.
I'm interested to hear from others. What's your silver bullet strategy?
Fortunately for us, there are dozens of strategies we can use to ease our anxiety. Meds, CBT, yoga, meditation, and cutting out sugar, alcohol, and caffeine has helped me tremendously. Also, cooking healthy meals at home from scratch and not eating fast or processed foods. I know that even just eating frozen pizza will screw me up for a day or two.
But what do I do in that moment when anxiety strikes? Here is my strategy:
Step one: I take four deep, slow breaths, counting to four on the inhale and counting to eight on the exhale. I try to expand my belly with each inhale and flatten my belly on the exhale, without moving my shoulders.
Step Two: I look up and take in my surroundings. I note what time of day it is, the quality of the light, the sounds I can hear. I look at my hands and study them. Then, I think, "I am here in this moment, in this place. I am in my body."
It's my one-two punch.
I think the best thing for anxiety is grounding yourself in the present moment. All we really have is the present moment because the future doesn't exist and the past is not real. The past is made up of memories of perceptions. People with anxiety tend to live in the future and the past without attending to the here and now.
I'm interested to hear from others. What's your silver bullet strategy?
I also get up in the morning....stretch......and start talking out loud about all the things and ppl I am truly grateful for (gratitude).
I tell myself it is going to be a great day and that I am expecting great things to show up. I have been doing this for a month and it is working.....to boot......$3 thousand + dollars showed up on my door step yesterday(true story) which is what was needed :)
I'm tellin ya.......positive thinking and practicing gratitude is key to unlocking the lock and ridding yourself of anxiety and bad feelings (doom and gloom....self doubt.....living in the past and being anxious about tomorrow).
It's hard to get positive unless you are willing to step outside your fear, doubt, and pain and grasp onto something better. I do promise if you practice positive thinking and self talk......anxiety will leave you.
Try using yoga, hypnosis, listening to relaxing music while meditating will help corral your thoughts into a place where you can quiet the chatter in your mind and allow you to get to the positive thinking.....but it takes work and being consistent.