Anxiety help? Anyone have any tips they can share please?

[nowbringmethathorizon]

I've just had two days off work after having a massive panic attack on Tuesday night. I have not had one for four years and it's really set me back. I'm already on ADs and beta blockers for depression and anxiety but still feel shaky, weak, sick, swooping anxiety feeling in the stomach etc. I have said I'll be back at work tomorrow (NHS) but am worrying about it.

Trying to take my mind off things by thinks about what I'd like to do when lockdown is over, when summer is here etc. I usually love reading but I can't concentrate. Not even on an audiobook.

What kinds of things do you like to do or think about when you're anxious to take your mind off it?

Run! I hate it but it actually does help.

@Sometimesonly

Run! I hate it but it actually does help.

I should start running again. Not done it since I finished c25k at the end of September because the weather puts me off!!! Need to put on my big girl running pants and get out there.

Yep also run. I hate it too, but make myself do it.

Meditation has helped and podcasts. I find podcasts keep my mind occupied. Headphones are best at putting someone else’s voice straight into your brain, which fills the gaps for my thoughts to expand. Just choose wisely so as to avoid anxiety triggers.

Comedy is good.

I have read up on CBT a lot and use those techniques.

I journal and get all that shit out my head. And I talk and talk and talk to anyone who will listen!!!

My DD uses cbt techniques, colours in, goes for a walk with her headphones on, either listening to music or a podcast.
She uses the the headspace app to help her sleep.

Home workouts, basic yoga, simple meditation, waking in nature, listening to podcasts that interest or inspire you, healthy eating with the occasional mindful treat.

Try the Insight Timer app which is free and has 1000's of free resources to listen to.

Bella Mackie has written a good book called Jog On about running as an antidote to anxiety.

I have horrendous anxiety , I find cleaning helps .

Bella Mackie has written a good book called Jog On about running as an antidote to anxiety.

YEs! It's what persuaded me to give running another try.

I know that some people are meh about ASMR, but there's a lady on YouTube who has a channel called SouthernASMR.

She goes around Dollar Tree straightening the shelves up. Now I know that sounds just weird and boring but don't knock it until you've watched it. It's mesmerising and very relaxing.

Thank you all! I have downloaded insight timer and got the book Jog On so can start there. The weather has been awful in the last few days but I've just been out briefly and just the fresh air has made a difference. I'm going to look up CBT techniques I had a course of CBT when I had my last panic attack four years ago and it was brilliant. I need to remind myself of it.

There’s a really good app called Calm. Maybe be worth looking at. Some of their stuff is on Youtube also. It helped me a lot.

Daily fresh air/exercise even if just a quick walk round the block.
Routine and making sure to include 5/10 mins quiet no screen time for self
Cooking from scratch I find very therapeutic
Sleep

Hi op. I'm about to return to work after 2 months off with anxiety. I share your issues with reading etc - anxiety just won't allow intense focus.

I found really light tv helped at the beginning. Programs about decluttering or diets anything with a transformation were quite a good distraction.

Now I'm trying to get on my feet my focus has been on diet. I read something about maintaining good blood sugar levels and it really clicked with me. I've been eating a handful of hazelnuts or similar several times a day it's really helping with avoiding using caffeine or refined sugar which are anxiety triggers for me.

I started listening to sleep meditations during the first lockdown at bedtime and find they really help calm me down and stop my mind from going into overdrive.

I listen to the 'Get Sleepy' podcast, and would really recommend it, my DC listen to it too.

Wow some brilliant suggestions thank you so much and to all fellow sufferers of anxiety. It's horrible.

Hello there. One thing that helped me was recognising that depression and anxiety are based in developing disordered thinking about things in the past, or the future.

The disordered and unhelpful thinking then affects the emotions and behaviour.

To stop the cycle you should focus on the present. Just ‘Being’. Being in the moment.

Mindfulness is a mind training skill you can learn and practice and will help you live in the moment. I suggest an 8-week Mindfulness course.

Yoga is too slow to help me. I find that home HIIT exercises help, when you're moving that fast and doing rapid transitions there isn't time to think about anything else, then I'm all sweaty and endorphin-y at the end. I've gone from being a total slug who never exercised to doing HIIT 4 times a week plus stretching and my mental health has genuinely never been better even with all that is happening.

I agree with WeThreeKingsofOrientAre too. If you can really stop, and see that in this exact moment you're ok, things are ok, nothing terrible is actually happening right now, it helps a lot.

Make sure you rest and try to treat it like the illness it is. You need peace, quiet, sleep and calm to recover.

When you are feeling rooted to the spot by it just acknowledge it and push on through to do something simple. Achieve anything and you will feel a lot more in control with each time. Make your bed. Put out fresh towels. Wipe down the kitchen counter etc. Something little.

I agree with routine. And carrying on with normal life, even though it’s really, really hard sometimes. Get up, dressed, out the house.
Be around people. Talk.

I've got really bad circumstantial anxiety and I'm slowly trying to recover. Loud music and/or voices set me off. I try to stick to a routine which seems to help. I really need peace and calm so I can sleep. I cannot believe the difference a decent nights sleep makes. I've got some audio books which help me to relax.