how can i help ease anxiety?

Question

i suffer from anxiety attacks and they are really starting to affect my life. i dont want to turn to medication to get me throught this, i would really appreciate any techniques to help keep the anxiety at bay?or anyone who knows how to pin point when the problems started?

Answer 1

You have to find out the triggers, is it when you have a lot to do or are tied for time to get places that you feel anxious? Or is it people in your life? To start with you must remove yourself from situations that set you off but if it's impossible to leave you must learn to cope better when they happen. I have at times felt anxiety and have tried to pinpoint what sets me off, its usually some of the above, when it seems like everyone is demanding your time and energy and suddenly you feel overwhelmed and unable to cope. The best thing to do firstly is to take a day out just for you, turn off your phone and dont commit to any appointments with friends or family, use this day for you, take it easy rest without stimulation of t.v. or computers, do things for your seelf paint your toenails papmer your self, i find that these days recharge my batterys, if i'm up to date with everyday stuff like housework laundry studies etc then i find i dont suffer anxiety. Make a habit of "Me Days" say once a week or fortnight if you can. When I do feel under pressure I get a feeling of not being able to breathe properly and i feel claustrauphobic if i go anywhere, at these times i go home or if i cant i try to look at something that has a large surface area say a ceiling for instance or the sky, it helps me refocus and keeps the panic away. Also you might benefit from joining a yoga class or doing tai chi exercises they both reteach you breathing and posture techniques so you gain strength within yourself by going and over time you will notice your anxiety will lessen. Good luck!

Answer 2

Anxiety attacks are a mental health issue - how and when they started, only a professional can answer. I agree with you to try and control these attacks without RX meds.. but sometimes it is impossible. What triggers them, is different in every patient. If you are smoking "pot" - stop NOW... it is a proven medical fact that "pot" smoking leads to anxiety attacks! Its one of the side-effects. This is a simple method - When you feel an anxiety attack commencing - drink WATER - I have no idea why that works, but it does, what I think happens, is once you drink the water (a BIG drink) - the Brain has to start digesting - and that takes the brain's attention away from the anxiety attack, while it works on digesting the water. By the time that is done, the attack is done! Good Luck... (it works for me)

Answer 3

I have had social anxiety problems since I was a kid, and have dealt with it with and without medication (including self medicating with drugs and alcohol). It's definitely harder without chemicals but it can be done. Look up breathing excersizes that calm you down, try drinking certain teas or herbal formulas with camomile and other calming herbs. Start getting into yoga...preferably not at your local gym but a spiritual center run by a yogi...generally you can pay a monthly fee and go to as many lessons as you want at those places since they aren't out to make money like the spas and whatnot, plus they help you spiritually deal with issues instead of focusing on just the body like other places. Also try keeping a journal to record your progress and look back on it every few months. If you see yourself progressing slower than you'd like come up with a game plan to speed it up. Also go see a therapist or counselor for a few sessions if you feel you need tips on how to deal with anxiety issues better. Affirmations help. Learn to know yourself and enjoy your normal conscious state so you can control it better. This may take a few months before you start seeing any effects, where as medication pretty much kicks in after 2 weeks, but this way you will not need to be dependent on a pill and spend money on medication you may be able to live without.

Answer 4

Anxiety, obviously, can clearly be expressed by yound children after being scared and they cling to their parents tight. Or maybe you did something very, very wrong and you kept it a secret for a long time, that's causing the problem. The fear, and guilt is upon you. The only cure for that is to share it and make the people understand that you're sorry. Once that's done, you're happy again. If you're scared because of old folklore about ghosts, don't worry just make alot of noise. Example, you wake up in the middle of the night, and you want to use the bathroom. Turn all the lights on, including stereo, and let your fears fly away. But of course, this could only be done if you're alone. That's all.

Answer 5

Is it certain things that maybe cause the anxiety? Or do they come at random and ur unaware of why? I have extremely bad anxiety, and for me its caused by certain things, if u try and find some way around it, u can control them better, find something or someone that can help it from getting out of control, and hopefully after a while they may not come as frequent or as bad. If u dont know why u have them, well then Im not sure, medication could be neccesary.

Answer 6

First you need to take yourself with your eyes closed to your favourite place, maybe when you were little some where quiet and peaceful like the countryside, your mothers lap etc.
then breathing in and out in a controlled way slowly just look around at all the relaxing things you can see. Stay there for as long as you can until the anxietyy starts to ease. You need to practise this to get better at it. let me tell you it works, i have had anxiet for a long time and the more you use it the less anxious you become. good luck

Answer 7

If you don't want to try medication, which would be the quickest way to decrease anxiety attacks, then you should see a counselor or therapist to talk about why you are having these attacks and she could also give you relaxation techniques to try. Also, I hope you have a good friend that you are able to share thoughts and feelings with.

Answer 8

The short answer is to see your doctor, because anxiety attacks have a number of causes (eg thyroid disease). Yes, it is important to remember the circumstances of the first attack and the second. What is not helpful is to go rooting around for some trauma in your dim and distant past.It is likely that they respond to simple relaxation measures or to cognitive behavioural therapy. Do not let any doctor prescribe benzodiazepines (minor tranquilisers), you can get addicted very fast. (But antidepressants may be helpful). Do not treat yourself with alcohol.

Answer 9

Hi to pin point how and why they started you would have to get some kind of counselling. Have you tried relaxation such as listening to a relaxation cd or doing yoga. I found they helped as my anxiety adn panic attacks got worse when I was stressed even though I didnt think I was. Good luck XXX

Answer 10

I am single mum. I have been suffering for panic attacks for some 15 years now, though it was not until recently I understood what they were. They were progressively getting stronger and more frequent, stopping me from some days even leaving my house. I read this book and it all made perfect sense.

I am not saying I was not terrified of putting theory to action, I was more scared of that than the next attack! But I decided to view it as a game, one I had control of and could therefore not lose!